|
|
Discussion on Feeding in the Dark...
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
Mcbizz
|
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006 - 1:33 pm:
My horses are turned out 24/7 in large lots with run in sheds. Since it gets dark by 5 pm, I feed in the dark every night, not wanting them to go without feed too many hours until morning. My most treasured piece of "equipment" is my battery powered Petzl head light that fits over my head, leaving my hands free. It has an adjustable lens, which spans from a pencil point to a very wide beam. My horses respect the light beam and never encroach on my space. I can aim the beam their way and direct them by pointing it at their feet.
It also gives me a feeling of security out there amongst all the trees in the dark...wouldn't be without it! Does anyone else out there have special feeding in the dark tips?
|
Member:
Annes
|
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006 - 2:42 pm:
I feed in the dark too - my horses are in a very large field and if they are over the hill they cannot see the barn lights or hear when I call. I started using my husbands spotlight. I can stand at the back doors of the barn and I can direct the beam over the entire field. If they are under the hill they see the beam over their head and come running. It has saved me lots of time walking out into the field calling and calling.
|
Member:
Imogen
|
Posted on Thursday, Dec 28, 2006 - 1:06 pm:
I got hubby to put up a floodlight by the gate as a "your dinner's ready" signal. Works a treat. And I'm not one of those nasty light polluters that leaves the thing on all night - once they've all got their buckets, out it goes.
Imogen
|
Member:
Tuckern
|
Posted on Friday, Dec 29, 2006 - 12:21 pm:
I feed in the dark, both morning and night. :0)
I mounted an outdoor light on my shed that I can turn on when I'm just checking on the horses, or putting out food. When I'm doing chores though (manure pick-up, cleaning feet, etc) I use a Coleman propane lantern. I like them because they give off a lot of light, and it's omni-directional too. It didn't take much for the horses to get used to it either.
Nicole
|
Member:
Ilona
|
Posted on Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 - 6:26 pm:
Nicole,
I would never have thought of a Coleman Lantern for use around horses....isn't there a fire risk? If there is no such risk it is going to be a great addition to my set-up until the ground thaws and I can run electric next spring.
By the way where in New Mexico are you located? I moved here 4 months ago.
|
Member:
Hwood
|
Posted on Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 - 6:44 pm:
A friend sent us a Brookstone battery-powered lantern for Christmas, and I can carry it out and hang it up by the grain bins when I feed in the dark (as I'm about to do right now), and my older daughter sent us a 2 million candle power "flash light" that REALLY lights up the barn and has a separate tiny light that aims at the ground so we can see where we are walking. Both work well, but the flashlight is brighter.
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Saturday, Dec 30, 2006 - 6:53 pm:
Care must be used with a white gas powered Coleman Lantern but it is designed to be safe in most environments and it would be safer than mulling around in the dark. I would not take it into a dusty environment and care to not tip it over must be exercised. Coleman also makes a wonderful florescent lantern that uses one of those large square batteries and is long lasting though not quite as bright. I take both camping and while I would never give up my gas Coleman light and stove, after all getting them to operate dependably is an art passed down from father to son (or daughter), for that quick trip to the bushes you cannot beat the florescent model for convenience.
DrO
|
Member:
Ilona
|
Posted on Sunday, Dec 31, 2006 - 10:48 am:
Thanx Dr O,
I see that Coleman has come up with a few new ideas since I last checked a catalog over 30 years ago  . It does, however, speak volumes as to how long their products last. I guess mine are candidates for the Smithsonian now!
|
Member:
Qh4me
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 2, 2007 - 10:57 am:
Hi all,
I just got a cute idea in my stocking for Xmas, to help when bringing in the horses in the dark. It is a LED light that attaches to the brim of your hat. It works great!
Check it out if interested
https://www.thequickstore.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20&zen id=8b351620fea689e18381c199d1d177f7
|
Member:
Tuckern
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 2, 2007 - 11:36 am:
Hi Ilona,
Sorry for the delay in responding. Yeah, there is a fire risk if the lantern gets tipped over, or as Dr.O said, in dusty places. I don't have a "true" barn for my horses, just a large paddock, and a shelter and hay barn made out of tin (I don't take the lantern in the hay barn, I have a place to hang it right outside), so I don't have anything really that could catch fire.
