Leading out youngsters in traffic - advice

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Patches

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I've decided that it's time for Talis to start walking out to experience traffic. The sooner, the better we figured. He's rising two.

I can walk him past our heavy farm machinery pretty well. Tractors and stirrers in the muck ruck, JCB, muck spreaders and forage feeders. If I am between him and the vehicles he walks calmly although does look at them worringly sometimes, but his head usually remains low and he doesn't look stressed.

However, he will dart his way pass them if I put him between me and them (as it's safe to do this on the farm and I'm trying to mimic how he will see traffic under saddle). I usually walk him past the scary things three or four times and will accept a slight jog out of him, but not a run. He responds to being talked to sweetly to calm him, stroked etc. I do try to stop him running though, I do not give him the impression that it is ok to "bolt" his way past such things.

So, do you boot them up...knee and hock boots incase they jump or slip? Should Duncan walk with him behind me and Patches or inside of us (but our lanes are very narrow).

I want to get him well used to traffic, it's important to me to have a horse good in traffic.
 
We never ever do this with the youngsters on our place - preferring to do it when they are broken in instead. They are then ridden out with a babysitter for six months.

Personally I think that it's incredibly risky to do this sort of thing - and actually downright dangerous.

I can't understand people's obsession with it.
 
I agree with Amymay- turn out in fields next to roads etc so they get used to the noise but I wouldnt walk in-hand on a road unless essential.
 
Like amymay we only ever take youngsters out on the roads when they are broken, with a babysitter, you are safer on the back than on the ground.

If you want him to get used to seeing traffic now you could try and put him in a field next to a road.
 
Behind you until something scary comes along then the inside of you. As your lanes are narrow this would be safer. Also make the cars etc get out your way rather than having to squeeze passed. Obviously pull over in a layby if you can.
He needs to be in a bridle though, is he bitted yet? Other wise insurance etc will be void. If he is used to wearing boots then put them on, better safe then sorry.
 
I understand that, and if he was a horse for me it might be different. But how do you ride out a 12.2 (as I expect that is all he'll make) with a 10 year old child on them? I'd rather he'd seen traffic before I put my child on him.

Of course, Hannah would ride him with me chaperoning on Patches if and when the time comes.

I'm interested to know why riding out is not downright dangerous but leading with a bridle and a ground handler is? If he was genuinely scared, he'd be a danger whether he was under saddle or from the ground.
 
Because when you are on the ground he can jump on, knock you over, or get away from you easier.

If you are on his back, a small lightweight adult could ride a 12.2hh, he cant do anything except move, and at least you can concentrate on controlling him and not dodging out of his way.

Also I dont believe leading a horse out in traffic has the same effect as riding them, when you are beside them it gives the horse reassurance, for some horses when you are on them they feel less secure, so you could lead him out in traffic many times and when it comes to riding him out in it he could act as if he has never seen it before.
 
I would also advse against this, it's not safe. If you feel you really have to then I would say lead out in a bridle and lunge line for safety's sake. After seeing my strapping 6'4 OH get dragged by an 11.1hh pony (3yo) who was terrified of a cow he saw, I wouldnt attempt this myself. It was only the lungeline that saved pony from getting free.
 
Hmmm...we don't have grazing for the horses that is by the road. That's prime cow grazing and Duncand (and more importantly his father) wouldn't allow me to put horses in it...not to mention how rich it would be. They're behind an embankment and tall hedge anyway.

It's the fact that he's destined to be a child's pony and will be too fine for an average sized adult to get on hacking, I'd assume.
 
I understand what you're saying...now where do a I steal a lightweight adult rider from?

If I had my daughter on him after he's been broken there is no way I'd let her ride out without someone on the ground there to help her should she get into trouble anyway.

I still wouldn't say that it would be as though they have NEVER seen ANY traffic either going from in-hand to under saddle. Talis has certainly gotten used to the many tractors, trailers, etc that he's seen over the last 15 months. Definitely not as flighty as he was.
 
we always long reign ours along the roads to start, keeps you a nice safe distance. could you try leading him out on hacks from a bomproof nanny?
 
I'm doing this with my youngster at the moment. Hes a driving pony and has not been broken to ride plus hes only 12hh so no one is small enough to ride him, so leading him is the only way until hes ok to long rein.

I have one of my bombproof ponies beside him, ridden, while i lead him. Its working really well and hes being very good (so far, touch wood). My sister riding the other pony slows traffic down if they are going too fast.

Hpoe that helps
 
Mine is nearly 2 and been out on the road a couple of times. At first she was in a field next to the road and the railway line. Then we walked her around cars and tractors around the yard. Got people to ride bikes in front of her stable etc. Then we took her to walking round the yard whilst I started my car up and then switched it off and then on again. Revved the engine a few times. Slamed the door shut etc etc. Then we took her a walk to the end of the farm patch (where the road is) and let her watch traffic for about 5 minutes at a time. Then we went out on the road and up about 10 yards and back (of course no traffic came at all!!!) Did this in a few different directions and she never bothered. It was more the white lines and grids that were scary. Then we ventured a bit further ie to the pub and back with people sat outside (it was summer). She never bothered at all had lorries and alsorts. Not done anything in winter as she is a bit lively with lack of turnout so don't want to risk it then. But come spring/summer will start off again at the bottom of the track to watch the traffic etc etc. Good luck.
 
