Our hack in the dark - would you?

[poppy 99]

It is fantastic fun to ride in the dark, we used to do it all the time but it was all off road riding, no roads

[hollie]

I dont think iv ever ridden on the roads when its dark, but i am lucky and my last yard you could go straight out onto Sailsbury plains no road work is needed at all, so it is poos!

[Tally.]

i will be riding in the dark for the first time this year and im not looking forward to it. There is only one 30min route we can do without crossing any roads and this is where my horse always spooks and i hate that route in the daytime let alone in the dark. Plus i think i would get dizzy going round in a circle for 4 months.

I will have to go straight across some busy roads to get onto the really quiet ones but i am in the process of buying as much hi viz gear as possible and have just bought a head lamp and one for my leg.

[Jakandy]

We did it a few years ago when we were on a large yard.

It was Halloween so everyone dressed up themselves and the ponies. We were all in dark colours no hi viz or lights. Virtually the whole yard went, you couldn't see much at all except for when the moon came out. All the kids had to have a mum or dad walk with them. There must have been at least 30 horses + loads of camp followersIt wasn't as dangerous as it sounds as we had lit lorry and walkers in front and behind the herd to stop the traffic until we got off the lane into the fields.

It was brilliant, us and the ponies loved it they couldn't believe it when we started tacking up at 9pm. It was great fun.

In general though I would NEVER ride on the road in the dark in fact not even in the half light it's just too dammed dangerous. I came close to hitting a horse last year. It was a late on a winters afternoon getting dark and also misty and drizzly. The rider did have a tabard but just didn't show up until we were right behind it. Luckily i was only going 30 some people go up this road at 60

[Iron Maiden]

I've hacked through central London in the dark, the horses were fine on the roads (we had loads of hi viz & lights on) but once we got onto Rotten Row they went a bit whappy

Mrs P's been on quite a few headtorch hacks off road at her old yard, she's very good and I really enjoy them. I'll soon find out what she's like on a seven furlong gallop in the dark Can't wait!

[pink-pony101]

god i would be scared if i saw those eyes- im not good in the dark anyway

[Fizz]

i sometimes go around the village in the winter, its well lit and i have a flashing tabard/sheet etc.

[teddypony]

yes i would, did it once but on the private road where we keep the horses, if i were to do it more often i would need more lights and hi viz!