Yes, DrO the art of lighting a propane stove/lantern was indeed passed down from my dad, and I'll no doubt pass it on to my children too. :0)
The thing to watch out for though, is the top of the lantern gets pretty hot, and if you have curious horses like me, watch out they don't stick their noses to it in their effort to check out that odd hissing object, hehe.
Nicole
|
Member:
Tuckern
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 2, 2007 - 11:38 am:
Oh, yeah, Ilona, I'm in Farmington, NM. In the northwest corner of the state.
Where are you located?
Nicole
|
Member:
Mcbizz
|
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007 - 1:13 pm:
Shawna, I checked out the LED light...it looks very lightweight and handy. My Petzl light is great for placing over a winter cap or hood as the headstrap is adjustable. The LED would be perfect for milder weather, not so heavy.
Another thing I've learned to do that makes night feeding easier is to measure out my hay into hay totes before dark, then it's ready to go. I can check for mold or dead things easier too, tho' the "head light" is a great help with that. I like being able to switch it off easily so I can enjoy the moon and stars while out there...
|
Member:
Qh4me
|
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 3, 2007 - 1:39 pm:
Carolyn,
Yes, the light only weighs a couple of ounces, so you don't even know it is there. I know it will be on everyone in my family's wish list next year. It was that unusual "gift" this year that would be so handy for anyone.
The kids have been using it so they can read in bed without their lights on! 
|
Member:
corinne
|
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007 - 12:56 pm:
Hey guys there was a 3 million candlelight portable spot light listed on tackoftheday.com for under $40. It looked pretty powerful and is listed only until noon tomorrow. Check it out. For those who feed in the dark or who have to get the horses in from the pasture at night it claims to be powerful enough to see for long long distances. Check it out!
|
Member:
lzieman
|
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007 - 2:09 pm:
Keeping in line with Corinne's idea, I don't know if they still have them, but we bought a 10 million candlelight spot light from Sam's. I can't say for sure, but I'm thinking it was about $40. It was probably a year ago though, so I don't know if they happen to regularly carry them. That sucker will light up the entire pasture. Only downside, is it doesn't hold its charge for very long--probably because it is so large. So I just automatically recharge it after use. Wal Mart also has a few different ones in the outdoor section.
|
Member:
sonoita
|
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007 - 4:18 pm:
I had one of those you wear on your head and when it got cold it was hard to turn on and off. I have used a whistle to call the horses before. Now I have a barn w/lights.
And like Carolyn. I make up my feed in bagggies like about a weeks worth and hay in buckets for the two feedings
Happy Trails,
.
|
Member:
lilo
|
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007 - 9:51 am:
Hi all,
I have lights at the barn, but they do not light up the paddocks, and they are fluorescent, so, don't work well when it is below freezing.
The few times that I took a large flash light into the paddock to check on something, I sent the gelding off into a tizzy - he could not stand that light. So, with any of these good suggestions, I would test to see how the horses reacted to them. That reminds me that I need to do some training with the gelding to get him used to a flash light beam.
Lilo
|
Member:
imogen
|
Posted on Friday, Nov 23, 2007 - 2:32 pm:
Just wanted to bring this thread back to the attention of Christmas present buying members!
I used to use headtorches when I was a theatrical stage manager many moons ago. They have radically improved with the introduction of better elastic straps, light batteries and LED bulbs (I just got given one of the new types).
They are FANTASTIC. If you can't think of what to buy your horsey friend for Christmas, get them a headtorch. They are on sale in Argos (UK and Ireland mail order store). Ok, you look like a spanner when you're wearing it, but job done...
All the best
Imogen
|
Member:
ajudson1
|
Posted on Friday, Nov 23, 2007 - 4:58 pm:
Imogen,
Great idea! Last weekend one of my horses had an eye injury. I borrowed one of the head lamps from the guys hunting stuff, it was fantastic to use when trying to see in his eye. Left both hands free to try to steady his head and hold the eye lids open. Used again when the vet came as she only had a little flash light and my light was a heck of a lot brighter. Only complaint I had was trying to get the light aimed at his eye while having my reading glasses at the right angle to be able to see with my best vision, lol!
|
New Member:
lrschwab
|
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 28, 2007 - 9:31 am:
My husband bought me a baseball cap with two built in led lights in the brim. It is powered by a hearing aid battery and the lights are very bright. It is perfect for feeding after dark. They sell them at Lowes for around $18.
|
|
|
