Riding very early in the mornings with no lights?

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kit279

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Who rides very early in the mornings? I'm riding in my big field at the moment so no floodlights. Does anyone else set off before the sun is really up? By the time, I've got down to the big field, it's usually light enough to ride.

Was wondering how everyone else manages. The horses, bless them, don't mind at all and they don't stumble etc.
 
I must admit I'm really missing the floodlights as I have to ride before work if I'm going to and I just dont have the option of choosing anymore :( However, I have managed to plan my time accordingly and like you seem to manage to hop on board just as its getting that bit lighter. It seems to be light from about 7:25 here so enough time for a 20min schooling session before mucking out and getting into work! I would definately prefer floodlights though ;)
 
If I didn't ride in the dark I wouldn't ride most of the winter, we do have school lights but as I ride before work I often don't bother to turn them on (unless someone else already has). I also hack round the farm in the dark (6am so still pitch black). I find she is actually better either in the full dark or full light, its the half light she get spooky in, and is better in the school without the lights casting funny shadows...

I actually really like it - I ride much more by feel in the dark!

T x
 
Horses are supposed to have very good eyesight in the dark, certainly better than ours, providing there is some form of natural light no matter how little, for example the moon.

Only thing I'd be cautious off is the ground, any you normally rely on with your own eyesight when riding, like the ground, any holes etc if you have any wildlife that could create changes to the ground.

I used to ride in the mornings (well by the time I'd warmed up it was starting to get light) but over winter I've not bothered due the hard frost/ice/snowy ground conditions.
 
I go out at 7am (normally just as the horizon is starting to get pale blue) however I only have to do about half a mile of quiet road work.. didn't see anyone again this morning! before I get off road and it's light when it gets back. Its a much better quality of light in the mornings than the evening. I also look like a xmas tree ;) have to say I am much happier if I can see the ground where we then ride though even though I know it very well on a grey day it can be not so great.

Also will school and lunge in our field in the dark, mine is another that is often better behaved in the dark :). Unfortunately after the recent rain it's just too wet unless we really have to.
 
I used to ride in the dark and found it made me a much better rider as I had to ride by feel and not by sight. The field I'm in now is much too wet to ride in.

I wouldn't do road work in the dark though.
 
I ride out every weekday leaving the yard at about 715 am, so currently still dark; I can generally just see the tree silhouettes against the skyline. The horses are fine in the dark and I am hacking on quiet lanes with loads of hi viz, flashing tabard, horse is wearing hi viz leg wraps and reflective quarter sheet.
I also have competed in night TRECs, this article on the SE TREC website has some pics of us setting off from the map room at about 11pm! http://www.setrec.org.uk/ click on the publicity link and look for East Anglian night TREC.
 
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