Hacking horse after car accident

M

malakai

Active Member
Joined
17 September 2009
Messages
39
Visit site
Hi there!

I went to look at a horse at the weekend that I was supposed to be taking on loan as a happy hacker, visited last week to ride in the school (he was fab!) but was told at the weekend that he is 'nervous' in traffic, not a problem I thought so out we toddled with the owner on her other horse.

Now for the good bit, this nervous horse turned into a raving lunatic when a car came round the corner, he planted while it was coming towards him and then reared, spun and bucked down the road when the car came level with him! As soon as he reared I slid off, Ive got 3 kids to think of! We retrieved the horse a bit further down the road and started leading him back to the yard, everytime a car was in view he started rearing and dancing round.

Apparently 6 months ago he was clipped by a car out hacking and has planted/napped ever since, I politely declined saying he wasnt for me (which got me called a timewaster!)

But my question is, is he likely to ever 'come good'? How would one go about sorting this out? He is dangerous to lead and to ride?
I'm not even considering loaning this horse now but my thirst for knowledge has been pricked!!

Thanks
Mal
 
An old boy of mine was hit by a lorry when he was 3. In normal circumstances he was fine with traffic but if cars had loud engines/revved/got too close/beeped horn he would do a 'mini bolt' until he felt far enough away. To avoid this, whenever I felt he would be scared I would get off and walk him past/hold whilst car went past. He was never completely over it, but with a lot of work he was at a stage where he was fine 99% of the time, he just paniced with unsympathetic idiot drivers.
 
That is one shockingly irresponsible owner! I can't believe she would pop someone on her horse without a word of warning that he has such a serious issue with traffic. Looking for a loanee for this horse at the moment is totally irresponsible, unless they can find someone who only wants to school and/or has access to off road hacking. The owner was a total cow to call you a timewaster!

I would imagine the horse could be helped eventually but he would need an experienced, patient professional to take him on and introduce him to cars in a very controlled environment. I certainly would not be taking him out on the roads, but would expect the professional to introduce cars in the yard, under controlled conditions and not push the horse to the point of panic but allow him to re-discover cars for himself. The horse might do better if allowed to approach the car as slowly as he liked, rewarded for any positive behaviour, ignored for being silly, etc. Then he might have a chance of coping with cars in more challenging situations.
 
Yup, it does sound as though this one would need some off-road-car work so to speak. At a later stage hacking out with other calm horses both behind and to the outside might become a possibility so that horse doesn't feel so vulnerable (assuming he was hit from behind by an overtaking car, obviously different accident => different configuration).

I know of one horse where that worked, and another that was 'retired' to hack mainly off road (its accident was on a VERY busy road, I think it may now be OK on quite roads.)
 
Thanks everyone!

As I said Im not interested in loaning him anymore just very interested in behaviour/issues etc.

Yes Booboos I should have informed her that 'I' had issues hacking! And could not cope with a spirited horse, I dont think she will be finding a loan home for him under the happy hacker title!
 
OMG All I can say is thank goodness you got back without incident. I think you have far more reason to accuse the owner of wasting your time!

I think with regard to if the horse will come good, there probably is a chance given a lot of time, and patience, I would not want to take the risk, especially if it was a horse I was loaning.
Having said that, we bought a shire x, in the late 1980s and he had started training to be a police horse, but was involved in a traffic accident, and after his recovery we took him on. We owned him for 24 years, and he always had a fear of motorcycles and clippers. In all that time we were never able to put a pair of clipper blades against him without him being heavily sedated, and over the years we made great efforts to try to desensitise him, but his fear was too deep.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top