Horses and traffic.

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Cedars

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Afternoon all.

Just a pondering.

Puz is in a field with a pretty main road running alongside it (well, 20ft in the air alongside it, but she can see and hear the traffic). I've read on here before that having them next to traffic is a really good way to get them used to it, but I was watching her today and although shes absolutely fine when cars go past, when lorries or motorbikes go past she goes for a good run around her field snorting.

I'm wondering whether actually this is just teaching her to be scared of the traffic that makes alot of noise? As in, scary lorry means she can run and buck and fart? And what then are the implications for this when shes ridden?

And leading from that, what are the things I can do that might make her better with traffic. Is leading in hand on roads sensible, as I'm sure I've read on here that its not...?

Thanks in advance. Hannah x
 
Is she in the field on her own? If she is could you put her in with sensible companions who won't react to traffic going past?

I can't see a problem with leading on the road, if she is good to lead. I wouldn't want to be teaching a horse to lead by going onto the road. Again if you have a sensible companion available, it would be a good idea to accompany that on the roads.
 
Hi Flamehead,

I once new a breeder that turned his horses out next to a road and a railway track for this reason. It worked for him!!

I had a 2 year old welsh pony and part of his education was walking in hand round the roads to see the sights and sounds. As long as your fully in control I cannot see why this would not be a good idea? We were in a village so not a huge amount of large traffic but plenty to keep him occupied. He is now a bombproof childs pony!!
 
Hi Hannah,

I'm glad you've not left. :) Is Puz in a field with any other horses? Perhaps this is what they do and she is taking her cue from them? If not, would you be able to borrow a horse for her to go in with so that she can learn to settle down? How long has she been in this field with the traffic going past? Is she maybe just feeling fresh at the moment and they are her excuse for a mad gallop?

I know my mare was in a field beside a main train line and I can take her up to train crossings and she's content standing beside the gate, while the train goes haring past.

What I aim to do with my youngster is to take her to the bottom of our track, so she gets used to traffic but she isnt going to be on the road so that if she flegs, we won't hold traffic up etc and gradually I'll get her close and closer to the traffic depending on her reactions.
 
Pearlsacarolsinger, shes in with our mare who is v bombproof when being ridden on the roads but when Puz takes off she takes flight too because, well, shes a bit special like that ;). She's across the electric tape from our gelding who is absolutely bomb proof in the field and doesnt react at all.

Part of me wonders whether it just gives her an excuse for high jinx, rather than it actually worrying her. Hmm.

Charlie007, good to know that it worked for you as thats the end result I want (well, not a childs pony, shes already 15.1.....!). Did you lead in her headcollar or bridle? If her head would just get a little bigger I could use our geldings dually. Although saying that, she is normally a dream to load.

I wonder whether starting her by walking past people we know in cars (i.e. my OH sat in his disco) would be good, then they can be patient to begin with, rather than if she is silly, tackling her plus some of the idiots we might meet on our way?

Thanks for your replies. xx
 
Mishaspey, staying and ignoring the muppets...!

As above, our mare shes with takes flight if Puz does, but our gelding ignores them. It is a relatively new field to them, I hadnt actually thought of that because although she has been in that field before, she was below the stream previously and actually a long way away from the traffic. So it may be that shes not got used to it in 3 weeks or so...lol perhaps shoulda thought of that ;).

See above about just taking it slow using cars we know. What do you think? xx
 
They should settle down. If they're anything like my two - I moved them to a new field and with the snow finally defrosted - meant they went hooning around acting like a pair of 2 yr olds that didn't know any better. I've never seen the 3 yr old like that and the 8 yr old does know better but is still flying around the field this morning.

Using cars and people that your familiar with sounds like a good idea and then you can gradually build on that. A tthe very teast you'll be able to see what her reaction is and be able to then decide on your next move based on that.
 
Flame-head, we had 2 that were kept next to a quarry and used to the huge wagons climbing the hill at the side of them, literally about 10 ft away, the younger one quickly learned not to be bothered but I did have a few hairy moments turning him out when he first came and a huge piece of machinery started lumbering past. I reckon Puz will get used to it given a bit more time. With regards to getting out on roads, we started our ponies by leading them to the end of the track and letting them watch the cars go past at a safe distance. We progressed to walking a short piece of quiet road with two leading and one walking behind, well out of kicking range and slightly into the road, slowing cars as they came. They are also all used to the tractor going through their fields, us driving through the fields to move fencing and bales etc. Our YO used to throw newly cut grass to them when he was haymaking and drops big bales if it is too muddy for us to move them without, so they see that as a food provider and tend to come running.

I know a lot of people suggest walking out with an experienced horse on the outside between the young one and the traffic so may be worth thinking about that too. I wasn't with Martin when we traffic proofed the ponies so didn't have that luxury and have no experience of it. I would imagine starting with walking past your car with the engine running and then progress to him driving past her slowly would be a good way to start before getting out onto the road. Good luck with her.
 
Great, thanks guys. Think that thats definitely the way to start - will begin with walking her past our cars, perhaps even with our two oldies first. She has walked past a digger before, with its engine off, and didnt even react.

Having babies is like a whole other world...I took for granted how much education she would need! So far, so good, though. xxx
 
Pipsqueak too a disliking to large traffic when he was about 2yrs old (no particular reason, he just one day decided they were scary!).

So I turned him out right beside a very busy main roads, with large lorries and a double decker buses thundering past just 5ft away. First couple of days he ran away but by the end of two weeks he would continue trying to army crawl under the fence, to get at the tasty grass, with the traffic zooming past a foot from his nose :rolleyes: He now leads out fine inhand in traffic too :D
 
I think that your feeling that she is perhaps using it as an excuse for high jinks is probably right. Ours hurtle around if a motorbike goes past, or something rattling, but they'd never do it under saddle. A horse takes confidence from another horse on the road, but IMO it takes most of its confidence from it's rider, so just ride it firmly and calmly without reacting yourself, so nothing is a drama, and you will probably find that the horse will just relax with you. I'm not as much as a fan of testing things out on the leadrope. I like to be able to use my legs as well if there are any problems.
 
Honey08, so obviously I cant ride her aged 18months, so would you recommend holding back from taking her on the road til shes ridden, or perhaps take her with a stick in my hand? I will do muchos prep before she goes out so she should trot etc when I ask. xxx
 
When we first got Koko he was pretty bad in traffic because where he was before there was no traffic. He was turned out next to a fairly quiet road but when cars went past they went pretty fast and there was an improvement really quick when hacking, but in the field he would still gallop around.

Perhaps try long lining along the road with someone also at his head incase something does go wrong? :)

ETA: Another one who is glad you haven't left :)
 
Sorry, wasn't thinking - forgot she's young! Don't worry about it at all - she's got ages to get used to traffic!

Probably what you're doing is the best thing, by turning her out next to traffic. She should be playing at that age.

Do your groundwork in a safe place first - the field or school, and then lead/longrein her on the roads with other horses, but start with small roads first.
 
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