Introducing young horse to traffic!

[HorseyStar]

My filly is 2.5 yr old now, got her at 17 months she was practicsy wild / terrified of even cars, now shes bitted wearin tack / bridle/ long reining a tiny bit of lunging and being sat on bareback just light work to start her off an she has took it all in her stride an seems to really be enjoykng more attention.... However...

Last few days she must be in season she is chestnut by the way ! Doesnt seem her usual docile friendly self, bargy to lead to/ from field trin to bolt inhand, wen i back her up to get her out of my space she starts a tsntrum an tried attackin me by nippin, invafin my space and kickin out, turnin quarters,

She seemed a bit quietee 2day so tuk her for a walk inhanx down lane with bridle on snd lunge line thru bit for control... I was so happy she never even flichd or lukd at a car so improvement there but suddenly traffic got v busy and i ended ul walkin bk to yard with a big skip wagon approachin in opposite direction :0 she was horrendous panicing out of control, runnin backqards, rearing in the end driver had to turn engine of an wen she finally went past it she bolted past it!!

How can i improve her traffic proofing?? My 6 yr old is to spooky to use an makes her worse an i dont want anotha spooky horse like my 6yr old but i wudnt say she is spooky by nature tho....

Theres not really many ppl on yard that ride out either? Will she always b like this??? Or is her greeness just s big part

Anh tips/ ideas? X

 

[melxvengeance]

Just need to keep at it I'm afraid. I started walking my 2 year old out in-hand in his bridle as he was very bargy, to give him exercise but to also let him see traffic. I'm lucky that he was very laid back, they did spook him a bit at first but now I can hack him out as a just turned 4 year old by himself and don't need to worry too much. He still gets anxious when a big tractor comes along but luckily farmers up my way know he's young so they will give me time to park him in on the grass or a gateway to give him enough space to look at the tractor. Lots of praise, pats & reassurance really did the trick when he was young, he relied on me a lot to tell him when it was ok and seemed to trust my judgement which was good!

 

[cbmcts]

When I had youngsters

They always spent at least one season on the paddock by the main road and another in the one by the railway line.
Walked out from an early age on local roads, not just for traffic proofing but also to get used to skips, people gardening, kids on bikes and skateboards - that type of thing.
Always went to a couple of shows a summer even if they were at a pugugly stage just to experience the noises, other horses, travelling and so on.
As three yo they would be long reined everywhere I could think of including the main road - with an assistant to take their head in emergency.
Once they were backed and had learnt the essentials of standing, moving on and away from the leg they would hack out with a steady ridden horse or two.

How relaxed they were in traffic still depended on their basic personality but they all were at least safe on the road.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Exposure, Exposure, Exposure... we hacked out with a noisy revving quad... we practice in the field with the tractor and trailor... He was absolutely fine, then one day a forager harvester squeezed past and he panicked.. totallymy fault, so a tip with youngsters is NEVER let anything past if you are narrowish road, I either walk in the road and tell driver hes a baby and would they mind a min... or I get tractors/lorries to turn their engines off and I hack back past then rather then then overtake !

Then when he was good again I would get hubby to ride him and I would drive behind in the car and as i got level toot the horn. now i can come up behind him and hold down the horn, may sound cruel, but he doesn't flinch!

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