Getting a horse used to trains

[Lottie28]

Does anyone ride alongside railway lines? Where we’re potentially moving to is next to a local line then slightly further on, a high-speed line.

All hacking involves riding either over or alongside the lines at various points.

They will be able to see the trains from their paddock but is this enough to get used to them? My mare is great with traffic but not overly keen on thundering heavy vehicles coming up from behind, so I can imagine a train is a whole different ball game!

Any advice appreciated. Thanks

 

[Starzaan]

I managed a yard like this for many years. All fields were near the railway lines and you couldn’t hack without running alongside or under the tracks.

We never had a horse have an issue with the trains, provided they were turned out for a week or so first.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

We used to rent a house where the best hacking involved using a little manned railway crossing to get there. Our field was about a mile from the line and you could see and hear the trains day and night. I think this helped the horses get used to them. To start with we timed our hacking so we didn’t have to wait at the crossing while a train went by but as the horses got used to the trains we were able to and they would wait patiently near the barriers. The horses quickly got used to them. I think we were more worried about them being upset than they ever were. We had 4 horses that we rode over and along the railway line. We had no previous knowledge as to whether they’d ever done anything like that before.Only one of them was reluctant to walk across the track initially so I led him over the first few times. We were surprised at how well they coped so fingers crossed you should be ok.

 

[Birker2020]

Our local riding clubs boundary ride runs parallel for a way next to the line. I always uses to turn Bailey to face the train when I heard one approach and never had any issues and we never turned out next to one.

I appreciate each horse is different though, but definitely let it see the train coming towards it, even though it might be obscure from view as it's the house more than anything.

 

[ycbm]

I rode over and near railway lines with Ludo and he was fine but he was excellent in traffic.

Charlie I took to a lesson and the railway line was less than 100 metres away and he was beside himself the first time he saw one. Really quite frantic, it was lucky we were still in the lorry park. The second one, now mounted, he was upset but better. The second time we went, he was beginning to just look at it. We stopped going there but I'm sure he'd have been fine by the third time.

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

I used to keep one of mine in a field next to a railway track. It never bothered him. It was group turnout so anyone new saw their 'non-reaction'. If you are turning out a horse in unfamiliar surroundings I wouldn't have electric fencing personally in case they do take fright and run into it.

I also had a youngster that wasn't kept in the same field but I used to take him out walking near the railway line. He loved them. One of the walks we went over a railway bridge and he would watch them going under. He then used to like to see them coming out the other side. Even when I started riding him I had to allow him to 'trainspot'!

Trains are just like any other perceived hazard or scary object, desensitising them to it helps with their confidence.

 

[Landcruiser]

Some of our bridleways are alongside a high speed line, and also cross it in several places. I have introduced two horses to this, neither have been bothered by the trains although the old boy got a bit jumpy the day we stood at the crossing in the village with a crowd of people and watched the Flying Scotsman (steam train) come through, feet away from us

 

[Equi]

Can you desensitise humans to them? They make me jump every time

 

[Northern Hare]

We moved to a yard where there was miles of hacking around the headlands, but long stretches were right alongside the Eurostar cross channel high speed line.

The first time, I didn't know what to expect, but felt the train approaching before I saw it, and my horse was fine. OMG from then on it was so exciting - all the horses loved galloping flat out up that long headland alongside the Eurostar train when it came past.

In hindsight probably really reckless, but a fabulous feeling - the horses loved it and really raced the train.

 

[Burnerbee]

I used to ride horses that lived in the field next to the Portsmouth to London line. I knew there were very frequent high speed trains. When they owner showed me the mounting block, which was about 6 foot from a level crossing I was a little concerned. I got on and a few seconds later WOOOOSH, train comes past at 60+mph.

Horse did not even flinch. I, on the other hand….

 

[Lottie28]

I managed a yard like this for many years. All fields were near the railway lines and you couldn’t hack without running alongside or under the tracks.

We never had a horse have an issue with the trains, provided they were turned out for a week or so first.

Thank you

 

[Lottie28]

We moved to a yard where there was miles of hacking around the headlands, but long stretches were right alongside the Eurostar cross channel high speed line.

The first time, I didn't know what to expect, but felt the train approaching before I saw it, and my horse was fine. OMG from then on it was so exciting - all the horses loved galloping flat out up that long headland alongside the Eurostar train when it came past.

In hindsight probably really reckless, but a fabulous feeling - the horses loved it and really raced the train.

Not sure I’ll be doing that!

 

[Northern Hare]

Not sure I’ll be doing that!

That's what I said!!

 

[Lottie28]

We used to rent a house where the best hacking involved using a little manned railway crossing to get there. Our field was about a mile from the line and you could see and hear the trains day and night. I think this helped the horses get used to them. To start with we timed our hacking so we didn’t have to wait at the crossing while a train went by but as the horses got used to the trains we were able to and they would wait patiently near the barriers. The horses quickly got used to them. I think we were more worried about them being upset than they ever were. We had 4 horses that we rode over and along the railway line. We had no previous knowledge as to whether they’d ever done anything like that before.Only one of them was reluctant to walk across the track initially so I led him over the first few times. We were surprised at how well they coped so fingers crossed you should be ok.

Thank you

 

[mustardsmum]

We ride over railway bridges and under them on most rides. Only ever had one issue when under the bridge but in 40 years I have had no problems. They generally take no notice. I have ridden parallel to the railway with a young pony who never batted an eye at a passing train. However a dock leave quivering on a bridleway…

 

[HopOnTrot]

Only steam trains!

