Getting worse in traffic

[Peglo]

So Tali is the least confident horse I’ve had with traffic but never bad. Last year I could get her past a running but stopped tractor with just a bit of quick feet but quickly settled after. But we were usually with our field companion who never looked at traffic.
my cousin who rides Tali’s field companion hasn’t done much riding this year but we have been meeting up with friends but we have had to a hack along the main road solo to meet them.

Its not a silly busy road but every time we have ridden along it something has happened. A pickup has gone past us a few times at an alright speed but then realise it’s towing a boat and she gets a fright. 3-4 big camper vans have gone past us without slowing down at all (on different days) and she’s gotten upset. And then little things like a van going by a bit too fast and she has a look but is fine but it’s followed by another car that’s going the same speed and that upsets her.

her confidence is getting worse and worse with traffic now and so my plan is to just walk her in hand along that road for a while and hope we can have at least a few non eventful hacks. I’ve also ordered a hi-vis with ‘please pass slow and wide’ and plan to get ‘nervous horse’ put on it too in the hope people might slow down. Is there anything else I can do?

she has gotten a bit more spooky as she’s gotten fitter (she wasn’t as fit last year) but the traffic does seem awful this year. (Although there’s many thoughtful considerate drivers but it just takes one dodgy vehicle to panic her


if I can get off the road she is totally fine. A bus and tractor passed us when we were in a lay-by and she just tried to eat grass but obviously a lot of people won’t wait until I get off the road to pass us. Last time I walked her along that road the bus overtook us and she was ok with me on the floor with her. (And the bus driver was very nice and went by slowly)

sorry long post but any advice appreciated.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I think your plan of in hand is a good idea, maybe put a ribbon on the tail to warn car drivers. Walk to the outside of her and just do small bits at a time, worth a try

 

[littleshetland]

So sorry to cast doom and gloom on your plans of Hi Viz advising people your horse as 'nervous' and 'pass wide and slow'. In my experience of spending the best part of 20 years riding on a moderately busy to very busy B road, nothing and no one ever paid any attention to what was written on my Hi Viz. Some days I rode in a plain one, and some days I rode with one with advisory writing on it, there was never any difference to how people passed in their vehicles. Some people were considerate and a lot weren't. But thats not to say you mustn't try - it's good to cover all bases! Good luck, and don't forget to sit like a 'sack of potatoes' if you start feeling tense, and singing helps too!

 

[Sossigpoker]

Are you sure it's not you who gets upset?
I get worried about traffic not slowing and things being towed but my horse only reacts if I shorten my reins and tense. Otherwise he doesn't take any notice.

 

[Peglo]

Crap to hear folk take no notice @littleshetland, I thought it might be the case but I guess if it slows even 1 person down a bit then that’s something.

@Sossigpoker i will admit I’m starting to get a bit more anxious now. I notice myself dreading vehicles and take a deep breath and sit still and normal. When she’s gotten a fright and took a few steps forward I’ve pulled her back as an immediate reaction a few times and know I mustn’t. It has been literally something every time on that road. And that is winding me up too. And so I likely need a break too to reset.

it’s so annoying as when I rode my other 2 I knew most cars that passed us and they knew me and slowed down as they wouldn’t want to hurt me. (Or anyone else riding) Now I hardly know half the folk that pass and they don’t seem to mind if they go passed and scare my horse and risk me falling off.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I moved yards two months ago because it was just far too busy, the yard , the roads, summer was a nightmare. People with dogs off leash…. Now I can safely hack anywhere and its been hassle free so far It becomes less enjoyable when your anxious about stuff and then horse may pick up on that.

 

[planete]

Is there such a thing as a tabbard saying 'You are on camera' or with a picture of a camera? Plus wear a camera if you do not already. I am training Woody cob to traffic on the narrow roads around the yard we moved to three weeks ago. He is fine with traffic coming towards us but I worry about traffic from behind since I had a horse hit from behind many years ago (we both survived). I offer him a treat from the saddle on the right hand side as the vehicle starts passing us. It does two things, makes him keep his back end angled towards the roadside and gets him to associate being passed from behind with a good thing. It also boosts my confidence which I am being forced to rebuild after years on the Forest with no roadwork. I am wondering whether defensive riding as advised for bicycling and motorcycling would be a good thing to do or whether it would enrage motorists? You take up the middle of the road to block overtaking and only let the vehicle overtake when you feel it is safe for you and the horse.

 

[littleshetland]

A lot of this is about keeping yourself calm. My mantra through busy traffic is 'I am a sack of spuds, I am a sack of spuds, etc etc..' You may be understandably tense about the situation, but the trick is not letting the horse know that!

