hacking on roads

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caroline23

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my boy is ok with cars and vans, but not so sure on the bigger/faster traffic, ive just moved to a yard which you have to go down a 60mph road to get onto the off road hacking.
old yard had straight onto off road hacking so he hasnt had much experience with traffic for the last year, so im a bit apprehensive of going hacking for the first time at new yard

anyone have any tips/ways to do this safely? i am going with a totally bombproof horse who we will use as a buffer if my horse seems upset
 
caroline23 said:
my boy is ok with cars and vans, but not so sure on the bigger/faster traffic, ive just moved to a yard which you have to go down a 60mph road to get onto the off road hacking.
old yard had straight onto off road hacking so he hasnt had much experience with traffic for the last year, so im a bit apprehensive of going hacking for the first time at new yard

anyone have any tips/ways to do this safely? i am going with a totally bombproof horse who we will use as a buffer if my horse seems upset
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sounds like a good plan - perhaps have another horse behind to slow the traffic down as well? alternatively you could nick some road closed signs and strategically place them on the road before you go out?? good luck, and enjoy your ride I used to keep my pony on a yard next to the A25 in Surrey they soon get used to it!!
 
When we moved to our yard with 60mph+ traffic, I went out with an experienced horse for a few months before we tackled the busy road alone. A good trick in event of scary emergency is to tuck your horse in close behind and slightly to the left of the experienced horse - it means your horse can't see scary things as the other horse's bum/rider is in the way. Make sure you can be seen really well, Hi viz right up!
My horse wasn't actually that bothered though, I was more worried than he was! Just try and stay calm and look past the scary things.
 
Breathe
Chat to companion rider and your horse.
Relax
and don't forget the hi-viz

If YOU are apprehensive, then you can make your horse tense & this can make a nice ride into a worrying time.

Get other rider to ride just behind if yours is good in traffic, or in front if yours is jumpy - or preferably get them to ride on the roadside & ride as a pair like a slow moving vehicle.

Might help you to talk a long stroll or a cycle ride a couple of time to familiarise yourself with the route/drains/signs/plastic bags along the way - some of which you miss even when driving a car slowly. This helps some people in making it familiar to themselves before they take their horse out on the same route.

At least you will have a chance to do a proper cool down for your horse on the way back.

Am sure it will be fine - have a good time when you get to the off road bit :)
 
Is there a field bordering the road that you can ride in? I ride next to an A road, just inside the fence, to get youngsters used to motorbike boy racers and the big HGVs.
 
I know how you feel, one of mine is fine with cars, vans etc, but anything heavy such as lorry's, tractors etc he is terrified. Luckily we got alot of, off road close by with only little bit of road work, but when I do go on the roads & anything big comes along I either stick him close to the other horse or if there is a drive way or layby I just slot in as when he stands & watches them go by he is fine. I am sure he will be fine as others have said just stay calm & relaxed also wears lots of hi viz gear.
 
Mine is brilliant in traffic but it is repetition and when I first got him obviously I was worried as I didnt know really if he was good..

I would go with a really confident horse(mine is actually better alone)! But the one thing I did a lot was to get someone to walk along with hi viz on just to make sure the traffic slowed. We also had a few humps in the road and big man hole covers square ones that I didnt want to walk him over and he didnt like ie would side step.

So I would get someone to walk with you along side. Then get them to hang back and gradually you go on ahead. Do it until you are happy. My sisters horse if it didnt go down the high street in between parked cars for a while she was a pain so every now and again we would take her and she was fine.

That is the other thing they should be able to stand at junctions still and also stand patiently behind a parked car. You never know what you might meet. But if you practice it enough they will be comfortable on the tarmac.

Also try to go at quieter times to begin with. Am sure you will be ok if you do this.
 
I would suggest you start your horse using this route when there is little traffic on the road i.e first thing in the mornings and go out with another road safe horse. Repeat this several times so that the horse gets used to the route
Always wear a long sleeeved hi-viz jacket so that other road users can see your hand signals.
 
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