Does anyone have to cross railway crossings?

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pinkcatkin

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Last year we wanted to go down to the river to stand in the ford but it meant crossing the railway. We got over one way (well my horse jumped the whole thing) and although I could get back my friend couldn't and we were there so long we ended up having to hack about 8 miles to find a way round. My friend's horse wouldn't even go within 20 yards of the line. We tried every trick in the book, i.e. getting off and leading, making her go backwards, me giving her a lead, etc. etc.

Do you think they get a shock or something through their shoes? Does anyone else have problem with railway lines?
 
We have to cross a railway and my mare potters over quite happily but does like to have a good look down the track! It is a steam railway though so there is no electricity involved. It maybe the noise/vibrations down the tracks that her horse didn't like - not sure if it is a proper crossing that there would be any access to live electricity?
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Last year we wanted to go down to the river to stand in the ford but it meant crossing the railway. We got over one way (well my horse jumped the whole thing) and although I could get back my friend couldn't and we were there so long we ended up having to hack about 8 miles to find a way round. My friend's horse wouldn't even go within 20 yards of the line. We tried every trick in the book, i.e. getting off and leading, making her go backwards, me giving her a lead, etc. etc.

Do you think they get a shock or something through their shoes? Does anyone else have problem with railway lines?

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No. I broke my TB mare next to the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line. I mean about 10 ft away from the track, with about 4 trains an hour.
It's a difficult problem to cure though, as trains are quite infrequent for habituation purposes.
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Last year we wanted to go down to the river to stand in the ford but it meant crossing the railway. We got over one way (well my horse jumped the whole thing) and although I could get back my friend couldn't and we were there so long we ended up having to hack about 8 miles to find a way round. My friend's horse wouldn't even go within 20 yards of the line. We tried every trick in the book, i.e. getting off and leading, making her go backwards, me giving her a lead, etc. etc.

Do you think they get a shock or something through their shoes? Does anyone else have problem with railway lines?

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No. I broke my TB mare next to the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line. I mean about 10 ft away from the track, with about 4 trains an hour.
It's a difficult problem to cure though, as trains are quite infrequent for habituation purposes.
S
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But I don't mean the desensitisation of the train noise - that is not a problem is the actual crossing of the track that seems to be a problem?
 
Yes we have to ride over a main line which goes into London.

My girl is fine going over it but its more scared of the flashing 'arms' going down as they clutter when they hit the ground.

On the way home she gets really impatient and she has charged towards the barrier (only a pull and two strides) as i think she thinks they are a double fence! I now keep her WAY back while she waits as she is SOoooooo impatient.

My friends horse suddenly on day decided she would never go over it again and she thinks it was down to vibrations on the line as a train had just gone past.

My girl is really sensitive and we cross straight after a train has passed and not yet suffered (TOUCH WOOD!!)
 
Used top cross one daily, had a problem the first time when he tought it was canter poles but other than then never a twitch out of him.

nothing on yard had problems with it (20 odd horses)
 
Could be. I used to hack near the main line from London Kings X to Edinburgh and the horses could sense the train coming way before we heard it - then you get the weird whispering noise before they finally appear. My old horse used to bounce around like a nutter about 2 min before I could even hear the train approach. Spring has never been bothered about it though.
 
I used to have to ride over an unmanned, ungated crossing - that could be pretty hairy! I'd only cross it if there were two of us so one could hold the horses while the other nipped to the rail phone box to find out if it was safe to cross. The horses would be spooky crossing it but i always found that if i knew it was safe to cross then the best bet was just to kick on to send the horse forwards. can you set up some fake 'railway tracks' at home in the field or school so you desensitise the horse in a safe environment?
 
Whereabouts in East Anglia are you? The line that runs from Beccles to Halesworth is notorious for giving horses' shocks. My old Arab got a belt from it near Brampton and my big gelding got a shock further up the line. Apparently it is something to do with the signals and they have now put up signs saying "Horse riders must dismount"
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as there have been a lot of horses getting belts from this line, which is a shame as a bridlepath crosses it. I won't even attempt to ride across it anymore.
 
Our field is next to a railway line and we have frequent trains! Horses have to cross two sets of tracks if we do our "usual" ride. Taking a new horse out is always "interesting".

The thing our horses all find most scary is the barriers. They will stand within 10 feet of a 60mph train but as the barriers go up they do a little dip first and make a slight noise and the nags ALWAYS jump at that!
 
Definatly agree with Jemima! Gem will stand as close to the tracks if the barriers are already down whilst the train zooms past, but as the barriers move.... thats what scares her.

I definatly think they can sense vibrations on the tracks and that what puts some off crossing them.
 
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