Talis is in a similar situation.

He sees most horse's worst nightmares on a daily basis. We have 6 tractors and a JCB here on the farm and every trailer attachment you could think of..not to mention front loaders. There isn't a day goes by when he doesn't have to walk passed them, sometimes moving, but always running...sometimes at high revs (in the case of the stirrer in the muck ruck whisking it all up so that it's runnier for the spreader to guzzle up!)

Last year he very inquisitively introduced himself to the forage harvester when it was parked, but running.

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He's fine at shows wandering amongst the horse boxes and trailers that are coming and going. He's seen push bikes, go-carts, milk tankers and corn waggons. I have taken him to the bottom of the drive to watch traffic zip up and down the lane too. He stands still and seems calm enough.
 
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I still wouldn't say that it would be as though they have NEVER seen ANY traffic either going from in-hand to under saddle.

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No perhaps not but he could act totally different to it when he hasnt got mum by his side to reassure him.

My friend has started taking her newly broken horse out on the orads.
she led him out in hand for the first time, much to my disapproval, he was ok until the way back a car full of boy racers came speeding up, wouldnt slow down, horse got really scared, car on one side, scary drain on the other, tried to bolt, ended up almost landing on my friend and he fell over, scraping most of the skin of parts of his legs, now what impression does that give the horse about traffic?

At least if she had been ON him out with a babysitter he would have gained reassurance from the other horse who could have been on the inside to the traffic.
We took him out a few weeks later with me being babysitter on my horse, he was much much better, because mine wasnt reacting, he was a little spooky but didnt try to bolt, and his owner said she felt like she had much more control over him.

Longreining is a good option if you cant find a rider, more control than standing next to him as you cant get hurt and he learns to go out without mum by his head.
 
Oh dear, poor baby.

I understand what you're saying and I do totally get the reasoning.

I have always been of the impression that the more they see as youngsters, the better they will cope with things in life. Like children...get their attention at a young age when they soak everything up like a proverbial sponge. I was just hoping to educate him, not rush him in any way, just let him see a bit of the world.

I will have to re-think those plans though. My intention had been to lead him just up the lane from one gatway to another (about 100m) to start with and then probably long rein him on the inside of Patches, with hubby at the helm.

It's difficult when you have some small ponios. He's very fine boned ( as you can see in the pics I posted under Mandy's post higher up) and I don't know anyone that would be lightweight enough to hack him out, apart from my daughter. Hence why I'd thought it would be wise to introduce him to traffic from a young age.

I stand corrected, but I can't be the only one to employ that philiosophy? He walks happily among horse boxes and trailers at shows, has seen pushbikes, go-carts, pushchairs, wheel barrows, milk tankers, JCB's, tractors galore. I don't suppose he is without education already.
 
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I stand corrected, but I can't be the only one to employ that philiosophy?

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No I'm sure that you're not - and for everyone of us that say 'bad idea', there will be one that says it worked for them.

But I do think that we can get a bit obsessed with this introduction business myself. My experience is that if you have a competent handler and jockey most horses take things in their stride tbh.

Life is not as frightening as we would have them believe.
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I would go for the long reining then because like you said ts going to be hard to find a jockey for him, at least then he is getting the experience you want him to get but without putting you in danger.

He will of course need to be bitted though.

I understand what you mean about ponies, at least with a bigger horse its easy to go out on their backs because its an adult riding them, and of course you are only thinking of your childs safety, but you need to think of your own too!
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I would go for the long reining

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Isn't that just another form of leading out???? And therefore still dangerous?
 
Troggy and Mac take Beano for walks with one either side, and he is fine. They have been doing this since he was about a year old. Mind you, he was born in a field next to a busy main road, it is more a case of reminding him what traffic looks like!
 
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But I do think that we can get a bit obsessed with this introduction business myself. My experience is that if you have a competent handler and jockey most horses take things in their stride tbh.

Life is not as frightening as we would have them believe.
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Agreed. I never do any formal 'traffic proofing' with any of mine. They come in from the field and get broken in. After lungeing and learmning voice commands they are straight on the long reins. I start off the first few days by going up and down my lane with my dad driving car up and down. After that I go straight onto the roads with no problems at all. When they are backed they go straight out by themselves, up the road, and never have a lead until they are cantering away and are behaving themselves thoroughly.
IMO a lead horse is the wrong way to go. Horses get confidence from being with other horses, a lot of the time this confidence means they will play up more. Voice commands are the key, if a horse understands those they will do whatever you like.
 
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I would go for the long reining

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Isn't that just another form of leading out???? And therefore still dangerous?

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If its a quiet lane then I wouldnt say as dangerous as long as there is a good verge and 2 handlers, at least with longreining you are not right next to the horse and risking being jumped on.

