Lighting working areas

It is essential to take natural lighting into account. This is not easy to control due to the extreme variability of outdoor conditions. A few simple notions will help you to understand it better:

• The glazing index (I) = glazed area/floor area;
• The angle: for the same surface area, a horizontal opening is twice as effective as a vertical opening in terms of allowing in daylight;
• Height: the higher the lighting is placed on the wall, the greater depth of light it will provide.

One good solution, which has been used frequently and for a long time, is to illuminate the riding arena through openings at the top of the walls (on the long side and gable). Vertical openings also encourage vertical lighting, which is particularly sought-after in indoor schools to have a good view of fences.

Dust

The quality of the surface and watering have a significant influence on the production of dust. Dust also depends on the angle of the windows (the more angled the glass surfaces are, the better they can be washed by the rain) and the location (industrial or rural area).

Distribution

Windows on only one side of the riding arena lead to a poor distribution of light.

For riding arenas lit by translucent elements on the walls, the illuminated area should be between one quarter and one third of the total surface area of the riding arena (including the stands). A classic riding school of 20 x 60 m (or 1200 m²) therefore requires between 300 and 400 m² of well-distributed openings.

Equipment

Plastic materials are widely used because of their ease of use and price. However, it is important to know that as they age, they can become significantly more opaque, which reduces the penetration of daylight.

It is advisable to use an impact-resistant or reinforced glass product up to 3 m high.

Maintenance

Maintenance consists of replacing damaged materials and cleaning the lighting surfaces, especially those that are horizontal, on an annual basis.

Electric lighting is essential for riding when there is not enough natural light. The NF EN 12193 standard (March 2008) sets out the general principles that must be applied to the lighting of sports facilities, particularly those dedicated to equestrian sports, in order to ensure good conditions of visibility for athletes, judges and spectators.

Quality of lighting

The quality of the lighting depends essentially on:

• Average lighting levels to be maintained and factors affecting uniformity;
• Restrictions on glare;
• The colour rendering index.

Level of lighting

Lighting levels are set when the installations are operational (after 100 hours of operation).

The initial average illumination of a riding arena must be twice the illumination level to be maintained (recommendations of the Association Française de l’Éclairage for indoor lighting), i.e., the average illuminance still acceptable before maintenance work (cleaning of the lighting apparatus/replacement of lamps).

In equestrian facilities, for teaching purposes, the following average illumination levels are recommended:

• External paths: 25 lux;
• Stables: 150 lux;
• Indoor school: 300 lux (200 lux acceptable for training, initial average illumination of 400 lux);
• Outdoor arena: 200 lux (100–150 lux acceptable for tests, initial average illumination of 200 lux).

In the context of organising competitions, in order to also ensure the comfort of the spectators, an average illumination of 500 lux is recommended.

Balance of luminance

Both in terms of natural and electric lighting, excessive luminance, which is a source of discomfort and reduced visual performance, should be avoided.

Contrasting luminance (lights on a dark background) is also not recommended. The best solution in a riding arena is:

• Light coloured ceilings;
• Walls that are neither too light nor too dark.

Glare values

Glare values are defined by the NF EN 12-464-1 standard for interior lighting. They are presented in UGR (Unified Glare Rating). Below 13 UGRs, glare is negligible; above 28, it is intolerable. A UGR value of 22 must be observed for lighting for training purposes.

For outdoor arena lighting, the CIE 112 publication defines the values of the GR (Glare Rating) index for outdoor sports activities. For training and tests, a GR index of 55 must be respected, for competition level it must be a maximum of 50.

Characteristics of lighting apparatus

Lighting apparatus is chosen according to three criteria:

• Performance criteria: measured by the luminous efficiency, a high level should be sought to reduce operating costs. In order to obtain an illuminance of 100 lux, 60 W/m² in incandescence and 20 W/m² in fluorescence;
• Economic criteria: cost, lifespan, etc.;
• Criteria for use: time switched on, colour temperature, protection index, class, etc.

The following should also be taken into account:

• The protection index (IP) of a light reflects its protection against dust and water penetration. For an indoor arena with a sprinkler system, the desirable IP is 45, for an outdoor arena it is 55 or 65;
• The degree of protection against mechanical impacts: important when activities that can cause impacts to the lighting apparatus are planned (e.g., Horse Ball);
• The class of a light: this reflects its protection against electric shocks.

The choice of the type of lighting apparatus is also essential:

• Incandescent lamps are unsuitable for lighting changing areas due to their insufficient power, low luminous efficacy and short life. They have not been marketed since 2012. Halogen lamps are incandescent lamps and their use alone is not recommended (they can usefully complement high pressure sodium lights, HPS). Marketing of these products ceased in 2018.
• Discharge lamps have a good luminous efficacy, although it sometimes takes a long time for them to turn on (2 to 6 minutes). Fluorescent lamps have greater luminous efficacy compared to incandescent lamps and a longer life. They may be suitable for lighting an indoor arena. A high number of lamps is required due to their limited power, which has the advantage of providing uniform lighting.
• Semiconductor light sources or LEDs (light emitting diode). This technology is one of the most efficient light sources with a high potential for energy savings. Smaller in size, easier to work with in terms of optics (orientation of the light beams), they are more robust from a mechanical point of view and in terms of sealing. In addition, they can be used to reproduce different types of tint and colour quality. Finally, LEDs have a much longer lifetime than others (50,000 hours compared to 1,000 to 20,000 for other types of sources).

Lighting layout

Lighting an outdoor arena is required for evening tests, when there is no indoor school or in poor weather.

Floodlights equipped with discharge lamps of protection class 55 or 65 should be used, placed on pylons set back 4 to 5 m from the track (at the four corners for a rectangular arena), at a height of 10 to 14 metres, inclined at an angle of 7.5° to the horizontal.

An average illumination of 150 lux is sufficient for tests, but not for night-time competitions.