Scared of lorries.....

[jumpthemoon]

Rider, not horse!!! Lol

Went out for a brilliant hack today - was about 10 miles through tracks and fields mostly. However, when we were on the roads every time I saw a lorry or tractor or anything bigger than a mini I went into a panic

I've been hacking out on quiet country roads for the last few months and now we're just starting to venture a bit further (in company) so we're encountering more big traffic. My horse wasn't bothered in the slightest - we even had to pass a massive car transporter on a country lane and I don't think he even noticed it!

Any tips on how I can stop being so bl00dy daft about big traffic? Any though processes that work?

 

[bex1984]

Try some positive visualisation type stuff...close your eyes and imagine the scenario of a lorry approaching, getting closer, passing you, going off into the distance, all with nothing bad happening....keep your breathing steady and try to stay relaxed. Imagining it happening with no bad consequences might help put the "what ifs" to the back of your mind.

What a good boy Canto is for passing that transporter, doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about, you've done a fab job of getting him out hacking

 

[jumpthemoon]

Cheers Bex - he's so much better - for some bizarre reason he seems to have more confidence in me now! He didn't put a foot wrong today and we must have been past about 15 lorries

Each time I saw one coming I had to consciously NOT shorten the reins, keep breathing and keep my leg on! Larissa (YO) was laughing at me

I'll try the visualisation stuff next time I go out

 

[bex1984]

Do it before you go out, it's sort of like trying to re-train your brain to think a different way about a certain circumstance. It really is brilliant that you've made so much progress on hacking him out.

Just think what you'd tell me if I was having a flap (as you've seen me do about a million times!) - and say that to yourself!!

 

[fairhill]

That sounds like a lovely hack

I have to go on busy roads every time I leave the yard, and fields for riding on are non existent

.

What bex said is good advice, so the only thing I can add is practice, practice, practice.

Have you got any lorries or tractors on your yard and a nice driver to help you? Then you can keep going past them in a 'safe' environment when they're stationary, and then moving slowly towards you?

 

[jumpthemoon]

[ QUOTE ]
That sounds like a lovely hack

I have to go on busy roads every time I leave the yard, and fields for riding on are non existent

.


[/ QUOTE ]

It was a lovely hack - the riding round here is brill

I might try and ride when the muck trailer is emptied this weekend - I think the practise is key, really. It's daft cos the horse isn't bothered in the slightest! He never even looked at the transporter!