kicking out at cars

[Vikki89]

A couple of weeks ago my mums mare kicked out at a passing car when we were hacking, she luckily didn't get it. She has never done this before and we thought it was a odd one off. But she did it again when we were hacking today, luckily didn't get the car again.
Don't have any idea why she has started doing this, it needs to be stopped but am not sure how.
Any ideas why she has started doing this and how it can be stopped?

 

[spike123]

its a bit strange if there was no reason for the initial kick out at the car.Did it come too close behind her or past her or did one do that before she reacted the first time?As regards dealing with it I would think you would initially keep another horse between the kicker and the car and ride shoulder in towards the road so the hindquarters are towards the verge side so if she kicks she is kicking out at the hedge/ditch as opposed to the other horse or passing car.If her reaction is severe then turn her head towards your knee on the side the traffic is passing so as to disengage her hindquarters. If either of these exercises are unknown to your horse then first do them in an enclosed space and don't hack until you know your horses reaction and response is the right one.

 

[Vikki89]

Not that i am aware of, i can't think of anything which would cause her to start doing this

It is not possible to ride side by side on alot of the village roads as they are quite narrow, we have been riding on these roads for over two years so its not caused by cars being too close either.
I will tell my mum (its her pony) your second suggestion.

 

[_daisy_]

my mare has done this since moving to our yard. The cars round our areas rarely slow down, overtake at silly places on raods (eg bends), dont give enough space when overtaking or take much notice to any hand signals.
Ive worked out when my mare starts it - she normally does it when shes on her way home and when shes had enough of the annoying cars getting too close. Weve had a few close shaves but luckily not made contact with any.
Ive found that by riding her out in draw reins she doesnt do it

 

[0ldmare]

My mums cob used to do this, she was lethel if cars got close to
her

. Mind you she would kick other horses out hacking too. Actually
she was an all round cow tbh. Nappiest thing on 4 legs and
sometimes on 2 legs (like when she reared and came over backward
in a ditch messing up my mums back in the process.

Not saying yours is a cow by the way

, just reminiscing about
the horrible Lizzie, who had little to recommend her!

We never managed to stop her, you could only try to minimise the
risk by doing 'shoulder in' if a car was coming and the lane was
narrow. Only worked though if she wasn't in the middle of a napping
tantrum!