Manege Lights or Lack of?

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sillygillyhorse

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How do those of you who have access to arenas but no lighting manage in the winter?

Are there any portable lighting solutions people use or do I just by a light to go on my hat and how effective would that be?

Any suggestions gratefully received.
 
If you have power at your stables than you can always buy a couple of double work spotlights on stands & run them off an extension lead. You wouldn't need planning permission either as they are not a pemanent fixture & you can take then in when finished
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The lamps are on the bottom of the page on this link & cost about £20
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=32394&ts=10977
 
If you start working just before it gets dark, your eyes adjust and I have been schooling right upto half 10 before and it doesn't feel that dark!!! I am lucky because we have lights sorted out now but as long as your surface is OK I see no problem in schooling in the dark!!!
 
The tripod lights look just the job, thanks for that given me something to think about. Not looking for state of the art lighting, just enough to be able to some basic flatwork through the winter on a very good surface.
 
We've used the tripods in the past just for flatwork and its fine as long as you dont want to do anything to adventurous! (sp?)
 
we put a 4x2 piece of wood up and attached two 100watt security spotlights on to it. then run an electric cable in plastic tube back to the electric at stables. they are perfect and really bright
 
Thanks for that, yet another option, interesting that 2 x 100watt spots are strong enough. Never had to think about lights before so no idea what wattage I should be considering. If 2 x 100w are sufficient I should be absolutely fine with two of the tripods each with 2 x 500w on them?
 
Oh god this was years ago, erm i think we had two, one in each corner at the bottom end of a 20x40 arena (cables wouldnt reach to other end!) so ended up staying mostly on a 20 metre circle but was still easily possible to use the other end.
 
I'd tend to feel that having several lower power lights evenly distributed would be better than just one or two in one area.... if that's possible...
 
I guess you want to avoid the problem of being dazzled at one end, and dim at the other.

Another thought.... where exactly do you want the light to fall. Ie, what do you want to see ? Do you want the light falling on the ground (if so, on the track only or all the surface) or do you want to be able to see the fence/walls. It's all very well shining the light so an audience can see the horse and rider, but if the rider cant see where he/she is going....
 
So basically, the aim is to light the ground surface. A school I know has got great lights that light the walls beautifully, bot leaves dark shadows on the ground so you cant see the track....
 
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