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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] headlamps

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>
  • To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] headlamps
  • Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 21:50:11 -0700

Another approach is to use red lights at night. This allows some visibility for the rider to see more detail, yet tends to not cause problems for the horse’s great night vision. The horse does need to get used to it, though, since “no glaring light” casting a moving shadow at night can be disconcerting and horses tend to be less comfortable at night away from home.

 

Red lights work well low for tracking, too, in most environments.

 

- - - - - -

Jorene Downs

SAR & CERT

Mounted SAR

www.ceoates.com/msar

 

 

From: IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 8:29 PM
To: 'Mounted search and rescue'
Subject: Re: [MSAR] headlamps

 

There are two theories about night work—lights or no lights.

Your horse doesn’t need the light so examine why you need the light.  Trackers use lights aimed along the ground to pick any shadow of a track in the ground.

This is useful but the light, to be effective, must be near ground level and aimed at a slight down angle.  The original Border Patrol approach was to use under bumper driving lights on a van, and very effective.  A headlamp tends to get in other people and horses eyes and explains why you cannot get a powerful enough light (LED units are the most powerful currently available).  

 

Try night adapting.  This means ride without lights, use the existing light to give you a sense of what is out there. There is no distraction for rider or horse, no target effect, and what night vision you have is not destroyed.  Besides, trying to fit a light to a helmet is hard with the brim getting in the way.  If you must use a light hold it out away from you and the horse, whether off to the side or high or low to get the most separation between the light and your eyes.  This reduces bounce back in fog or mist, and moves the aim point away from your body. 

 

I have used various headlamps, Steamlight flashlights and Liteboxes, and other brands, including vehicle mounted systems.  The best way when moving is no light.  You are not moving into the black hole outside the lighted area, things do not just appear at the edge of the lighted area, and the batteries never die.

 

Irv Lichtenstein

 




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