Loading up in the dark

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Joyous70

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Quick question, I need to keep up with practice loading and obviously the clocks have gone back now, so it will be dark when I get to the yard, should I start up the car and put the interior light on for her, or just leave as is? It is very dark where we are and no light pollution either.

Thanks in advance
 
yes, same as AA. I had to do a bit of 'in the dark' loading practice for my sec D because I knew I'd need to leave in the dark some days. I put the interior light on so she could see where she was going (and I could see what she was doing!). My yard is also unlit, though there was enough light cast from inside the barn so we didn't fall over each other :lol:

If you haven't done this in the dark before then just be aware she might find it a little more challenging, and make sure you are ready to deal with that appropriately - don't be in a rush etc.
 
I have an interior light and got one of those stick on ones for extra light and not to drain the battery when lorry engine is off. Would always use that in the dark. I did read recently that it's good to have an internal light on when driving, think it was an HnH article actually, although I don't do that.
 
I'm completely the opposite, if it's dark, I load with no lights on. Horses see just fine in the dark and I would think that going from the dark to a lit area, they would need a moment to adjust. So if it's dark, I leave it dark.
 
conniegirl said:
I'd never load a horse without a loading light and lights on in the lorry/trailer
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Why? What then happens if you have to load your horse in an emergency if you are without lights? I think it's important horses learn to load whenever and wherever regardless of light though of course for practising with a green horse you would want lights to make it more inviting.
 
at weekends load at 15 mins before sunset ,give a couple of carrots,take horse out of trailer, muckout/clean tack for 30 mins,re load in 1/2 light give a couple of carrots, unload then re load 30 mins later in the dark with carrots and lots of praise.A couple of weekends of this and you should have cracked it . Have OH mount an auxilary reversing light to top of trailer if you feel you need more lighing over the ramp area.
 
Michen said:
Why? What then happens if you have to load your horse in an emergency if you are without lights? I think it's important horses learn to load whenever and wherever regardless of light though of course for practising with a green horse you would want lights to make it more inviting.
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My lorry has both loading light and internal lights i would never buy one without!

Loading in the dark without a loading light is far too dangerous!
 
NZJenny said:
I'm completely the opposite, if it's dark, I load with no lights on. Horses see just fine in the dark and I would think that going from the dark to a lit area, they would need a moment to adjust. So if it's dark, I leave it dark.
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Same here, I usually have the shed light on so I can see where we are going and to tie up but the trailer light is left off. I was always taught that if you are travelling your horse in the dark then the internal light should be turned off.

Horses have extremely good night vision.

Been doing this for years never had a problem.
 
For the OP though, I'm sure when her horse has lots of loading practice then she'll be able to do so in the dark.
If you've got a tricky loader, practicing in the pitch black isn't necessarily the wisest plan because you can't see their expression, reactions etc and if something goes wrong then you can't see what you're doing either.

I can now load mine in the dark. If I'd tried working with her in the dark before she built up her confidence it would have been downright dangerous though :o
 
milliepops said:
For the OP though, I'm sure when her horse has lots of loading practice then she'll be able to do so in the dark.
If you've got a tricky loader, practicing in the pitch black isn't necessarily the wisest plan because you can't see their expression, reactions etc and if something goes wrong then you can't see what you're doing either.

I can now load mine in the dark. If I'd tried working with her in the dark before she built up her confidence it would have been downright dangerous though :o
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She's not soo tricky anymore to load, its just getting her to stay on there now, but I agree Milliepops I need to be able to see her, I do think as well, to have the interior light on in the trailer with my car running, yes its going to cause issues initially, however, im hoping it will pay dividends in the long run.

I have decided that every day now she will be loaded regardless of light and weather conditions, this issue has gone on for far too long, as I say she's loading really well now, but even with her dinner tied to the front of the trailer, she won't stay on there for very long, however, she will still load back on again, even when her tea has all gone. So for the foreseeable she will be loading every day, until such time she's comfortable to stand and eat her tea, while I faff around and eventually put the bar up. Then I will want her to load have the bar put up and eat nicely, then bar and ramp up etc. once I have achieved this, I will then let her eat and then have a little trip.
 
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