Is it safe to jump by floodlight?

[Gorgeous George]

Don't know if this is a stupid question or not? But is it safe to jump in the dark in a floodlit outdoor school? I want to do a bit of jumping practice but I can so rarely ride in daylight at the moment that I don't get a lot of chance

I should add that when I say jumping, we are only talking about popping over 1ft - 1ft 6 so nothing too taxing for George!

Thanks

 

[dieseldog]

Yes it is as long as they are good floodlights

 

[lynspop]

We have to use floodlights in the riding school over the winter and we just start to build up our jumping work slowly again when it gets dark,going back to poles on the ground etc before starting jumping,just so the horses can get used to any shadow etc that might be caused by the lights.

 

[Linz75]

I would think its okay, providing you have enough light.

My only word of caution would be - make sure, if its late, that somebody else knows you're out in the arena. My friend had a nasty fall one night & I thought she'd gone home (couldn't see arena lights from stable yard).

Only when she staggered to back door holding her broken wrist, did I realise she'd been out there for hours!

 

[PaddyMonty]

Do it all the time just lately. Horses dont seem to have a problem with it. Just make sure you position the jumps to minimise any shadow lines caused by the floodlights.

 

[Baileyhoss]

We can't as we only have floodlights set on the roof of the barn at one end of the school, so there are too many shadows. When we get the other ones put up at the other end of the school it'll be fine.

 

[SpottedCat]

Yep, I do it all the time, never had a problem at all and I was doing grids up to about 1.20 until recently and wouldn't hesitate to go higher either, so would not worry about what height you are doing. As long as you have decent floodlights then it is fine.

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

[ QUOTE ]
Do it all the time just lately. Horses dont seem to have a problem with it. Just make sure you position the jumps to minimise any shadow lines caused by the floodlights.

[/ QUOTE ]

*dingdingdingdingdingding*

I remember riding a spooky fool of a horse under floodlights and he kept jumping the shadow not the jump

 

[Rambo]

I've been jumping under floodlights at home the past few weeks. I don't jump as big as I do in daylight but have still gone to around 1.30m or so. Be careful to place the fences in the areas that have the better light and I also try to use the brighter coloured poles rather than ones that could merge into the murkiness

Tbh...some of the indoor venues around us have worse lighting than a well-lit outdoor school does...but stick to what you're comfortable doing and don't take any silly risks

 

[FigJam]

I was jumping for the first time in seven months (due to horse's injury) under floodlights last night!

She was a super star and was maybe slightly spookier than normal, but that could have been rustiness due to not seeing planks/fillers for months! We just built it up gradually for her.

As others have mentioned, make sure you use nice bright poles (e.g as much white as poss, no working hunter style!) and try to position them in the areas with best light/least shadows.

It's much nicer in daylight, but needs must and as long as you're careful and take it easy it'll be fine. I'd recommend bribing a helper to hang around if you can... not juet for safety, but much easier to get them to adjust poles/striding for you than jumping on and off all the time!

Have fun!

 

[DuckToller]

Are your lights on a timer? If so make sure you have enough time left when you start.

Sounds daft, but friend was having a lesson one night at a livery yard, going down a combination when the money ran out, lights went off and she was a stride away from a big oxer in the pitch black. Instructor yelled out "KICK!" at the top of his voice, she did, horse jumped, all ended happily bar the extra grey hairs all round. I guess they can see better than we can!

 

[Ludi-doodi]

Our flood lights used to be on a cash timer - 50p for half an hour. Was jumping one evening, had literally just taken off over a jump when lights went out

Managed to land and stop OK in the pitch dark then plopped another 50p in the timer and off we went again!

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Like the others have said, As long as they are good floodlights and the jump is positioned in a way there is no shadows or minimal shadow .

When I was 16 I was having a lesson on a young horse that had just come onto the yard, It decided to jump the shadow which was about 5ft spread and 5ft high

( Jump was only about 2ft 3 and no back bar, just an upright ) I came off and slipped a disc in my back . Was very very painful .

 

[Gorgeous George]

thanks all, our floodlights are pretty good, think I will start with some poles and really tiny jumps and see how it goes. I never jump unless there is someone around, and I always have my mobile in my pocket - like to know there is someone around to scrape me up if I come off!