Bad in traffic

pinklilly

pinklilly

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Anyone here had any success with improving a horse that is bad in traffic? I have a Tb that's raced but hasn't been ridden on the roads much and is very nervous of traffic.

He is 8 and is sharp and spooky to ride, which isn't a problem, however the traffic issue is, cars he can cope with so long as they aren't going very fast but large vehicles he can't.

I don't have anyone to ride with ( not a livery yard ) and I can't move him as I can't drive due to a medical problem and there isn't anywhere else and there's no school or anywhere off road.

Just wondering if its worth persevering with him or to try and rehome him to someone who doesn't need to ride on the roads. He's a good hunter, so would probably look for a hunting home.
 
You need to find a field close to the road. My yearling was brought up in a roadside field and when a 2 year old from another field was put in, every time a truck or bus went by it would charge off leaving my yearling wondering what had happened. Icy also spent her early years in a field next to the A1 and dosent bat an eyelid in traffic.
 
Orionstar said:
You need to find a field close to the road. My yearling was brought up in a roadside field and when a 2 year old from another field was put in, every time a truck or bus went by it would charge off leaving my yearling wondering what had happened. Icy also spent her early years in a field next to the A1 and dosent bat an eyelid in traffic.
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Ditto the above, having them beside the road in a field is great. My place has a train track running beside it, and any new horse will spook the first few times, and after that, evenn been ridden, wont spook at a train, hope you get sorted!!!!
 
My trainer says that the best way to traffic-proof a horse is if something passes you, to turn the horse around and chase it away!!!

This is what horses will do with an "invader" to the herd in the wild; quite often the mares in wild herds will do it. I saw two very old horses once, when a deer had got into the field, do it - they galloped around after it and basically chased it out! Hilarious.
 
Having got number of horses used to being ridden in central London traffic they have either got it or havn't. It is all down to temprement at the end of the day and if they are chilled out in traffic or not. If you want a horse that is good in traffic then best bet is to buy one that is good in traffic.
 
OWLIE185 said:
Having got number of horses used to being ridden in central London traffic they have either got it or havn't. It is all down to temprement at the end of the day and if they are chilled out in traffic or not. If you want a horse that is good in traffic then best bet is to buy one that is good in traffic.
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What a really odd post and theory.....................:o
 
amymay said:
What a really odd post and theory.....................:o
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In your opinion.

I also agree that a minority of horses will not be good in traffic regardless of the effort put in. Improved, yes, but I don't think that every single horse is able to deal with traffic well.
 
MistletoeMegan said:
In your opinion.

I also agree that a minority of horses will not be good in traffic regardless of the effort put in. Improved, yes, but I don't think that every single horse is able to deal with traffic well.
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Yes, in my opinion - obviously.

But how does anyone expect a horse to be good in traffic without introduction and education????

Are you saying that you can take a newly broken horse straight out in to traffic and it will be fine???
 
i agree with the keeping the horse in a field next to the road, however they usually stay away so has no benefit, i had a horse petrified of traffic, i stuck a huge hailage bale right next to the wall next to the road, it was funny watching him for the first few days he ran down the field but after about a week he was sick of running off and having to trail back up to the haylage that he just stuck it and and the first time i rode him out after that i had a lorry coming from both directions i was out on my own and in the little ginnel i can usually pull into theye was a dustbin wagon so had to hope for the best and he didnt even blink at them, amazing compared to him before when he used to rear up spin and bolt off away from anything!
 
Thank you. I know the first place where he was broken and trained from 2 until 5 and that they don't do any roadwork at all as I have ridden out there, not sure about the yard he was at between 5 and 7 but it doesn't seem like it.

I think there is scope for improvement there, he doesn't seem too bothered by tractors and used to seeing them in the yard. I don't think he'll ever be 100% though.
 
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