Schooling at night, no floodlights, inventive ideas anyone?

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custard

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YO has not managed to get floodlighting in as yet, planning permission needed and not good time to ask!

Anyway, me and aother livery are getting de motivated and need some suggestions please to tide us over til there's more daylight. Have even thought of using a 'miners lamp' thingy but need a really good one. Help!
 
I know of someone who got lights from a garden centre and attached them to the top of the posts in the arena. They didn't cost much and ran them off a generator I think. The horses didn't mind the noise and it meant that the "floor" was well lit. I don't think that you jump in it though...
 
I would suggest nothing at all. I often used to ride in the school in the dark. Just make sure nothing is left lying around the school and as long as you have reasonable night vision you should be fine. Horses can see very well in the dark if your sdtart using any kind of headlight or lamp you will serverely effect their visison so it will more dangerous IMO.

Although you will find some nights it really is too dark too see I used to find overcast or clear nights with a moon were fine!
 
Have you thought about those push button lights that run on batteries, they are very cheap though the batteries will cost you. you can put them on the ground or on the posts , and if you buy a headlamp fro your hat and angle it at the trakc it might work.
My son goes off road mountain biking in the dark over Dartmoor, and he has the most amazing headlamp on his bike, I would have a look on a few mountain biking sites or mags, I swear it's as bright as a car one.
You can also buy very bright led push lights which again, laid on the edges would give enough light to at least ride if not jump in. I'd even look in the pound shops, they sometimes have ligting at silly prices..(£1!)
 
If I was absolutely desperate I would be tempted to ride by moonlight
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Obviously that depends on what the moon is up to! I use a lantern with an energy bulb when I go to the field to check and feed etc and I would say it's more unnerving and throws off dodgy shadows etc so would rather go with nothing/not riding. I've used headlights before but ideally you need to vehicles and you need to avoid the risk of running down the battery or leave them running.
 
I use the same lights as Toby_Zaphod but rather than an extension lead I bought a 500w invertor and a leisure battery to power them. Had to change the bulbs in the lights to 150w each so as not to over load the invertor. One stand with the two lights on gives me sufficient light to do flatwork in a 25m x 50m arena. It may be if you buy the 12v lights from screwfix that you could do away with the need for the invertor but I am not sure on that one.
 
Don't try the miner's headtorch plan...it won't work.
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I speak from experience...as I tried riding my sensible old girl in a very bright halogen head torch....she stopped dead and refused to proceed until I had switched it off...as she said it blinded her completely (even though I was riding at the time, horses have such a wide field of vision).
My girl was sensible enough to tell me she couldn't see...you may not be so lucky....
S
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At work we had basic outdoor lights (the type that blind you as you drive past people's garages), worked very well. I agree with those who say be careful though, make sure the schooling area is either well-lit or not at all. Horses' vision doesn't adapt between light and dark as fast as ours does, so if you ride into a dark bit from a well-lit one your horse won't be able to see a thing! I've been told horses don't see red light though (we have head torches that have either white or red light, and the horses won't walk towards you with the white light shining but don't mind the red). Don't know whether that's true!
 
Not very environmentally friendly I suppose, but I did once drive my car up to the manage and leave headlights on with engine running!! Was desperate to practice for dressage test the next day. Only for short burst and best done at an angle so you don't blind yourself riding at them of course.

I read once that the late Joe Turi used to school on a local roundabout...
 
Definitely give the dark a try. I hack (and school) in the dark all winter, as I'm so lucky not to have to do road work. This includes timed canter work as horsey and I know the ground so well. It's great fun being out all alone and you don't half enjoy that sense of triumph that even winter can't stop your fun! Good luck - if it worries you at first just stick to walk the first couple of times until you and horsey find your night eyes. Quick tale - was very late for XC schooling practice back in September (had to finish work etc. etc.) and by the time we'd finished it was pitch black and granted, we were only jollying through the water and popping a familiar ditch by then but it was great. Get munching those carrots.
 
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