Introducing Roadwork to Young Horses?

J

JinglebellJessi & MistletoeMagic

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 April 2011
Messages
570
Location
Essex
Visit site
Hiya, right well, he's not a horse but im breaking in my little 14 month old donkey and i want to start some road work. He has already mastered being led in a headcollar and even lunges. But i thought it would be nice and informative for him to come on walks with his companion, my pony. Im pretty experienced with the groundwork, ridden work and lunging work but i haven't a clue how to start this. Do i just take him on a little walk and hope for the best? I had an idea of bringing a car into the feild and walking him past it, revving it, driving slowly whilst i hold him, ect ect. If you have any roadwork experiences please please share!
Thank you!
 
I should have added, he and him companion are kept in a feild next to a 40 road so he is quite used to the buses, tractors and speeding idiots that beep their horn. But this road isnt busy but has cars going down it almost every 10 minutes. unfortunatly the only way out onto quieter roads is through this one :(
 
No idea if it will help but everytime I've had a youngster I've just gone out and hoped for the best with an older horse and it has always been fine :) In fact one time did not even have an older horse to go with and the 3 year (who had been broken a couple of weeks) just walked straight out on his own, didn't blink at anything.
Of course it depends on what their temperament is like in general but if they are fairly chilled out I would say just go for it with another horse there as support :)
 
Thank you (: would you suggest that i get him used to and responsive to the bit first? that way i could have more control if things were to go badly, or would to potentially over-confuse him? Im in no rush hes only 14 months old. we have all the time in the world (:
 
I didnt think maybe people would have experiences in that region! but my donk learns like a horse. I got worried once that him living with a horse wouldnt make him happy so a lady from the donkey sactuary came to have a look at him for me, she said shes never seen a happier donkey, and one that can lunge like a beauty too! :P

9vicxz.jpg

Heres a pic of him at 11 months, he's grown dramatically since then!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top