 

[littleshetland]

Is there such a thing as a tabbard saying 'You are on camera' or with a picture of a camera? Plus wear a camera if you do not already. I am training Woody cob to traffic on the narrow roads around the yard we moved to three weeks ago. He is fine with traffic coming towards us but I worry about traffic from behind since I had a horse hit from behind many years ago (we both survived). I offer him a treat from the saddle on the right hand side as the vehicle starts passing us. It does two things, makes him keep his back end angled towards the roadside and gets him to associate being passed from behind with a good thing. It also boosts my confidence which I am being forced to rebuild after years on the Forest with no roadwork. I am wondering whether defensive riding as advised for bicycling and motorcycling would be a good thing to do or whether it would enrage motorists? You take up the middle of the road to block overtaking and only let the vehicle overtake when you feel it is safe for you and the horse.

Not sure about defensive riding....I reckon people would only try and squeeze past on the inside or start leaning on the hooter, hurling abuse, goodness knows what. A lot of motorists seem to feel that horses have no place at all on the roads, just the sight of us seems to enrage them sometimes, I just have a feeling this wouldn't go down well. As far as I know, the BHS advise is to keep left. I like the idea about a 'You are on camera' tabard though.

 

[Peglo]

I want a camera but so far haven’t gotten one. Horses… always something they need ? but it’s on the shopping list.

I could probably for the most part stay off that road but that wouldn’t be solving the problem. And it’s a useful bit of road to ride on but yes I need to stay calm which I’m not sure I’m doing the best at. I will ride along it when there’s company and otherwise walk her in hand until We feel more settled. B roads are better for us as traffic has to slow down.

@planete im so sorry to hear of your accident. That sounds horrific but so glad you were both ok. I can’t imagine how scary that would be. I mean it’s what goes through my mind the whole time when riding but for it to actually happen.

@Barton Bounty i feel so confident riding her otherwise I’m sad that this is making me anxious. I’m mostly just worried something might happen her. Glad you’ve got lovely hacking now. ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I want a camera but so far haven’t gotten one. Horses… always something they need ? but it’s on the shopping list.

I could probably for the most part stay off that road but that wouldn’t be solving the problem. And it’s a useful bit of road to ride on but yes I need to stay calm which I’m not sure I’m doing the best at. I will ride along it when there’s company and otherwise walk her in hand until We feel more settled. B roads are better for us as traffic has to slow down.

@planete im so sorry to hear of your accident. That sounds horrific but so glad you were both ok. I can’t imagine how scary that would be. I mean it’s what goes through my mind the whole time when riding but for it to actually happen.

@Barton Bounty i feel so confident riding her otherwise I’m sad that this is making me anxious. I’m mostly just worried something might happen her. Glad you’ve got lovely hacking now. ?

Go look at the thread i opened about a camera, I am currently awaiting mine

 

[Pippity]

Is there such a thing as a tabbard saying 'You are on camera' or with a picture of a camera?

V-Bandz do one, along with a dummy camera to clip on.



However, as others have said, I've rarely seen writing on a tabard have much effect.

The best thing I've found for slowing people down is just to be decked out absolutely head-to-toe in hi-viz. When we're out like this (usually with leg bands, too), traffic tends to be a lot more considerate. I think it's more of an automatic, "What the hell is that???" reaction than deliberate politeness, but it does have an effect.

 

[Birker2020]

So sorry to cast doom and gloom on your plans of Hi Viz advising people your horse as 'nervous' and 'pass wide and slow'. In my experience of spending the best part of 20 years riding on a moderately busy to very busy B road, nothing and no one ever paid any attention to what was written on my Hi Viz. Some days I rode in a plain one, and some days I rode with one with advisory writing on it, there was never any difference to how people passed in their vehicles. Some people were considerate and a lot weren't. But thats not to say you mustn't try - it's good to cover all bases! Good luck, and don't forget to sit like a 'sack of potatoes' if you start feeling tense, and singing helps too!

Interesting you saying that because I had the opposite with my hi viz, I would often get stopped and asked if I was a police woman because of the Prolite hi viz I used to wear, especially as Bailey was a big strapping 17.1hh and I am so tall we'd often be mistaken for police!

I also used to wear flashing lights as a lot of our hacks were in 40mph/50mph roads in order to go to country lanes. And some of the country lanes were quite dark so the lights came in quite handy. We found that a lot of drivers slowed down because they thought I was a copper!

I think a better deterrent is a camera or a hat cam, my hi viz exercise sheet actually said "you are being filmed" or words to that affect.

 

[Orangehorse]

I wouldn't put "nervous" the best I think is a picture of a camera.

Make sure you are visible from the back, put something on the horse's legs because just a tabard isn't enough if you are on a dark coloured horse.

 

[Rowreach]

I've got some magnetic camera patches, seem to remember they were designed for motorcyclists, which you can put on whatever item of clothing you are wearing. They seem to be very effective, as is my camera, especially now I have adorned it with yet more hiviz.

