Large traffic problems- ideas??

[nikCscott]

I've had my new boy for about 3 weeks now and he's an absolute gem.

And through hacking on lanes lots trying to slowly improve his fitness I have notice he's fine with most vehicles who pass us (luckily most traffic around us are used to horses and do slow down when they see a horse and if you ask them to slow more they do).

He's fine with cars and 4x4s with stock trailers but not as great with tractors and the large timber lorries I always try to find a large gateway or pull in- but I've noticed that he better if they get passed us quickly its when they slow to a crawl he panics.

Had a lorry on a hill yesterday I was in a large pull in, lorry passed us at a crawl and at the last moment when he could have moved for ward into the large gap onto the lane he panicked span and shot backwards ramming his bottom into the lorry. 2 minutes later I was still a bit worried when I heard another lorry came along- we were in a massive gateway and I tucked us right in- so far in intact the lorry didn't see us and cruised passed quickly and my boy didn't bat and eye lid (good boy!!!). Then we met a mondeo (cars normally fine at any speed but obviously he'd just had a shock) which passed at barely a crawl and boy span and rammed his bottom into a gate! Then saw my dad on smallish tractor come, he slowed but I signalled to him to keep coming, keep coming, keep coming and he passed us at a decent pace and we were only on a verge- again didn't bat an eye lid (although non horsey Dad was VERY confused!)

So I'm thinking maybe it's not the traffic as such its the 'penned in' feeling he may get- what do you think???

Also I'm conscious that the drivers around here are so good so is it wrong of me to ask them to speed up? Could this impact on other riders in my area??

Thank you

Steaming cuppa for those who got this far!

 

[AmyMay]

I agree about the penned in feeling.

My little mare was not good at all with bigger vehicles etc. And I soon learn't that popping her in to a gateway, with no path of 'escape' made her panic terribly. So I stopped pulling in to gateways or pull ins where she may feel trapped. I would trot on to a what I considered a safer pull in - like a drive or a much wider part of the road. I would also face her towards the vehicle, so that she could see it.

It's great that you have a tractor in the family. It means that you can work on some of her issues safely at home, and on the road - by stopping the tractor and horse, and having a chat with the driver.

Never did cure her, but learn't to manage it.

 

[Dry Rot]

Isn't the solution really to solve the problem you have rather than trying to avoid it?

I cured one rather spooky horse which hated traffic by putting him in a field next to a busy road. The first week he spent his time grazing up the far corner but inside two weeks he was sticking his head through the fence to get at the sweet grass on the roadside verge as huge lorries thundered past inches away!

Is there no where you could take your horse where it would get used to slow moving traffic? If no field, what about holding him from the ground and giving a reward every time a car goes past? Obviously, choose somewhere where cars have to slow down, like a road junction, if that's what he fears most.

It is possible to train animals to accept what they initially find unpleasant by countering the unpleasantness with something positive. That's really what training is all about, isn't it?

 

[FfionWinnie]

Dryrots suggestion is where i would start if possible. You have a Dad with a tractor so that will help a lot. Get your Dad to leave tractor running near a wall and ride closer and closer on the open side until you can walk calmly past it on the wall side. Then repeat with it moving at various speeds.

 

[nikCscott]

Isn't the solution really to solve the problem you have rather than trying to avoid it?

I cured one rather spooky horse which hated traffic by putting him in a field next to a busy road. The first week he spent his time grazing up the far corner but inside two weeks he was sticking his head through the fence to get at the sweet grass on the roadside verge as huge lorries thundered past inches away!

Is there no where you could take your horse where it would get used to slow moving traffic? If no field, what about holding him from the ground and giving a reward every time a car goes past? Obviously, choose somewhere where cars have to slow down, like a road junction, if that's what he fears most.

It is possible to train animals to accept what they initially find unpleasant by countering the unpleasantness with something positive. That's really what training is all about, isn't it?

Dryrots suggestion is where i would start if possible. You have a Dad with a tractor so that will help a lot. Get your Dad to leave tractor running near a wall and ride closer and closer on the open side until you can walk calmly past it on the wall side. Then repeat with it moving at various speeds.

His field is next to busy lane and the schooling area is right next to it. He happily schools and lunges in this with massive milk tankers, tractors, timber lorries all steaming passed and today we even had a fire engine with lights and sirens- all of which he doesn't even looked at even though they are less than 8 foot away when we're on that side of school.

