[MSAR] Night Lights Test

Paul Fleming pfleming at nwlink.com
Thu Mar 4 14:41:53 EST 2004


I found the Test Standards and the tests very informative.I would be interested in reading more. All my unit does is hang chem lights off the stirups with wire ties and put one on the riders back. This is mainly so motorists can see us and we can see each other. It is not intended as a light source for searching. We do a fair amount of urban work so being seen is a big deal to us. I have noticed at times my horse will tend to follow a flash light beam. I had been tinkering with a low power light on the brest collar with a hooded light  to shield the horses head from direct vision with the light source. I think I too will try a simular test. I'll let you know what happens.

Here is another use for a chem light. Drag it behind the horse on a 40 piece of string. Its called trolling for Sasquaches we haven't actually caught one yet, but we are hopeful.

Paul Fleming
PMSAR
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: wwfarm 
  To: Mounted search and rescue 
  Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 7:39 AM
  Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night Lights Test


  Although I have never seen a problem with properly adjusted low hanging lights effecting
  the sight of horses, after some people showed a concern, last night I decided to do a test.

  Test Standards
  I did the test in my indoor riding arena. Let me tell you it was dark. I believe it was very 
  representative of a dark night with no moon light. The horse that I chose for my test was
  one that I had only ridden once in the last six months. (I did not use my personal riding
  horse.) This horse had never seen these obstacles until the very time the test was started.
  For test #1 with lights on I used a three cell maglite equipped with my special holder
  (http://www.airscentinghorse.com/parts.htm) mounted on each side of my horse lower than
  knee level pointed slightly forward and downward as described in my Night Lights Part ll. My 
  goal was to cross a obstacle course, first with lights than without in order to determine if 
  correctly mounted lights effect the night vision of the horse.. (In both test when ever I reached
  the tire maze I did not rein the horse at all. I only encouraged forward moment with leg pressure.)

  Test # 1  Using correctly adjusted lights mounted low on each side of horse - Results
  Ten inch log step over       -  one click
  Six inch log walk over        - cleared perfect
  Weave through tire maze - cleared perfect.

  Test # 2  No lights, after the horse had about five minutes in total darkness inorder
   to let his eyes adjust. - Results
  Ten inch log step over       -  one click
  Six inch log walk over        - cleared perfect

  Weave through tire maze - The horse stepped on a tire.

  I than repeated Test # 2 ( no lights) - I had the same results with the horse tripping over a tire.

  Deduction -
  If the proper lights are positioned low on the side of the horse at a downward angle, 
  they do not hinder the horses near by sight and in certain cases they may actually
  help the horses  sight when it comes to difficult  footing areas. I believe it is the same
  as with people, if we held a flash light the sides of our head it would blind us but if we hold it 
  low  and downward it helps us. I totaly agree with the others that a high held light like a hand
  held flash light or head lamp will negatively effect the horses vision and could temporary blind him.

  In many cases on a dark night the rider needs a consistent light source on both sides of the horse for searching and navigating.

  TER





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