Re: riding in the dark?

One lady I know likes to ride at night around her estate but no one has ever taken up her offer to join her as she tells everyone she does it in the nude. Have been around her estate, she has donkeys as well which spook a few horses its hate at first sight, my old Cob was friendly with them, but the biggest problem was mole hills which were a night mare if you did not know about them in the day light so lethal in the dark to you and your horse. Then there was the electric fences which had places to cross and if you got it wrong as a few on our ride did and their horses stood on the electric fence cable being told it was off and ok found out otherwise including my wife and son woke them both up.

Re: riding in the dark?

 Not something I would ever do myself, and as someone mentioned the horse won't die if its not ridden for 3 days! But I suppose if you feel you have to, then I would say you should be lit up like a Christmas tree!  Every single reflective thing they have going and all the flashing lights you can fit!  I know, as a driver (who is careful and aware of horses) that we pass a yard whose riders have to go along the road for a while to get to their hacking, they are impossible to see at dusk, never mind dark.  We always slow down when passing there (unlike some other drivers, of course) and I can't tell you the number of times we've nearly hit someone (they don't seem to believe in hi-viz!)

Also, the point about hazards for you and the horse being more difficult to see is very true.  Carefully, carefully! 

Re: riding in the dark?

I wouldn't bother on the roads that we live, purleyfor the fact the cars seem to think the road becomes a race track once the sun goes down.  Last winter I was walking our pony from the field and it was just turning to dusk he had hi vis on as did I however the car driver (who probably wanted his tea) failed to see us until he was about 10ft away.  He then had the ordasity to tell me it was dangerous to walk that animal out at this time (approx 5.15pm)  and when i stated that perhaps he should slow down on the road if he couldn't see us never mind wandering livestock (we had highland cattle the week before)   he actually put his glasses on to look at his dash board / clock/ speedo  .  So even if you do everything by the book there are still others out there who just want to get home and dont really care whats on the road before they get there.  could you not section off a corner of your field to ride in on the nights that you get there late????