It's going to depend a bit on some other aspects - what's the footing like? Uncertain footing (gravel, small rocks, branches over the path, etc. is all going to slow things down a lot.) What's the lighting like? Full moon and not much shade on the path is a lot difference than new moon or lots of trees at 2am.
15km is about 9 miles: a horse walks at about 4 miles an hour on the flat (slower if there's much incline). If they can trot or canter for stretches, the trot gets up to about 12 miles an hour for moderate amounts, canter is more like 16, but for shorter distances. (And neither will do well with incline or decline or less great footing.) Given the night part, you're probably looking at walking the entire way, though.
If the second horse is used to having different riders, *but* used to doing things with the first horse, having the first horse and rider go first might help a lot. (Horses are herd animals, having a trusted source in the front helps.) How the horses react to a bicycle depends a lot on their previous experience, if the bike produces unusual sounds, etc. It might be better to have the bike go first, so that it's not weird noises behind them.
You might want to look at endurance trail rides to get an idea of speed, scope, etc. and what's involved in doing that.
(Former Horse Girl, not up on all the details at this point.)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2025-01-21 02:00 am (UTC)15km is about 9 miles: a horse walks at about 4 miles an hour on the flat (slower if there's much incline). If they can trot or canter for stretches, the trot gets up to about 12 miles an hour for moderate amounts, canter is more like 16, but for shorter distances. (And neither will do well with incline or decline or less great footing.) Given the night part, you're probably looking at walking the entire way, though.
If the second horse is used to having different riders, *but* used to doing things with the first horse, having the first horse and rider go first might help a lot. (Horses are herd animals, having a trusted source in the front helps.) How the horses react to a bicycle depends a lot on their previous experience, if the bike produces unusual sounds, etc. It might be better to have the bike go first, so that it's not weird noises behind them.
You might want to look at endurance trail rides to get an idea of speed, scope, etc. and what's involved in doing that.
(Former Horse Girl, not up on all the details at this point.)