Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC-Digest] head lamps

On Sat, 21 Dec 2002 09:26:44 -0700, "Heidi Smith"
<heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>You're "right on" here, Alice.  Unless the rider has REALLY good control of the head lamp, it is a distraction to the horse.  Far better to use glow sticks--attached to breast collar for those who use them, and strung from a thong or twine around his neck just forward of the saddle, for those of us who don't.  And if you start night-riding primarily on nights with moonlight, you'd be amazed how well even the RIDER can adapt.

This is something that is hard to teach some people, who insist on
carrying bright flashlights or helmet lights, throwing around glare
and harsh shadows and ruining the night vision of everyone around
them.  That if they would just start out without the light, and trust
their horse, their own night vision will gradually adapt and they will
do just fine without the lights.

Only once in many miles of night riding without a light have I ever
had any mishap:  we ran into a piece of string tied across the trail
(which I would probably have never seen even with a light).  Kahlil
thought it was an electric fence and slammed into reverse, and I
sailed over his head.

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com




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