Outdoor Riding Arena Lighting

Any type of lighting has to meet certain requirements to be considered a great investment. When it comes to finding lights intended for outdoor riding arena applications, the bar is set pretty high. Equestrian arenas need proper lighting to ensure the safety of both the animal and the rider, but they also need to make riding the fun and exciting activity it should be with every ride. Here are a few tips to help you get lights that are ideal for outdoor riding arena applications.

• Find the middle ground in terms of illumination. You will probably want to get some high-powered lights that can be trusted to offer brightness, but be careful not to overdo it. A good rule of thumb is to remember that you want lighting that is less like a parking lot light level of brightness and more than what usually lights up a tennis court. Finding the middle ground illumination will benefit riders and horses by making sure their line of sight is never compromised by blinding lights.
• The higher the better in terms of pole heights. The shorter the pole, the more limited the lighting being cast. If you have a higher pole, there will be fewer harsh shadows and the light will reach an expanded scope for better illumination.
• Choose LED or at the very least choose high-pressure sodium lights over metal halide options. LED is always going to give you the best efficiency and lumen output, but they can be costlier initially which is a drawback for a lot of people. With high-pressure sodium, you don’t get as much power or efficiency as with the LED technology, but you do get a lamp that is gentle and features a lower glare. With metal halide, you end up with too much glare and the lowest efficiency of the three options.
• Use timers. A great way to make sure you aren’t lighting up your arena during the day is with timers. If you intend to do a moderate to heavy amount of riding at night, having your arena lights on an automatic timer can save you a lot of hassle in addition to the money saved by them automatically go off at your chosen time.

When planning your outdoor lighting for your arena, you want to make sure you really put some thought into it to get the best results. With a few tips and some planning, you can pull off a well-lit exterior arena in no time.