During the half of the year when we only have 6 to 8 hours of sunlight—or less, for some of our HCW friends living in northern latitudes—good outdoor lighting is absolutely critical. Speaking from experience, fumbling around in dark paddocks trying to clean or do chores after a regular 9 to 5 is miserable, and poor lighting can make emergency situations that much harder.
The good news is that much of the hassle of winter horse keeping can be alleviated with adequate lighting. Here are some lighting solutions to consider for your own horse property—including some first-hand tips from Sweet Pepper Ranch!
Grooming Areas
Using a single light directly overhead in indoor wash racks or grooming stalls will create dark shadows underneath the horse. Side lighting is much brighter for wintertime shoeing, grooming, bathing, or all-important vet work. Install a light on either side so that both sides of the horse are well lit, and use ballasts to protect the lights from colder temperatures.
You might also consider installing an infra-red heater directly above your grooming area. If you ride after work, these are a great way to dry off a sweaty horse before turning them back out in colder weather. Add a 30-minute timer so you don’t walk away and forget to turn off the energy-guzzling heater.
Outdoor Confinement Areas
Paddock lighting is a definite “must have” for those with outdoor confinement areas. If you can’t see well when you’re trying to clean, you’re likely to leave manure behind. As this manure accumulates, you’ll end up with more mud issues down the road. Consider installing flood lights around your paddocks to make it easier to keep your manure under control with daily cleaning.
Bonus tip: When winterizing your property, make sure you have plug-in access for stock tank water heaters, with circuit breakers in case they get wet.
Stalls
As with outdoor confinement areas, good lighting in your stalls can make daily cleaning and chores much more manageable. LED lights provide natural-looking light and are both long-lasting and energy efficient. Make sure they’re installed high enough to prevent breakage if a horse kicks or rears in their stall, or cover them with a protective cover that won’t shatter if they do get hit.
Feed Areas
For night feedings, make sure you have enough light to see whether the hay you’re feeding is green or moldy.
Exercise Areas
If you (like many of us) can’t afford a big outdoor lighted arena, perhaps a mercury-vapor light or a couple of flood lights installed over an exercise area might be enough to at least lunge a horse, keeping it (and you!) sane during the work week.
Pathways and Other Outdoor Lighting
Make sure your regular pathways are well lit, including those leading to and from your house, barn, paddocks, arenas, and compost bins. Lighting your driveway or parking areas can also be quite helpful. Step-in solar lights can be an inexpensive way to keep your path lit no matter where you’re headed.
This fall at Sweet Pepper Ranch, we’re trying out a new kind of outdoor lighting: adjustable 3-panel directional LED bulbs. They only use 60 watts, but the output is the equivalent of a 300-watt bulb. They’re also MEGA bright—6,000 lumens! We installed them inside our barn and garage (they’re not meant for exposure to rain and moisture), and they have proven to be tremendously helpful at night.
Note: when considering outdoor lighting, remember that light pollution can significantly disrupt the fall migration patterns of birds. Wherever possible, follow dark sky protocol:
Have outdoor lighting on only when and where needed
Only use the brightness necessary
Minimize blue light emissions
Eliminate upward-directed lighting
For more information on the types of lighting structures recommended, check out the International Dark Sky Association.
If you’re looking for ways to make your winter chores more efficient, adequate lighting can improve your situation with the flip of a switch. But don’t wait for freezing temperatures or when you’re feeding by flashlight to make important changes. Planning ahead for any needed lighting adjustments will help you keep your chores manageable and ensure you and your horses will be safer, healthier, and happier during the dark winter months.
