Spooking/silliness on the road - What would you have done?

ChiffChaff

ChiffChaff

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Hello,
Don’t post often but would like some advice.

I have an 18 year old Welsh D on full loan who is a lovely, sweet natured pony who I can generally do everything with. She is the sort that really doesn't have a bad bone in her body!

Today I was out hacking on my own down a fairly busy (but still residential) road. I have ridden down the road before in company before and she has always been great, she isn’t exactly bombproof but is sensible and has a good sense of self preservation! Today a little boy on an electric car-thing was riding on the pavement on the opposite side of the road and it scared the LIFE out of pony, she bunny hopped, span and tried to run for home. I tried once or twice to turn her in the direction I wanted to go in but she was getting more wound up and we were holding up the traffic, so I turned for home (trotting/jogging sideways up the road...). Once I had turned onto a quieter road – after thanking the cars profusely - she calmed down and walked. I didn’t take her straight home, we hacked around the quieter roads for a while and although she was a little more spooky than normal and needed lots of pats and reassurance, she was fine.

So, was I right to turn back? I’m going back out tomorrow with another horse and we will probably take the same route. She’s fab on the roads usually. Nothing really phases her and her usual response to scary things is to ‘jump’ then settle or just stop and look. What would you have done in the same situation? Do you think she was just scared or napping too? We haven’t hacked alone in while, maybe I should do it more often?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!
 
I think when you factor in the other traffic you did the right thing at that time. Not worth annoying other road users and stressing yourself and your horse by pressing on. There is always another day. Like you say, you didn't go straight home. Have you got any friends with small children - you could perhaps borrow their road toys to help familiarise your horse to small moving things.
 
You have to do what's right in each situation even if it doesn't always follow popular advice to the letter, you have to use your judgement. I think you did the right thing, especially as you didn't then take her straight home after the incident. I doubt she'll make napping a habit, it was just a fear reaction. If it had been my horse facing one of those electric cars you wouldn't have seen us for dust - when my guy spooks he goes all out, so it sounds like you did well to calm her. Good idea to hack with a friend tomorrow to restore both your confidence.
 
It's a tricky one isn't it!
Normally I'd make my horse continue in the direction I'd asked him to, what ever it took.
However last year my daughters pony went mad on a busy road and I made her turn and we headed back home. The traffic was too busy and the situation was the wrong one to be trying to sort out a pony with issues.
No harm came from doing that in all honesty so I don't think you need worry about turning back if it was the safest option.
I'd maybe go that direction tomorrow or another day at a quiet time with another horse if possible so the memory doesn't become ingrained for either of you.
 
When im hacking my youngsters on their own and I feel them tensing up, and traffic is about I always jump off and lead them past what ever is bothering them, if your horse is good to lead, thats what I would have done.
 
Thanks guys, the horse I'm with tomorrow is very sensible so we should be fine. She's a funny beast - usually so good! Minutes before a MASSIVE lorry had gone past (God knows where it was going...) rattling and everything, fairly close, and she just twitched her ear!!
 
ameeyal said:
When im hacking my youngsters on their own and I feel them tensing up, and traffic is about I always jump off and lead them past what ever is bothering them, if your horse is good to lead, thats what I would have done.
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She's fine to lead, that's a good idea. I'll bear it in mind if she does the same again. Thank you.
 
Thanks, I have to say the car drivers were very considerate, and hung well back very patiently. I was fully expecting someone to wind down the windows and tell me a I shouldn't be on the roads!
 
What you did sounds sensible. Mine is usually very good, but occasionally she spooks or plays up - I usually get off and lead her before keeping going once she's past it. Next time I usually trot past or just ride forward positively as I don't have anyone else to hack out with (company is definitely ideal).
 
I was hacking Ned once and a blow up Santa had appeared on our usual route (of about 3 miles). He reared, spooked and tanked off (thankfully at a trot!). I couldn't get him to go back and although it wasn't busy, there was a car.
I decided to turn back, but not go home. Instead of the 3 miles we would have gone, we went about 10 :P

I think you did the right thing in the circumstances.
 
You did the right thing given the situation. Had a similar thing on bomb-proof traffic-wise horse, but very spooky. On a very narrow bridle way, huge bath and other rubbish had been fly-tipped. No amount of persuasion would make him go near it. Steep drop down bank to the left, rabbit holes. I could have smacked him passed it, but we probably would have ended up falling down the bank. So I took an executive decision and circled back and went via road. Sometimes survival is more important than winning the argument. We have since gone up same bridleway. He was fine, now the blasted fly-tipping rubbish has gone.
 
I think you did the right thing in that situation. What I normally do is, let her turn around in the direction she wants to go in, but make her stand. She stands there until she has calmed down, and then I can trun her round in the direction I wanna go in and carry on walking, it normally works :) There's no point in getting into an argument with my mare, you'll be there for hours if not days, just let her have her tantrum, ignore it, let her calm down and realise what an idiot she is being, and carry on with what you wanted to do in the first place :)
 
I too think you did the sensible thing OP. Not surprised your horse spooked at the child's car - mine are always much more scared of silly things than of sensible ones!
 
We went out today with another horse (her best friend ;) ) along the same route, she was fab, didn't put a foot wrong :D - thanks for all your advice!
 
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