Riding in the dark

[dominobrown]

I know this is far from ideal but having 5 to ride out in a day and working etc is a bit of a squeeze. So I was just wondering if there is 'headlamps' and stuff for very early rides, or late rides. Obvs I wouldn't ride out in pitch black but in half light.
Any ideas? Not looking foward to winter and trying to fit everything in so few hours of daylight!

 

[PeterNatt]

I would most certainly not ride on the roads when it is dark, dusk, foggy or bright low sunshine as it is just not worth the risk.

 

[forestfantasy]

This ^^^
It's bad enough in daylight half the time, never mind when it's dark/dusk.
I would school or lunge in a school or even a fenced off paddock instead if i had to ride in the dark.

 

[maxapple]

This too ^^^^^

I's make yourself a corner of your field to ride in if you don't have an arena. If you stick to walk if its slippy, with lots of transitions to walk, serpantines, rein back, lateral work etc you should be able to keep your horse quite active.

You can get big halogen lamps from B&Q to light the area.

Riding in the dark / half light is too risky.

 

[AmyMay]

I would most certainly not ride on the roads when it is dark, dusk, foggy....

I completely agree.

 

[Kat]

Contact Pedantic on here, he rides out in the dark using lights. It is perfectly legal to do so.

How safe it is will depend upon the roads in your area.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

To make best use of the daylight hours, how about riding and leading instead ?

 

[ester]

I do, I got out in the mornings just as it starts to get light, you do then at least know that the light is only going to get better! But it would very much depend on my situation, as it is I have very little quiet roadwork to do before I hit our off road hacking and at most I have met 2 cars, both going to the same place I am with their dogs.

I actually think I am more visible in the dark than in the daytime!

I have no school, only the field and no lights, I will ride in it in the dark and it is ok for much of the year but, as we are low lying there are obviously times that it is just to wet, I have decided that for us it would be more detrimental for Frank to be worked less than the risk of hacking in less than ideal conditions.

What we wear:

Me:
Fluorescent and reflective hat cover
head lamp
fluorescent tabard with a horseware flashing red led vest on top
red clip on bike light behind.
flashing arm bands (a recent purchase so not had them out yet!)

Horse:
fluorescent reflective noseband
fluorescent reflective breastplate
fluorescent exercise sheet
4x reflective leg bands.


I really must get a picture taken in the get up to save listing it!