Riding on the roads

[stormox]

I never 'hug the verges' when I hack out, on a normal A road, I ride on my side of the road in the middle of the lane, this makes traffic slow down then I can move over left to allow them to pass. They recently made a road I have to ride along a dual carriageway and on this I keep to the left of left hand lane as there is more room for traffic to pass. My horse is jumpy in traffic and at objects like a bag blown into a hedge, - but I am hoping the more I go out the better she will get. I dont really enjoy the busy roads though, just consider them a necessity in a horses education this day and age..

 

[little_critter]

I often read about people falling off at a 'spook' (which I assume is that I would call shying) and wonder what on earth is going on with that rider. A rider should be able to stop on a horse that jinks to the side, or even spins round to face the opposite direction, certainly before taking the horse out on the road but just about anywhere, if they have been taught properly and have a reasonable core. Coming off at a horse repeatedly bucking is very different, as is falling when jumping, imho.

I think that's a bit harsh. I believe (and have been told) I have pretty good stickability. But I broke my wrist last year when my horse span 180 degrees with absolutely no warning (and I hadn't seen and prepared for the pigeon that launched out of a bush at him). One minute he was under me, the next he had teleported 2 feet to the left...so violently that he lost his footing and also fell over, luckily after I had come off so we didn't go down together. This was in a field so not related to this subject of riding on the roads, however to say all spins are sittable is unfair I feel.

 

[milliepops]

I think that's a bit harsh. I believe (and have been told) I have pretty good stickability. But I broke my wrist last year when my horse span 180 degrees with absolutely no warning (and I hadn't seen and prepared for the pigeon that launched out of a bush at him). One minute he was under me, the next he had teleported 2 feet to the left...so violently that he lost his footing and also fell over, luckily after I had come off so we didn't go down together. This was in a field so not related to this subject of riding on the roads, however to say all spins are sittable is unfair I feel.

yeah there's spooks and spooks! My 2 are probably at their most athletic when spooking I'm pretty sticky but even so the whole spin, drop shoulder, reverse all in 0.5 seconds is like riding a rollercoaster without the seatbelt on. a bit of a shy or jink is one thing, whereas it would be quite easy to topple off when the TB rockets himself inside out or the welsh pulls one of her emergency reverses from extended canter

 

[canteron]

I wanted to take my time responding to this, so here are the things that I think contribute:

Background: Ponies are out in a herd by a road. Feed is forage only. Very low stress, in other words. Local area is a busy little town, surrounded by arable and shooting. Lots of varied but fairly safe traffic (tight, but low speed), suburban garden machinery etc. and wildlife.

Training - Pones: Group hacks with experienced horses into town is the first thing they do, either as fresh broke babies or our new 'project', so from the get-go 'normal' is busy and varied. Solo hacking with an experienced rider soon after, to make sure we catch any napping in the bud. Napping horses are made to go in front on group rides. This is a bit of a test of the rider's 'mettle'.
We graze right by the road after hacks, which the ponies see as a treat, because the grass is better.

Training - Riders: Towards anything new, not away from it, and relax! Riders also consider road to be 'normal'.

Correction: On the rare occasion that we have one that is really jittery in traffic, there's a disabled parking bay on the main roundabout in town. I have been known to stand the pony in it for half an hour or more as everything rumbles and clanks by. Eventually they get bored and stand still, at which point we go home.

Obviously not as easy if your local road is the A3, but I hope this helps. Oh, and the pheasants - there are thousands of the damn things around here, so the ponies just get used to them coming up squawking out of nowhere.

Thank you, I really appreciate the time and thought you put into your reply (and can I send my youngsters to you ??). Lots to think about there.