I really think it is the penned in thing that bothers him so yesterday I parked a tractor just out side the gate to the yard- as we're walking out the eye line looks like its blocking the way, but there is about a 15 foot gap in front of tractor but we have to walk around it- hoping this may help and certainly can't do any harm- he's spent all night seeing it over his stable door and walked passed it at a distance this morning- so I will encourage him to get closer over the days and eventually have it running.

Thank you for the suggestions and I'm all for "training" he is a project horse after all- I was just considering when he's at his most confident ie when the traffic keep moving and using this as his training to continue to build confidence...

 

[Dry Rot]

A bit of general de-spooking might not do any harm. Just desensitising with a piece of plastic on the end of a long stick, a bit more every day, can work wonders.

I had one here who came off the hill and she was a nightmare. Doing that every day, I was eventually able to rub her all over with the plastic even though she was not tied. It seemed to do wonders for her confidence.

Sometimes facing our worst fears can even help humans when we realise there was no need to be scared after all!

It sounds as if you are doing all the right things anyway and she is lucky to have you as her owner.

 

[nikCscott]

A bit of general de-spooking might not do any harm. Just desensitising with a piece of plastic on the end of a long stick, a bit more every day, can work wonders.

I had one here who came off the hill and she was a nightmare. Doing that every day, I was eventually able to rub her all over with the plastic even though she was not tied. It seemed to do wonders for her confidence.

Sometimes facing our worst fears can even help humans when we realise there was no need to be scared after all!

It sounds as if you are doing all the right things anyway and she is lucky to have you as her owner.

Thank you- this is why I'm trying to listen to what he's telling me. I'll be jumping out of an aeroplane next month- although I'm not frightened- just for fun

This horse is the most chilled out playful chap ever (especially as a TBx)- happily picks up a feed bag and swings it around his head, lets me rub it all over him, put the hose over his face and head. I use a chair to mount him outside of yard and as i come back in i ride passed chair and pick it up and we carry it together back to yard- I'm always thinking of challenges and ways to desensitise. I have 2 daughters 6&7 and he's not bothered by the racket and chaos that follows them around as standard.

Thats why I'm trying to see why this one aspect freaks him so... because actually the drivers are being so considerate by slowing down. Like I say I can be walking on the edge of the lane with cars passing maybe 30mph both directions and he's not worried its when they stop or crawl he has this completely out of character reaction.

 

[canteron]

I am wondering whether this may be as much about standing nicely, whatever is happening, as much as the 'penned in' aspect.

I teach standing for ages as for me, that is important. I make the horse stand and then treat while on in. Each time the horse stands for longer and longer/and I make the environment more challenging until he get the treat, then start treating intermittently and then withdraw and replace with a 'good boy'!

What I find is that the horse learns to focus on you, waiting for a treat, rather than what is happening outside. It also helps build up their confidence. As you have a tractor and a willing dad (!) then it is a real possible for you.

 

[nikCscott]

I am wondering whether this may be as much about standing nicely, whatever is happening, as much as the 'penned in' aspect.

I teach standing for ages as for me, that is important. I make the horse stand and then treat while on in. Each time the horse stands for longer and longer/and I make the environment more challenging until he get the treat, then start treating intermittently and then withdraw and replace with a 'good boy'!

What I find is that the horse learns to focus on you, waiting for a treat, rather than what is happening outside. It also helps build up their confidence. As you have a tractor and a willing dad (!) then it is a real possible for you.

Hmmmmm "willing Dad" is one of those farmers who can't say the word 'horses' without a *******ing in front of it! And I don;t keep the horses at his for the F...... horses reason so not as straight forward as that unfortunately .
He's a well schooled Hack (in the showing sense) and I'm amazed how well he does stand, but I'm taking this idea and going with it- I'm addicted to XXX mints so always have pocket full of them so will try this next time I'm out (one hand on neck strap and other posting the mints in)- and using the tractor at home too- got him to nibble a mint off of the front tyre tonight!

If nothing else ponio will have minty fresh breathe!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Yes we had an Appaloosa mare who was petrified of large vehicles in small spaces. She wasn't keen on small spaces at all when we first got her, I'm not sure that she had ever been stabled and she certainly didn't like trailers.
I would certainly turn him to face the vehicle if you pull off into a gateway, most horses prefer to be able to see. Ours liked to hide behind her large friend.