Pony spooking at bikes coming up behind him

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Broc

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As title, my usually bomb proof ride/drive cob was spooked by a cyclist coming behind him a few weeks ago, now every time a cyclist comes behind he shoots off in a panic, advice needed as to how to remedy this, nerves aren't coping very well!
 
I've had to go through this with my previous horse, and I live on a national cycle route ;). Do some cycle proofing at home first. Get a friend to cycle steadily past your horse, whilst talking in a friendly way, and get them to stop and offer the horse a treat, such as a slice of carrot. Build this up until the cyclist can approach your horse from in front or behind without spooking him, and he thinks that cyclists are a good thing who may treat him.

Enlist a few more friendly cyclists to ride as a small peloton who also stop to feed carrots. This may take a few sessions.

When you feel ready to go out on the roads, take your own ninja cyclist with you. Your ninja will keep a look out for speeding cyclists, and will ask them politely to speak before they pass you and to slow down if necessary.

This is my own tame ninja cyclist, he's riding my bike which has a rear view mirror so he can keep an eye out behind too.



Good luck.
 
ester said:
get some friends on some bikes in exchange for cake :D

oh and give them a carrot each ;)
Click to expand...

This! I took my 4yo pony to stand on the verge last year next to a road where the Leeds triathlon comes past. I had pockets full of treats. It definitely helped and I'll do it again if needed, so many biked came past including noisy 'whomp whomp' time trial bikes.
 
Had this problem a couple of years ago when a cyclist lost control of his bike and skidded into the rear end of my horse. After that he was very scared of bikes( my horse not the cyclist) . I found that over time he forgot and forgave, in fact he did so before I could employ the local kids and their bikes.
 
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