The other thing I've found really helps slow people down are my home made hiviz tassels attached to the end of a schooling whip, which I always hack out with now. It's known as my Wafty Whip because I waft it up and down when I think someone is coming along at speed with no intention of slowing down. I chopped up an old (cheap) tabard to make the tassels and attached them with an elastic band. OP you might find one of those works.

 

[Peglo]

I wouldn't put "nervous" the best I think is a picture of a camera.

Make sure you are visible from the back, put something on the horse's legs because just a tabard isn't enough if you are on a dark coloured horse.

the thing is I don’t think the people going past fast is being deliberately inconsiderate. They usually wave and smile as they go past as she is spooking so I thought if I let them know she’s nervous they might think they needed to slow down rather than carry on as fast.

she’s a light chestnut with white mane and tail so pretty visible. We don’t have hedges or trees here to camouflage us. I can’t get boots on as she wears brushing/knee boots already.

 

[Orangehorse]

the thing is I don’t think the people going past fast is being deliberately inconsiderate. They usually wave and smile as they go past as she is spooking so I thought if I let them know she’s nervous they might think they needed to slow down rather than carry on as fast.

she’s a light chestnut with white mane and tail so pretty visible. We don’t have hedges or trees here to camouflage us. I can’t get boots on as she wears brushing/knee boots already.

Most people don't know anything about horse behaviour. I have high viz leg wraps that go over brushing boots.

 

[nagblagger]

I get tense in traffic, previous accident and near misses! My mare is better than my retired horse but still far from 'traffic proof', what i find works for me is keeping up a conversation with my friend and i have a strap between the front d rings of the saddle and i loop my little finger underneath it and it keeps my hands from rising, tensing up and passing the stress down the reins.

Could you put yellow/orange tape round your brushing boots so it looks like 2 stripes?

 

[Pippity]

the thing is I don’t think the people going past fast is being deliberately inconsiderate. They usually wave and smile as they go past as she is spooking so I thought if I let them know she’s nervous they might think they needed to slow down rather than carry on as fast.

she’s a light chestnut with white mane and tail so pretty visible. We don’t have hedges or trees here to camouflage us. I can’t get boots on as she wears brushing/knee boots already.

Equisafety's leg bands are designed to go over boots, I think. They certainly don't work well on bare legs!

Can she wear a hi-viz exercise sheet? A hi-viz tail guard?

The more glaringly visibly obvious you are, the more you can be seen from ages back and prompt a "WTF is that?" response, and the more time you can give people to slow down without slamming on the brakes, the better. Multicolour hi-viz, a hi-viz from your head to her legs, flashing lights anywhere you can stick them if it's going to be gloomy. I have an LED whip which is effective for getting people to slow down. You want to look weird and big and unexpected (and potentially capable of damaging their vehicle), and look it from as far away as possible.

There really isn't enough time for people to read something written on the back of your tabard before they're past you, unless they've already slowed down.

 

[Birker2020]

she’s a light chestnut with white mane and tail so pretty visible. We don’t have hedges or trees here to camouflage us. I can’t get boots on as she wears brushing/knee boots already.

I used to put these on Bailey, although admittedly the photos on my previous reply don't show them.

They stretch so fit over boots.

Please don't think that just because she is light coloured or has a white mane and tail she will show. There are certain conditions/tricks of the light which will mean that you are practically invisible, for instance if the sun is low in the sky and you are in a blind spot to the driver through no fault of your own and this is where lights will show you up.

 

[Peglo]

@nagblagger that’s a good idea with the strap. We used to put flashes on the saddles for kids to hold onto. Don’t think I have one anymore but bound to find something.

@Rowreach your whip is a great idea.

@Pippity I’m not sure how happy she would be with being wrapped up in stuff. I could look at a hi-viz hat cover and some flashing lights. Her tail would cover boots on her back legs but I can hi-viz as much as I can.

she certainly doesn’t look like a police horse (and there’s a lack of a mounted police force here) so wouldn’t be able to fool people to slow down like that but as she’s very pony like it’s surprising people might not slow down more thinking it could be a child riding.

this is the offending road, taken before we started having trouble. It’s very easy to spot even a solo walker in dark clothes along this bit of road so I don’t think anyone doesn’t see us but shocking them with Hi-viz might work.

 

[Peglo]

@birker yes bad lighting is something I’m pretty conscious of (as a car driver myself) so try to stay off the roads when the suns coming up/down.

your leg bands looks good. I also have a hi viz breast plate I could try on her. Will dig it out.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Crap to hear folk take no notice @littleshetland, I thought it might be the case but I guess if it slows even 1 person down a bit then that’s something.

