Light me up like a christmas tree....

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Rupert-the-bear

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Due to the dark evenings, have been riding most evenings in the pitch black as we don't have a floodlit school to enable us to still compete most weekends. However, my Auntie has a very posh yard at the end of the road and has offered me use of her floodlit school. Its literally 5 mins hacking in walk down a small lane, so was planning on hacking there as I see no point spending a good half an hour hitching on trailer, and attempting to load in the dark etc.

Already have a hi-viz exercise sheet, tabbard, and did have some bridle things but have lost them.

So, can anyone reccomend me/ find some hi-vis/flashy light things for sale?

Also, I understand its a legal requirement to have a white light on the front, and red on the back- can anyone reccomend what kind of light might be suitable?

Many thanks! :D
 
I would also add reflective brushing boots or similar and a hat band and do you have an old schooling whip? If you do you can buy off cuts of relective and high vis tape so cut that into small strips and wrap it round the whip in bands (to make it stripey).

You will also need a stirrup light that flashes red at the back and white in front and you can get tail guards with flashing lights on too.

Have not seen anything to go on a brow band that flashes but there must be something out there somewhere! oh and I would add a bridle set too (brow or nose band cover and extra ones that go on the reins so anyone coming from the side can see you).

In my opinion it is better to have too much than not enough and if you are riding in the dark you will need to be as visible as possible

I have seen lots of reflective/high viz stuff in the shops and it is important to remember that you must have reflective strips on thngs...just being bright is not enough in the dark.

Derby House, Robinsons, Equisafety all have a pretty decent range and you will need to shop around

PS..sorry about the essay but I am rather passionate/obsessive about road safety
 
I have a boot light that straps to your leg and shows white to the front and red to the rear that I am getting rid of, never used it and now on a yard where road work isnt required.

PM me if you're interested :)
 
Keep an eye on Aldi. I've picked up various flashing light strips designed for cyclists there that are reasonably priced. Two velcro'd together fit nicely around the rim of a hat above the peak.
 
If you're a bit stuck for lights, check out your nearest cycling shop. They have tons of options reflective/lights wise, and I'm sure something could be modified to work on a stirrup, boot or helmet.

Just make sure that your horse is used to the lights before venturing on the road. My experience is that torches tend to spook horses quite badly.
 
Bike lights are great, & cheap. And light up arm bands from Tesco or halfords. They come in handy to fasten round tails, or round legs. Or even glued to a noseband cover etc.
 
Reflective brushing boots are brilliant. I was driving behind a pony in the dusk and it was fantastic how his little legs twinkled away as he trotted - saw him a mile off.
 
Thanks everyone, some very good idea's there that I will defo look into! Luckily pony is very well behaved, is fine with bright lights, deer jumping out 5 feet in front of us etc etc. In fact, i've had him over a year and am yet to find something scary so don't think that'll be a problem. My mum has offered to follow us in the car the first few times anyway :D
 
I have a fantastic hi-viz waistcoat (Horseware) that has lots of little red lights that flash on and off at the flick of a button. I also wear it out when running down dark lanes in the Winter and it really makes traffic slow down (I think it takes them a minute to figure out what it is coming at them)
 
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