Suggestions for youngster getting silly in traffic

[Titchy Reindeer]

I taught my very impatient horse to hack out politely using this method too. Waiting at a junction? Get a treat. Waiting for a car to pass? Get a treat. Waiting for our slow hacking buddy to catch up with us? Get a treat. Only problem is every time I put my hand in my pocket on a hack now he screeches to a halt and waits for his sweetie

I feel that hand to pocket is the universal "emergency stop" for treat trained horses (I accidentally trained it in one RS pony). I certainly plan to use it to my benefit when I start getting serious in training my youngsters.

 

[Peglo]

I taught my very impatient horse to hack out politely using this method too. Waiting at a junction? Get a treat. Waiting for a car to pass? Get a treat. Waiting for our slow hacking buddy to catch up with us? Get a treat. Only problem is every time I put my hand in my pocket on a hack now he screeches to a halt and waits for his sweetie

Yep, reach in my pocket to get my phone because “look how cute you are” and I have a nose coming at me

 

[fredflop]

Personally I’d think about doing some low key in hand work around the yard, ideally with cars/vehicles.

The weather is so horrible at the minute getting any work done is difficult.

Do a couple of weeks worth of work over Xmas hols (if you get the time off), then restart in spring when there’s better weather and more light

 

[holeymoley]

I think your only option is to find a few solid horses and box him in front and back a few times until he chills out. Could you ask on some local horsey pages and maybe box up to meet?

 

[mariew]

I had a horse who started to get a bit worried in traffic (his field was a fair way from the nearest road so he didn't see traffic). I ended up moving him to a new yard where the field was right next to a busy road. After a week or so he was so used to traffic that it didn't worry him when out hacking.

In your case I would go for option 2 or 4.

I have often found being in a field next to scary stuff fixes a lot of things. Not always practical though, sadly.

 

[Widgeon]

In your situation I would lead out in hand if you can hold him, so he isn’t reacting to anything. Then send to a pro for a few weeks to fix the ridden issue. After that, turn away until you have the light you need to work with him yourself.

This is what I would do too. If you trust and can afford a professional then I'd do that - presumably they'll have a setup with assistant riders so he can go out with sensible company at quieter times of day, which is hard to achieve by yourself. Hopefully that will reset the panic response and they could maybe even help you pick him back up in the spring to get a positive start.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’m going to be ‘that’ person who points out that the roads are not safe nowadays for horses that are rock safe in traffic, let alone horses that are frightened in traffic.

It’s just not worth it trying to persevere once they’ve had a fright on the roads, sooner or later there will be a similar incident, and the outcome might be much worse for all parties.

 

[ihatework]

I think you should go with your gut as to what's right for you, the horse and the variables you can control.

Personally, I would not continue to hack out a reactive youngster, in December, with limited time. The last thing I would want to do is to create a bigger/unsolveable problem. Knowing me I'd give the horse a break, until weather improves and I can commit the time and energy to address it. Hopefully the reactiveness will have diminished a bit naturally. I'd then set aside time every single day, with rock solid nanny, and timing it for more quiet times and only short distances.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’d say the in hand could work. Maybe in hand when you don’t have a steady companion to get in behind and quiet hack but only with the correct horse that’s not going to flinch regardless of what happens and a rider that’s on the ball.
I’ve had the same with mine just recently. We had got to the point that she was hacking alone then in spooky company a car came flat out at us and the other rider ducked in behind me so my horse was suddenly faced with a car coming too fast and the disappearance of her companion. She’s since whipped round at cars
It’s so annoying but persevering and calm quietness will restore confidence (I hope, that’s what I keep telling myself!)
Good luck!

 

[mariew]

The other thing I thought of the other day is how careful you need the be with timing. If.its sunny, late afternoon when sun is low and the roads are wet, visibility when driving can be a real issue and is best left out.

 

[Polos Mum]

I’m going to be ‘that’ person who points out that the roads are not safe nowadays for horses that are rock safe in traffic, let alone horses that are frightened in traffic.

It’s just not worth it trying to persevere once they’ve had a fright on the roads, sooner or later there will be a similar incident, and the outcome might be much worse for all parties.

The next step on from that would be to sell him sadly, as I have to hack on the roads to get to the off road stuff and I don't want to school 5-6 days a week.
I am sure he'll get over it with time and the right experiences - just working out how to achieve that isn't easy.

I'm not sure horses are born rock safe in traffic - so presumably they all have to learn at some point in their lives

 

[Polos Mum]

I think your only option is to find a few solid horses and box him in front and back a few times until he chills out. Could you ask on some local horsey pages and maybe box up to meet?

I do have that, but coordinating the others for a day that's not raining, not windy and between 9.30 am and 1pm (before low sun starts to be a problem) means it's inconsistent currently - I think leaving him until spring is looking better and better as an option.

 

[mini-eventer]

I do have that, but coordinating the others for a day that's not raining, not windy and between 9.30 am and 1pm (before low sun starts to be a problem) means it's inconsistent currently - I think leaving him until spring is looking better and better as an option.

Honestly I would, Its not giving up. It is giving you the best chance to succeed. The inconsistency is making my normally sensible 16yr old slightly sharp hacking. I wouldn't risk it with a baby, as at the moment it will likely be easily rectified. However you just do not want to inadvertently reinforce any bad experiences as it would become deeper rooted

 

[maya2008]

I do have that, but coordinating the others for a day that's not raining, not windy and between 9.30 am and 1pm (before low sun starts to be a problem) means it's inconsistent currently - I think leaving him until spring is looking better and better as an option.

I would want to fix the issue at least in hand with a few good experiences before turning away. Leaving something on a bad note is never a good thing.

 

[mariew]

I would want to fix the issue at least in hand with a few good experiences before turning away. Leaving something on a bad note is never a good thing.

In hand is not always the answer. With my current horse, yes, my previous would have just said said you can foxtrot oscar and peed off in the distance. I had to stay on board with her.

 

[fredflop]

I would want to fix the issue at least in hand with a few good experiences before turning away. Leaving something on a bad note is never a good thing.

Personally I would leave as is right now. Until Xmas hols there won’t be any consistency, and the weather is so poor atm, it makes everything worse.

 

[Beausmate]

I would stop hacking out for now, probably work on some confidence building groundwork and start riding out again in better weather and more daylight, so you can choose to go out at quieter times to begin with. By persevering with a worried young horse that is getting worse, you are risking a bad situation occurring.

Don't set him up to fail - choose your situations carefully and set him up for a positive experience.