Cant think of another option if there is definitely no one to ride the pony out and Patches def wants him to go out in traffic.
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I must admit I don't want him to think he only goes out in company and therefore I wouldn't only lead/long rein in company. Just for the first couple of times I was thinking. My main problem is that he's so small. If I was talking about Patches, I don't know if I would consider it in the same way.

However, I am only talking about doing it once every month or so (if that) and only for short periods. Just so that he is used to leaving the farm etc. He does see alot of heavy scary traffic here anyway so as I've said before, he's not without education already.

I can honestly say I don't know any lightweight adult rider that would want to be seen in public riding a pony so small and light of bone. I can imagine that would be frowned upon just as much as the idea of me leading him out in hand or via long reins is being. Wasn't that long ago there was a post about the weight of adult riders on just backed ponies. I also know that I would never let Hannah ride him out alone either. No parent in their ride mind would send a 10 year old out to hack on a just backed pony alone, so he's still be being lead, rightly or wrongly.

I've been interested by the response, but genuinely surprised by it too. I had no idea that so many would be so against it. Learn something new every day.
 
Well I want him to go out in traffic when broken St_Bernard and naturally assumed this is what most people did to get their horses/ponies used to seeing traffic.

I certainly wouldn't want to own a horse that can't go out in traffic full stop, so yes, of course I want him to see traffic.

I posted the pictures above under Mandy's post. I can't see many regular (by that I mean average sized) HHO'ers clambering over themselves to get on him or even suggest that I personally ride him. Just backed as well, when he'll struggle more so to carry weight.

Can't win whatever you decide. If I post pics in a couple of years of me riding him I'd be slammed for having my weight and height on his back and reminded of the damage that would do his back and other joints.
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Personally I think its a good idea to get youngsters used to traffic before they are ridden, we turnout near a busy road, have the local football ground opposite and have a bridleway running past, so the youngsters on our yard get used to most types of traffic, including farm traffic over a period of time. When they can be calmly led around the school and along the bridleway and respond to basic voice commands, we would venture out along the quieter roads and take them to watch the fast moving traffic on the larger roads, the youngster would be in a bridle, with a lunge line attached and with the handler wearing a hard hat, gloves and florescents and with a calm companion leading the way. We have never had a bad experience but I would say that all of the youngsters have been desensatised to all kinds of traffic and strange things beforehand, respect their handlers and respond well to voice commands before we would dream of attempting taking them out on the roads.
 
If you were nearer to me I'd offer to ride him for you once backed - Im only 7stone
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As to leading out on roads, its something I have done with Tilly quite a few times now and she has been an angel on each occasion and I have always felt 100% in control, otherwise I wouldn't have done it! Yes its a risk but she is a big girl and I'd rather her get used to somethings sooner rather than later! We did it in much the same way as Mandy, starting with her getting used to my car and progressed to moving on to the roads. I only go up the lane and back and we both have reflective gear on and she is always bridled. Mum and kiri come with me and if necessary we ask traffic to stop while we move to a safe driveway. Fortunatley 99% of people using the lane are on their way to the livery at the end and with the exception of 2 people that have nearly taken me out whhilest I have been riding (completely unrelated to Tills) I have never had a problem. We also have to use the road to get to the school!

I guess each horse and owner are different, yes I take a risk by taking her out but there was going to come a time when I had to do that anyway and I often feel more in control on bouncing horses from the ground then on their backs as if I fall off and injure myself I am more likely to end up with a loose horse!

Each to their own - as long as you take all safety precautions then your risk is reduced!!

Oh, and forgot to ad, the only time Tilly was at all strong and to be honest difficult was when she went out with another horse as she wanted to go infront and kept threatening him if he got too close! But she is fine when we meet people who are out hacking
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Patches, I long rein my mini pone on the roads. I wear full fluoros, hard hat etc., etc.
I think it is vital to get a horse used to traffic without another horse to hold his hand, so once you get him used to things in the farmyward. as you are donig, get out there on the road! To start with it might be good to have someone at his head as well, and make sure he is used to the long reins first!
I did it on our farm fields the other side of the hedge to start with.
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Bella, I'd do it. I think what people are loosing sight of here is that there are very few adult riders, like Tilly, who are light enough to ride Talis and it's not safe to send Hannah out on him led or not at the beginning!
 
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We never ever do this with the youngsters on our place - preferring to do it when they are broken in instead. They are then ridden out with a babysitter for six months.

Personally I think that it's incredibly risky to do this sort of thing - and actually downright dangerous.

I can't understand people's obsession with it.

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I really can't understand where you are coming from with this?

I have always walked my youngsters out to introduce them to traffic. If you prepare well it is a fantastic addition to their pre ridden education.

I understand your worries if someone was not fully prepared but I feel it is more dangerous to ride out a young horse who hasn't been introduced to traffic.

Funny isn't it, how we all have such different views on different subjects. Fascinating
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really can't understand where you are coming from with this?

Funny isn't it, how we all have such different views on different subjects. Fascinating

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As I said in a previous post - I think that we may worry too much about things that really aren't an issue really. Plus I've never fancied being jumped on, dragged around etc.

But bottom line is - if it works for you, then great. It's just not something I would do.
 
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