Horse scared of cars

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About 3 months ago my just turned 4 horse had a bad accident on road when a 4x4 and flat bed trailer went past at over 45mph in a narrow village. He turned and bolted then attempted to jump a 5foot hedge lengthwise. He collided with the post and rail in the hedge, did a face plant into the ground dumping me then rolled over into the road. The charming driver stopped to have a quick look then drove off. Nothing the police could do. Luckily my horse was unhurt as he had an exercise sheet and loads of boots on! He hacked a couple of times after fine but then had a delayed reaction and now tries to bolt if a car passes even slowly. Our road isnt busy, i have to do 200m before off road hacking but i darent take him out. Company doesnt seem to help, I just wondered if anyone had any suggestions? He was hacking beautifully alone and in company since he was 3, it doesnt help that i get tense if i hear a car now. Any help appreciated, thanks.
 
A few years ago I read the story of a lady who lived on an island (? Scotland, Sark? - can't remember) where there was no traffic. She moved to the mainland and her horse came with her. The horse had never ever seen cars in all her life and panicked the first time one came past her. Owner worked out a plan. She started leading the horse round the lanes, armed with a pocket full of tasty titbits. Every time a car came near them, she would flag it down, explain the problem and surreptitiously hand the driver a titbit. The driver would then lean out of the car and feed the horse the titbit. After a surprisingly short amount of time, the little horse - so afraid of cars a week or so before - started pricking her ears up whenever she heard a car, and walking happily up to the driver for her titbit. You might be able to do something similar by calling in a few friends to help by driving slowly and quietly past and giving a titbit.
 
This obviously isn't a solution to the entire problem but for when you suspect that you could be partly responsible for the spook.

I worry about my girl spooking at motorcycles and she has a special dislike for white box shaped vans. I found myself tensing up if I saw either coming towards us. Now when anything scary is coming towards us, or from behind us, I make a conscious effort to completely loosen my lower leg and keep my hands still. I think that she had been reacting to my of expectation of a spook and in the process, I was creating one.

I hope that helps a little.
 
We bought an unhandled pony from melton mowbray market and he hadn't seen anything. We first took our car into his field and did as Box of Frogs said, got my OH to feed him yummies from the car. We turned engine off to start with, then when settled engine running. OH then drove round the field, not too close to us, came to us from the front and behind, parked up again and went over to car for yummies. After about 30mins, the car was a a mobile snack shop!! We then took car in the school, pony ridden, and repeated it all. He turned out to be completely bombproof in traffic. Its a very good idea to rope some friends in to drive past you as they will be aware that the horse could do something silly. Best of luck x
 
i would find him a field next to a busy road, and or a train line and turn him out in there with a friend for a week or 2 so he can get used to cars going past without any risk to himself or a rider. then i would long rein up the road with hi viz and a couple of good helpers to slow the traffic right down. once he is confident with this i would get a good confident rider to hack him a few times, then you get back on and take over. good luck it will take time
 
My horse doesnt like big things either,especially tractors and quads (some around here) and I am afraid to go on the main road to introduce him to buses.So I know how you feel!!!
 
Shy went from wild hill-top pony to a good in traffic (bar one incident) pony by using the paddock beside a busy road method. And it helped that this was also on a working farm, so he had tractors and god knows what thrown in :)

I spent a lot of time leading him out in his bridle (and every hi-vis going) and getting him used to what was going on - could you ask someone to go with you using a lead rein, and taking some treats with them ? take it very slowly, and see how it goes.

When you have actually suffered an incident on the road - in our case he shied right across a road due to a cow in a field, narrowly missing a lorry - it does make you think long and hard. I really sympathise with you .

sm xx
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
A few years ago I read the story of a lady who lived on an island (? Scotland, Sark? - can't remember) where there was no traffic. She moved to the mainland and her horse came with her. The horse had never ever seen cars in all her life and panicked the first time one came past her. Owner worked out a plan. She started leading the horse round the lanes, armed with a pocket full of tasty titbits. Every time a car came near them, she would flag it down, explain the problem and surreptitiously hand the driver a titbit. The driver would then lean out of the car and feed the horse the titbit. After a surprisingly short amount of time, the little horse - so afraid of cars a week or so before - started pricking her ears up whenever she heard a car, and walking happily up to the driver for her titbit. You might be able to do something similar by calling in a few friends to help by driving slowly and quietly past and giving a titbit.
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I wouldn't advise this. Some horses may get carried away and walk over to the cars, resulting in a serious car accident and injury to horse and rider.
 
Thanks for all the advice. The frustrating thing was that i had a hi viz vest on and was waving at the car to slow. I've tried leading him on the road but only once as I was worried about holding him when he did spook. Box of frogs, I will have a go at the food suggestion but heed Bronties advice as well to avoid him getting (hopefully) too keen. Maybe if he just gets a couple of tidbits to get him over the worst of the fright? When a car approachs its like he holds his breath until he cant help but explode so maybe if i catch him before he gets to the explosion point with something to eat. Thanks all.
 
Brontie said:
I wouldn't advise this. Some horses may get carried away and walk over to the cars, resulting in a serious car accident and injury to horse and rider.
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But if done away from the road (in a field) we have had our boy walk along side my 4x4 whilst holding a conversation (with my wife:)) and less problems on the road
 
I am really sorry to read your story and just echo every one else's advice. A friend of mine had a horse who hated tractors and lorries so she made her a pen on the yard so she could see and hear the heavy vehicles. She is still wary but can now be ridden on the road.
 
Oh Nick! Lighten up! Its the principle of the thing and no rider in their right mind is going to sit there while the horse strolls across the road to beg for titbits at passing cars! Did read the story though - one of the big horse mags I think - where a lady bought a new horse and it was terrified of lorries. She devised a plan and her friend came with her on hacks, on a bicycle. Every time a lorry was heard the friend leapt off the bike and gave the horse a polo. This went really well and soon the lady owner was able to give the polo from the saddle so didn't need her friend on the bike. One day soon after, the lady's husband was going to hack the horse out and he asked his wife if the lorry-panic thing was sorted. Naturally she replied oh yes, he's fine now. Husband sets off and is trotting briskly along a road when the horse hears a lorry in the distance and, trained to perfection, stopped dead to receive his polo. The poor husband sailed straight over the horse's head and into a big patch of bramble. The moral of this story is always check the details!!!!
 
If it was me I'd set up a few little things for the horse, where you can manage things a bit better than on the road.

I'd get someone to drive along the track and I'd follow on with the horse. They get more confident if they are chasing the vehicle, as it were, rather than have it approach them initially. I suppose it is less of a threat if it is moving away.

Obviously after a trauma like your horse has had it will take time to build up his confidence again.

We had one terrified of buses, later found that she had been in an incident with a bus, and after a while of trotting behind any bus we came across she soon became very confident and no longer felt the need to panic.
 
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