Getting foals used to cars... Advice please!

[muckypony]

Just looking for some advice/experiences really! I know that some people think they should be left to be horses at a young age, but I want to get them used to 'scary' things in the world before they get naughty and realise how strong they are! They are shetties too so even more likely to be cheeky!

My boys are almost 8 months (technically yearlings now!! ) and I've had them about 2 months, in this time they have come on leaps and bounds!! They lead superb now and they are proving quite easy to bombproof - I can rub plastic bags over them, shake bags at them, flap balloons at them, they pick up their feet with no problems etc. All in all they are very well behaved - they have their moments, but they are still babies! Most importantly, they are very nice people and just seem to want to please.

I would like to start taking them out for short walks in hand to get them to see the world! However, I have to go on a road to get anywhere which is unfortunate. My dad has been helping me and we have taken them for walks around the car park (my little yard is next to a golf course and access is through the car park, very handy!) and they are behaving well. Last weekend we took them to the end of the drive so they could see the cars going past. They both pooed themselves at the first car!! But each one that went past they got better, and Acer was even wanting to walk closer to the road and not spooking as cars went past. Someone drove out of the car park too, they stopped and we walked past and both boys were fine just a little bewildered....!

So next is to get them out onto the road. So far they are very quick learners and seem to get used to things quickly but I just want some reassurance! What is the best way to do it? Do I just bite the bullet, go out with them and praise them each time a car goes past? (They respond very well to vocal praise) or is there anything else I should be doing? I was wondering whether I should take one at a time, but they are much happier together so I'm thinking it will be best to keep them with each other.

When they first arrived Acer dragged me across the floor twice, purely out of fear, but I just worry that he may do the same and its much different on the roads... I'm hoping that now he knows me, he'll trust me more than he did before and not actually want to get away from me!! Am I right in thinking this?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[Ladyinred]

Keep on as you are, from a place of safety but so they can see the cars. Once they are used to seeing them face on the turn them so the cars appear to be coming in front or behind them. Before you realise it they will be fine and you can go for walks. Remember to do this in wet weather as well cos, don't you know, cars are scarier when they whoosh in puddles!

 

[muckypony]

Thank you - yes it was a bit wet the other day and even better, theres a pot hole just near the drive, so each time a car goes past it makes a nice 'ker-plunk' noise!! Very scary!

 

[Sparkles]

I spent the summer grazing Sparks near the motorway under the bridge...


He's not bothered by any traffic now so guessing it worked! But he was never too bothered anyway tbh.

 

[Dry Rot]

Yes, a good way is to beg some grazing beside a busy road.

Or just continue as you are doing but perhaps with the refinement of shoving a slice of carrot into their mouths every time a car drives past! After a while, they will look forward to seeing cars!

(This is not "treating" but rewarding. There's a subtle difference).

 

[muckypony]

Actually there is some grass I'm sure they can munch on the driveway.

They are rather partial to bread... Has helped me this far so I'm still using that, always have a bit of bread to hand and they'll do anything I say!!

I don't mind the occasional treat for a reward purpose, aslong as they don't get nippy!

 

[Passtheshampoo]

My husband lead our youngster out with me riding my 'bombproof in traffic' mare. Worked a treat as youngster didn't pick up any scarey vibes and took comfort from my mare. I also own land next to a busy road and have found that any horse which has been bad in traffic improved greatly after being grazed on the land with other horses who weren't bothered. One young mare spent the first 3 weeks grazing as far away from the front boundary as poss but she did become bomb proof in traffic realising it was just noisey.

 

[CBFan]

I would just carry on as you are really.

PLEASE be careful about leading them on the road. Particularly in just a headcollar - as you've already found, they may be small but they are bleddy strong and could easily get away from you if they wanted / were frightened enough to do so... just standing at the side of the road is enough to get them used to traffic. Once they are happy standing watching it go past, turn them to face AWAY from the traffic as it is often when they see things in their peripheral vision that they get frightened rather than if they are seeing it face on...

if and when you do go out on the road, to begin with I would ask them to stand while traffic passes them, give them lots of fuss and praise and maybe the odd treat. Obviously make sure you are stood between them and the traffic. This is often all the reassurance they need as they think if you're not frightened by it, they shouldn't be either...

 

[Jaycee]

No advice only this...........Saw the title and immediately thought of my friend who put her orphaned hours old foal in her car to take him to look after him! One way to get him used to cars........ Sorry couldn't resist!

 

[tallyho!]

I got my 8mo when I got her to just walk around the yard and sniff parked cars. Then I left my engine running and let her have another sniff (she licked my brake lights clean) and then turned her out in a paddock nearest the road to the farm. Cars, tractors, lorries etc drive past regularly and now it's just part of this strange place called life.

Although, she does still have a real nervousness of the tractor but only when it's running... Bizarre.