Hacking out in the dark

[criso]

Haven't done it yet but really fancy trying it.
We have private tracks and fields we can go around so no danger of cars or branches.

Need to get my boy a bit more used to hacking in the light first and find someone to go with me.

 

[Olivio]

I've been taking mine out in the dark for years - as long as there is no light pollution I can always see where I'm going. I always stick to a well trusted route and never go anywhere near the road. It is far from ideal and would love the luxury of being able to ride during the day.

 

[MandyMoo]

yes i do, BUT only when i really have to...and also i only go down a quiet road (never any cars on it) and it has street lights after about 700yards or so...so i just have to go through the first/last bits of the ride with a torth attached to my hat

i also have fluorescent exercise sheets, tail covers, bridle covers, and vest thingy saying ''caution horse and rider''...so i am always visible to cars. but as i said, i will only evert meet maybe one car on my travels xx

 

[Mickeymoo]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't imagine it to be honest, purely because if you happen to come off, your horse escapes from you, then your pretty much up sh*t street if you pardon my French :grin

[/ QUOTE ]

If I fall off, Mick buggers off anyway! He once did the second half of a Readyfield meet on his own - Nobody could catch him.. can lol now - 4 years ago.. Hence, he has his own flourescent on. I also have a pet tag on my saddle with my phone number on incase someone finds him.

When I was stabled near Shipley country park, we used to go cantering in the dark in the mornings.. Sure does train you to grip well ready for hunting, and I always kept my lights on and flashing incase I fell off in the grass and someone could find me.

 

[brushingboots]

i did it last year..
it was very scarry

especially when the farmer who lives next door decided to come out on his tractor investigate what your doing in such 'ludicrous light' [his own words

]

never doing it again!

 

[alwaysbroke]

Was going to do a post about this, was driving home tonight from the yard, the lanes are really dark, narrow with several blind bends. I was totally gobsmacked to drive around one of these bends and come face to face with two riders on horses. Yes they had hi-vis jackets on, but the horses had nothing, as the riders were above my line of vision I really didnt see them till the last minute. They were trying to cross the lane at a blind bend, down another lane which leads to a yard. These lanes at 5.30 at night are used by drivers taking short cuts and who are, imo often driving too fast, I think these riders were taking a big risk.

 

[rose1081]

I work too, and only get down in the dark - we hack in groups, flashing and glowing, just round the quiet cul-de-sac near our stables. we rarely meet cars at night, but on the bits of main road where we do, they are fairly used to horses, and we make sure that we are as safe as possible.

we are lucky enough to have a flood lit arena too, so we can use that after work. it is still quite dark though, so i have invested in those LED lights you can strap to your helmet - like a bike light

 

[Alibear]

General reply, just remember that it is a legal requirement that you show a white light to the front and red light to the back if you are hacking on the roads in the dark.
They make lights that clip on to your boots and all sorts to enable you to do this.
It's not something I do but I did as a kid as my field was a mile away from the yard so a for a few weeks every winter it was a quick hack back in the dark and yes horses and I had lights on even then (20 + years ago sob

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