How do you bring your horses in in the dark?

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katherine1975

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I am moving to my own yard with two horses, my frien currently brings them in for me when I am at work. When I move I will have to go up twice a day and bring them in myself. I often don't finish work until 9pm and will have to bring them in then. There are lights at the stables, but will be leading them in from the field in the dark. Any suggestions?
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I have a head torch and also a really big torch with a nylon rope handle (think shoulder bag) which I put over my shoulder and angle where I need it. Its a rechargeable one from Screwfix, only lasts about 30 mins on constant but is really powerful, lights up nearly 2 fields away and lasts long enough for the walk there and back. These 2 together give me loads of light and leave both hands free.
 
I havent had to use anything yet, i have a track to go down to the field, by the time i have got to the gate my eyes have adjusted to the dark!

When turning out i always have a couple leafs of hay under my arm so he follows me munching the hay and on way in he know's he is getting dinner so its never a problem!
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I just bring mine in.....don't bother with the headtorch after they both decided to try and knock it off my head....ouch.

I find my eyes adjust perfectly well to the dark, plus if you have the lights on in the stables you can see where you are aiming for!!
 
i ride/lead etc in the dark and actually find the best thing to do is let your eyes adjust and go by the light of the moon... my horse doesn't like a flash light and much rather be lead in the dark as then she can see all the monsters out there
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whereas the flash light only lights a small area if that makes sense?!
mind you - i also walk the dogs in teh dark and do the same thing so my night visoin is pretty good
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simply get an electrical friend in - a very high telegraph pole and a sodium light on top of it shining in the direction you have to go. Our shine about 700yards which means basically all field entrances are covered. And they are not expensive to run. In the meantime, head torch or nothing, and you will be amazed at how quickly your night vision improves.
 
Stand at the gate and yell, and as soon as he gets near enough I can see him by the white blaze on his face.
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I kind of let him guide me to the barn, in the assumption that horses have better night vision than humans. I don't have to do this every night, only when I'm getting him in to ride after dark since he lives out, but I guess if you did it every night you'd soon get used to it and know where unexpected trip-ups are!
 
I wear a headlamp if it's a particularly dark night. Simples.

Some horses don't like them, so you might have to turn it off as they approach and are caught, but you will be able to walk to the field with the light on and walk back with it on too.

I also find them handy for picking feet out in the dark as the horses invariably cast a shadow over where you're looking.
 
I find my night vision and the light of the moon is good enough, I also work Luca in the dark mornings/evenings and we can both see well enough to know what we're doing - I find having a torch actually makes it harder as it limits your field of vision.

You'll be fine :-)

T x
 
The next generation of CREE torches are excellent - I have one like a little fat pen, so either have it in my hand or grab hold of the wrist strap with my nashers.

Would never go back to the old style torches. We even have a bigger one for long distance that beats a 2million candle torch which is 15 times its size.
 
Same as in daylight - find a torch makes them spookier.

Have always done this and never had a problem (other than usual spooks which we'd have had in daylight)
 
I prefer not to use a torch, your eyes will adjust to the darkness, we have surprisingly good night vision if we give our eyes time to adjust.
If it's a full moon it's almost like walking around in daylight, plenty of light to see any warewolfs!
 
If you're on your own, would the set up allow you to run electric fence off a corridor from the gate to their stables so they can walk to the stables by themselves? That way you could just open and close the gate and not have to do battle with torches etc. As long as YO isn't around (she doesn't like it) I let my two walk in by themselves. They always go straight to their stables and it's easier and safer than leading two together as one is so frightened of the other that he wonn't walk with him. He waits and walks with me while the other goes on ahead!
 
I use a head torch as I've got quite a long walk and it's scary on your own sometimes! Luckily Belle usually walks the length of the field with me to the gate so I have company part of the way.

The torch can make her spooky so I turn it off as I catch, then she's ok as we walk in but I have to be aware that I can cast shadows and it sometimes makes her spook.

If there's plenty people at the yard and I can hear them as I walk down sometimes it's really really nice to go by moonlight, so peaceful and relaxing being on your own
 
turn lights on to announce arrival
open stable doors
open gate
horses come in

all for about 10 pony nuts in their bowls
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poss not practical in your situ though.
 
I have a head torch - so hands are free, I lead them in as I normally do, one in each hand and me in the middle with the torch lighting the way.

I do leave leather head collars on in the winter so it is easy to just attach the leadrope and not have to fumble around putting the head collars on.
 
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