Overview
Sparrowbush Farm, a family-owned enterprise located in Dorset, offers Livery services along with Riding Arena facilities for hire. As part of their recent expansion, they introduced a 70m x 50m Show Jumping Arena.
Kellwood was proud to assist Sparrowbush Farm by designing and supplying a custom lighting solution tailored to meet the specific performance and compliance requirements of the new arena.
Objectives and Challenges
Relatively common and unusual requirements needed to be considered:
High Lux Levels – Ensure compliance with CIBSE recommended illumination levels for Show Jumping activities.
Uniform Light Coverage – optimise luminaire positions to provide an even distribution of light across the arena surface.
Minimise Glare & Shadowing – use specialist lighting optics to shape light distribution to reduce shadows that may spook horses or intense light that may daze riders.
The work
For this project, Kellwood specified the Ayrton 3 Series premium high-mast LED luminaires, utilising 770W and 920W models with specialist beam distributions to ensure thorough and effective illumination across the site. All fixtures featured a 5000K correlated colour temperature (CCT) and a colour rendering index (CRI) above 70, supporting accurate colour perception. Backspill guards were incorporated to minimise light trespass and reduce environmental impact.
To validate the lighting design, Kellwood provided both 3D visualisations and False Colour Maps, clearly illustrating light distribution and confirming target lux levels. These tools played a crucial role in assuring the client of the system’s real-world performance.
An extensive Glare Rating (GR) analysis was performed from 140 simulated observer positions throughout the arena, capturing the perspectives of both riders and spectators. GR values ranged between 39 and 51, ensuring optimal visual comfort and performance.
Key lighting performance parameters were modelled using DIALux software, with the design delivering the following results:
| Parameter | Average Lux (Eav) | Uniformity (U0) | Glare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | >200 lux | >0.5 | <55 |
| Design Level | 205 lux | 0.702 | <51 |
The results
Sparrowbush Farm Show Jumping Arena now benefits from a tailored lighting system that meets professional equestrian standards. The design delivers uniform, safe, and glare-free lighting that enhances both performance and visual experience for evening riders. Kellwood Lighting’s data-driven, client-focused approach ensured that all performance criteria were met without compromise.
This project exemplifies best practice in equestrian lighting—balancing performance, safety, efficiency, and environmental care.
≥64% forecast energy saving
≥70% forecast energy saving
