Inexperienced hores scared of traffic

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SunSetRider

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I'm having problems with a 5 yearold pony I train/ride. We went for a walk the other day (Me leading her, and another older experienced horse in front) and every time cars came from the back she would spin around, and get scared when she could only hear and not see them. What can I do to help her with this. She does not get sared of them when they come towards us, it is only when they come from behind. What can I do?
 
Find somewhere that you can stand with her and watch traffic go by, so somewhere with a really large verge so that you can move back if she gets scared.

Also is there any chance you could turn her out in field next to a busy road?

It is really important to take your time to traffic proof her, patience and repetition will pay off in the long run :)
 
from experience if you can find a field at a busy interchange, this really helps this.

years ago, we had access to a field next to a motorway junction, one side had a train line and the other side a traveling fair would stay for the winter, you ended up with a horse that can cope with a lot of traffic, trains and the best one is the ability to cope with one of those waving octopuses, after that anything else was not a big deal ;)
 
I bought a welshy from the sales that was nervous in traffic. Probably never seen any, he was 2. I got my OH to drive round his paddock whilst I was leading him. He started off far away then got closer and closer changing direction etc. Once pony was calm he stopped car and we walked over and pony got a Carrott . He also revved engine, things pony would experience out and about. It didn't take long and pony became extremely safe on the road.

With traffic from behind could you either turn pony to face or turn her half way so for now it's not directly from behind?
 
LJR said:
Find somewhere that you can stand with her and watch traffic go by, so somewhere with a really large verge so that you can move back if she gets scared.

Also is there any chance you could turn her out in field next to a busy road?

It is really important to take your time to traffic proof her, patience and repetition will pay off in the long run :)
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This ^^^^^. The more you can do the better. Have you also tried her in front with another horse behind? She may feel more comfortable in front. Some horses are particularly unnerved being last or behind others; as prey animals will often feel safer with another behind (so they'd get attacked by any marauding lions first!) :) But the more traffic she gets to see the better.
 
Thank for your answers everyone. The fields are sadly quite far from the road. But from her stall in the stable she can hear the traffic all the time. I will try having a horse behind her. Do you think it would be okay to like take her out to road every day (or the days I can get down to the stable). Just for 5 minutes so she can see the traffic, and get used to it. Or would that be too much to start with. :-)
 
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