@Sossigpoker i will admit I’m starting to get a bit more anxious now. I notice myself dreading vehicles and take a deep breath and sit still and normal. When she’s gotten a fright and took a few steps forward I’ve pulled her back as an immediate reaction a few times and know I mustn’t. It has been literally something every time on that road. And that is winding me up too. And so I likely need a break too to reset.

it’s so annoying as when I rode my other 2 I knew most cars that passed us and they knew me and slowed down as they wouldn’t want to hurt me. (Or anyone else riding) Now I hardly know half the folk that pass and they don’t seem to mind if they go passed and scare my horse and risk me falling off.

I would get your instructor or similar to take him out as it does sound like you're making the behaviour in traffic worse . Sorry if this is harsh but it's so easy to teach a horse to worry about traffic with out reactions. My now legend of a cob keeps surprising me by how calm he is with everything we've met so far- as long as I don't react by gripping and shortening the reins.

 

[Peglo]

I keep her at home and don’t have a regular instructor she knows well enough to ride her. Putting a random person on her won’t help her once she gets a fright. She trusts me so hopefully I can get her confidence up again with hand walking her or taking her along there with company. It’s frustrating as she was hacking out so confidently at the start of the summer until people kept going past so fast.

 

[littleshetland]

Interesting you saying that because I had the opposite with my hi viz, I would often get stopped and asked if I was a police woman because of the Prolite hi viz I used to wear, especially as Bailey was a big strapping 17.1hh and I am so tall we'd often be mistaken for police!

I also used to wear flashing lights as a lot of our hacks were in 40mph/50mph roads in order to go to country lanes. And some of the country lanes were quite dark so the lights came in quite handy. We found that a lot of drivers slowed down because they thought I was a copper!

I think a better deterrent is a camera or a hat cam, my hi viz exercise sheet actually said "you are being filmed" or words to that affect.


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Aha! I’ve got a ‘Polite’ one…. I used it when I rode my daughters short, fat , hairy cob!? no wonder it didn’t work! I did use it with a big, strapping gelderlander - he could have been a police horse and some other big ones…. I’m still here to tell the tale, so perhaps that particular tabard may have helped! I’m riding a 16.1 PRE at the moment with a mane down to his knees….. he doesn’t remotely resemble a police horse, but I’ll certainly try it on my next hack!?

 

[SEL]

I found DEAD SLOW on the back in the tabard work better than anything politely suggesting they go past slowly.

What actually really helped was 6 weeks of box rest with 2 in hand walks out a day which had to fit in around work and therefore matched the same time we get all the idiots. Pony decked out in an orange high viz horse walker rug and me in yellow. Pocket full of treats if she stood dead still while some idiot went past too fast / close.

She's been back in work for a couple of months now and will happily stand to cross the main road with someone revving their engine behind her. But I am buying a camera after that!

 

[Cloball]

I wonder if people would notice if you put 10mph >2m or even understand. The irony is if people went slowly they would be able read a tabard ?. It makes me so mad but I don't know how to find a solution.

 

[Peglo]

@SEL i think doing in hand hacking along the roads is the way forward for now. I’m glad to hear it’s really helped your horse in traffic.

@Cloball i did wonder wether a 10mph tabard might remind people. I really don’t even mind people going past at 20 (depending on the vehicle) it’s shocking people are so happy to risk someone’s lives for the sake of 10 seconds to slow down. And that includes all the reckless driving around cyclists.

so many good ideas. Thank you very much everyone.

 

[PapaverFollis]

You aren't going to stop the traffic being idiots. Unfortunately. You can change you and your horse's reaction to it.

Feed her a treat every time a car passes. If it is something bigger or a trailer, stop and give her a few treats in a row. Start on quieter roads. Then with you on the ground on the busier road if you feel safe doing that. Or with other horses.

Having to go through the action of feeding the treat gives you something to do other then tense up. Breathe. I used to joke that The Beast was getting a treat and I needed a swig of gin, enough of a little mental joke to give me a smile or a giggle which changed my emotional reaction too. She used to be upset by lorries and tractors but by doing this she's very solid now. Extremely food-orientated horse though!

 

[Peglo]

You aren't going to stop the traffic being idiots. Unfortunately. You can change you and your horse's reaction to it.

Feed her a treat every time a car passes. If it is something bigger or a trailer, stop and give her a few treats in a row. Start on quieter roads. Then with you on the ground on the busier road if you feel safe doing that. Or with other horses.

Having to go through the action of feeding the treat gives you something to do other then tense up. Breathe. I used to joke that The Beast was getting a treat and I needed a swig of gin, enough of a little mental joke to give me a smile or a giggle which changed my emotional reaction too. She used to be upset by lorries and tractors but by doing this she's very solid now. Extremely food-orientated horse though!

she loves a treat and I do give her one when I get on so she’s good at turning for one. Giving us both a distraction will be good. Thank you.