Best way to introduce to roads?

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Passionflower

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Afew months ago i broke in my friesian x cob called Duke, he's coming along nicely learning all the basics and getting really good on the lunge. He isnt fazed at anything what so ever, so different to my mare who spooks at absolutely everything! But im just wondering, to introduce to traffic where do i carry on? Yesterday it was nice weather so i decided to tack him up and take him on a little walk (our livery yard is on country roads) and as it was Sunday alot of motorbikes and lorries go down that road, so i decided to get him off the main road and onto something abit quieter. Anyway to cut a long story short 3 cars came really close to him and he did not batter an eyelid :D then a big horse box with horses in and again, didnt bother. Then the test did come.. a really fast motorbike which didn't slow down AT ALL :mad: i was thinking he would get abit scared at this but he proved me wrong :D im so happy with him! He did really good, but i'm just wondering what do i do now? Should i still take him on roads but somewhere else next time? or with other horses which are good in traffic?
 
I always do it with a steady bombproof horse, that can go on the outside & take the lead if necessary. The younger horse just tends to copy. Which roads depend on local area.
 
Ditto the replies above. If you don't have a steady horse you can hack out with then it helps to have a person the horse is familiar with walking alongside.
 
Sounds like a testament to his rider bring calm and confident:) we are getting friend's just backed 4 year old used to roads at the moment and i ride beside him on her 'sensible' old veteran. Baby has been great but old vet..well he still goes oops and jumps at all and any strangeness :)
 
I never have anyone to ride with so mine just have to go it alone! I go up the bridle path to the farm to look at the tractors but once they're happy up there we just head out, never had a problem! But the see cars/lorrys/motor cross bikes/quads etc at the yard so non are bothered by much!
 
We always led off bombproof experienced horse(which they all were as it was just normal) initially before backed and all the time etc when backed. Do both on own and with sensible if you can find one.

Go when road is quieter. But make sure you have help around you ie the tabbard gang. To slow things. I like the sign "young horse".

But sounds like you are doing all the right things.

Even though I test drove last horse I still had someone on foot and got up extra early to miss heavy rush hour etc. But after a few weeks I was happy. But as the roads are bad it pays to be so sure.

Keep practising etc and really good luck to continue the education.
 
It sounds like it's all going to plan but just make sure that he will go in front of you too as many times they are fine to lead alongside you but if they have to walk in front or without anyone (as they would if you were riding) it's a bit different or scary.
For this reason, I always long rein out so they are used to marching along with nobody at their head so that when you do the same on the roads it's not new to them and they have trust in you when you meet traffic.
 
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