 

[Boulty]

I kept the spooky Welsh creature at a yard where the access track was shared with the railway & the gateway was basically under the railway bridge for years. Obviously they could see / hear the trains from the fields / stables.

We just went out with a horse used to the trains the first few times and I think them passing so close to the fields helped a lot.

After a few months I could walk along the access track with no reins whilst a freight train went past. (God help me if the grass changed colour though!)

 

[Snowfilly]

I’ve hacked around a lot of railway lines and they seem to learn very quickly that the trains stay on the tracks and aren’t dangerous. Even the traffic shy one was ok with trains, possibly because they were the other side of the fence?

When my mum lived in London, she had a field near the Paddington mainline and used to enjoy galloping alongside the train waving!

 

[nikkimariet]

You’d be surprised how much they do get used to them. Mine is terrible with traffic but even from a distance he will tolerate trains (bizarrely).

I used to ride for a yard of mostly stallions and the school was right next to a railway line. I flinched every time but even the real shape ones didn’t care.

 

[SO1]

I have had to introduce trains for hacking and railway bridges with fast trains going underneath.

It is easier if they are in a field where they can hear the sounds of them. It is best to go out with a horse that is already used to them to get them confident. Even horses that are used to a lot of traffic etc can be frightened at first. I made the mistake of riding Homey past a tube station on my own thinking as he was so brave he would be fine if a tube came past but he was frightened and took off. Had I been with another horse the first time he would have been fine.

Current yard we hack over railway bridge with lots of fast trains coming underneath Homey was alway excellent going over the bridge as he was used to trains from previous yard. Bert is getting there he is quite scared so only goes over the bridge with another horse. But he goes round the little housing estate most weeks where the trains come past but harder to see to get used to the sounds on his own with my instructor on foot and me on the lead rein or my instructor also takes him round there in hand on his own. We have now got to the point where my instructor is on foot and I am off the lead rein. My instructor will also take him over the railway bridge with one of the other horses. Bert is quite brave in most other situations our hacking is challenging so he is doing well. It is a matter of patience and not over facing them.

 

[SEL]

I ride alongside the Chiltern line.

I will listen very carefully before going through the tunnels because they amplify the sound and will wait until they've gone over, but I don't have much issue riding by the line itself. There's a good boundary now of shrubs etc, but the trains are elevated above the bridle path and my mare did give them some sideways looks to start with. The only time I've had her get a bit fidgety was a freight train that was slow, went on forever and made an odd noise. The others go past too quickly for much of a reaction.

A long time ago I was on a yard where one of the midlands lines went down the side of the paddocks. Horses were totally train proof within a week of arriving.

 

[EventingMum]

My land has a boundary with a railway line and we have fields beside the line where both diesel and electric train operate frequently. We have no problems, some new horses are wary initially but soon settle as they see the other horses don't react. The only time we get some reaction is when a steam train passes, the trains often sit down the line building up steam and whistle but even then it's normally just a quick canter about from the horses and I'm sure if the train passed regularly they would soon get used to it.

 

[Alibear]

My yard is near a main line, and we hack past it, over it and under it. All the horses have been fine with it from the start; their fields are within sight and hearing distance of the trains, but the hacking is right next to it. I have so far managed to avoid being under the bridge when a train goes over it, others have said if it does happen its usually so quick its over before the horse reacts. So as others have said, it appears trains are less of a problem to horses than they are to us.

 

[Lottie28]

I kept the spooky Welsh creature at a yard where the access track was shared with the railway & the gateway was basically under the railway bridge for years. Obviously they could see / hear the trains from the fields / stables.

We just went out with a horse used to the trains the first few times and I think them passing so close to the fields helped a lot.

After a few months I could walk along the access track with no reins whilst a freight train went past. (God help me if the grass changed colour though!)

Isn’t it funny how a leaf growing an inch scares them to death but a thundering combine/train is fine?

 

[kerrieberry2]

my horses live on a farm next to the main london line, and they've never batted an eyelid at the trains! we ride right next to them, under and over train bridges! I always stop before the bridge a wait if a train is coming but have been caught out once or twice! and the horse have never had any problems with them

 

[Burnerbee]

Actually, that’s another good point. I’ve spent thousands of hours on trains, largely looking out of the windows for horses (!), and I can barely remember seeing a horse - or any other animal - react.

 

[Jacksie]

We’ve got a train line running alongside some of our hacking. I always dreaded the day I’d meet one as wasn’t sure how they would react but it was a non event. I let them stop and watch and listen carefully before going through any tunnels!

 

[sunnyone]

When newly broken I'd take mine to the campsite entrance to watch the trains just across the road, once standing quietly or grazing I'd consider the job done. We also had a nice ride alongside the track, and would have to pass under the line, sometimes with a train on top, to do this.

 

[Lottie28]

Thanks everyone! I was put off a bit at the thought of hanging on within an inch of my life, but you’ve all put my mind at ease. Much appreciated

 

[Jenko109]

I used to ride a pony who was a short hack from a railway line.

If a train ever came while we were riding alongside the line (massive great fence, totally safe) we would gallop alongside.

Obviously it was pointless as trains now arent like trains in the wild west and it would thunder past us in seconds, but it was fun all the same.