Finding your horse at night in a hilly pasture

I very recently moved my boy to a new barn (LOVE it, but miss the old place too!) where he's at pasture with lots of hills. Occasionally I want to ride after dark, and while we have barn/arena lights, the hills are high and steep enough that if your horse isn't within 50' of the gate, good luck finding them!

So I saw this stuff online awhile back:
1" x 5 yard Tape Brothers High Energy Glow Tape (10 Hour)

I was considering adhering it to some sort of wearable so Sock could be seen a few hours after dark if necessary. He WOULD benefit from bell boots since he occasionally forges when he plays too hard, or maybe a collar like this:
Free Head Horse Collar (Supplies Tack - Halters Leads - Halters)

But obviously something with a breakaway feature in case of emergency.

Any other suggestions? Things that have worked for you?

Thanks in advance!

I taught mine to come to the fence when I whistle. Lol
Whistle, and a little treat or grain when they finally decide to come in. Or always whistle at feeding time.

I agree, have him come to you whether it dark or light out side! That's the easiest way. Make your presence an inviting one! Catch him, give him a carrot. Stand a few feet away, catch and carrot. Back away, call, catch then carrot. Eventually stand by the fence, call, catch and carrot. Be careful with other horses in the pasture, eventually they all start thinking their name is the same as your horses ;)
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Yep, call his name or a generic "Come On!" and then rattle the feed bucket. This can be started at feeding time, even if he is at the barn.

At least your horse has a good name to be screaming at the top of your lungs. Nothing like calling out the new horses old barn name Habibi "HA-BEH-BEH!!! BEEE BEEE!"

I actually have been trying to instill coming when called, but it's a little tougher when he's on green pasture! He REALLY wanted to come when I called him when he was on dirt, but he was afraid of the other horses pushing him out if they were at all between he and I. The horses here already know I don't really want anything to do with him, and usually once I'm in sight and call he'll come.

I bought a dog whistle awhile ago that I was intending on using for that purpose. Also I'll be buying more expensive treats. They cost more, but they DID get him into the trailer without too much fuss while the apple wafers did not lol!

I used to have this problem too, I could look for 15-20 min and not find the 15 horses out in a HUGE hilly pasture, I just started bringing a flash light bc my horse wont stop his eating for nothing!

My old barn was the same way, 50 open acres of hills and not a horse in sight. Something I've learned after being there enough was our herd had a routine. In the morning they're in the front and by late evening they all huddle in the back corner. If you didn't know any better, you'd go nutty thinking a black hole ate all the horses.
It really helps after dark too, since like you said "if they aren't within 50ft of the gate, good luck!" At least you would have a general idea of where they are.

My boys are at home...but they always come running when called. They equate being called with food or treats.

That's probably the easiest way to get them to come when called...

I had the same problem when Buddy was at a barn and stable about three years ago.


The problem with getting him to come when I called or whistled -- other horses would respond and come too. As a matter of fact, seemed as if most of the time, Buddy would ignore me and other horses would come to me.


I never got around to putting anything on him to find him at night, but since then I have seen things for dogs collars that you clip onto the collar and when you turn it on, it is a light that blinks on and off. I did get some for my dogs and I can see them anyplace on our 1 acre fenced in yard. I wonder if that would for horses?

Reflective tape on a BREAKAWAY halter would work just fine!:)