Taking babies out on the road in hand!

Stelzar

Stelzar

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I am looking to start taking my babies out on the road very soon in hand, just wondered how everyone copes with this do you take them out with a more experienced horse in hand?
 
Mine are over 2 now and are insured they are used to farm machinery and cars, just a bit worried about taking them out on the road its a little bit pathetic really its not as if they have never walked along a road, just not ones that are very busy.
 
I'm going to be taking my 18 month old out in a couple of months for a wander..I will be taking him with a companion at first then short walks alone and take it from there..I want him by the end of next summer out and about on his own!
 
can see the benefit of this however am i just a wimp or do you think the benefits outweigh the risks? im not sure i would partly trust the drivers out on my roads, would never forgive myself if youngster got away from me
 
I have to lead mine up road to my stables so are getting some practise and they see tractors all the time so are looking but pretty good, the ones that are nervous i lead on lunge line and give lots of praise and they all seem to take it in thier stride bhar the odd leap and jump.;)
 
Your all making me feel very calm and relaxed about taking them out thank you, definately will be bridled and taken out, both of mine respond to voice just worried if they get really worried and get away from me.
 
I do take mine out in pairs, both would be the same age and share a stable so they give each other confidence, the first few times i just lead them to the end of the drive and stand there for ages watching cars go past (or in my case waiting ages for a car to go past.
Once they realise that cars are not scary we walk about 100 yrds down road to the nearset field and then come back just getting a bit further when they are confident
 
Just remember to wear gloves, use a lunge line so you have more chance of hanging on and I prefer to be on the right side of the road with babies so that traffic is approaching but you are between horse and traffic otherwise if you lead on the left side and also lead horse from the near side there's a chance horse will jump into you if it spooks. All depends which type of roads you have to use I think.
 
miss_bird said:
I do take mine out in pairs, both would be the same age and share a stable so they give each other confidence, the first few times i just lead them to the end of the drive and stand there for ages watching cars go past (or in my case waiting ages for a car to go past.
Once they realise that cars are not scary we walk about 100 yrds down road to the nearset field and then come back just getting a bit further when they are confident
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I have got a pair that are the same age that I can take out together, just need to find another confident handler to help as don't fancy my chances one of me and 2 of them.
 
I never take my youngsters out in hand - and never have any trouble with them and traffic once they're backed. People who buy them are always astounded by just how good in traffic they are! Normally, by the time they're backed 3-4 weeks they're doing the 'quiet companion' job for the NEXT 3 year old.

This is largely down to the fact that they're fed from vehicles from the time they are foals - tractor, Land Rover, or in the worst of the ice, my Paj (as that was the only thing that would go up the hill.) BIG tractors just mean more food to them!

I can't see how taking them out in hand would make them quieter in traffic - they could only be quieter than they are if they were unconscious!
 
I've been walking mine out in hand everyso often since I got him in July. He goes out with he best bud who's a 26yo TB and who doesn't spook at anything. He doesn't seem bothered by traffic passing him although we've not met anything large yet, but I am doing it to improve his leading as well as to help him see the world. We don't have an arena or suitable field to use in the winter for leading practice as too boggy.

It seems to do him good, he is improving his balance walking down the hills in hand as he struggled with this to begin with - they like to run down instead as is easier! Thankfully having them on hilly fields also improves this!

I think it does him good going out and also me as I can see what makes him tick. He has met other horses whilst out for out walks too and he isn't too keen on standing still if they walk away so it helps to teach him that they are allowed to do that and he has to do as he is asked!

I think all horses are different - whether it does benefit them at all I don't know as some may not ever be phased by stuff anyway whereas others will be no matter how much 'desensitising' you try and do. I think alot is down to the handler/rider at the time and how calm they are to be honest. If you aren't bothered about stuff then I believe they pick up on that and react off what vibes you are giving.
 
I personally didn't take my last youngster out in hand on the road as I never thought it was safe. he is mahoosive and can be very exuberant at times in hand. 16.3hh as a 2yo.

He however was led around the farm and seen farm machinery etc, he was backed in June 2010 and happily hacks out now and is fairly brave most of the time. Even better than some of the older horses

He is now 17.2hh and for me it was the safest option not to take him out until under saddle.

The other youngster I also took out in hand years ago and he bolted up the lane away from me, with a lunge line attached and a bridle, So I am not a big lover of leading young big horses out.

That's not to say I disagree, just wasn't the best option for us.
 
It's something I did, using a 12ft line to lead so I had more rope if anything went a bit wrong, from the time my foal was about 12 months old. We used to go and visit the people sitting outside the pub.
Both myself and the youngster wore lots of high viz. We walked on the road as if we were traffic, not on the right, I have a feeling there might be something in the Highway Code about that. I walked on her right side, so I was between her and cars (I always lead from both sides, so it wasn't unusual for her). It was a traffic-proofing exercise to a certain extent, but also a bit of fun and a chance to get her out of her boring field, she always seemed to enjoy it.
 
much safer to teach them to lead from an older horse round the field, and then progress to the roads - obvioously making sure other horse is good in traffic! reduces the chances of getting squished significantly. Although I always turn mine out next to a busy road before I do this so they meet some traffic before hand.
 
Something I found out due to a friends terrible miss fortune is that most insurance companies would void your insurance policy in the event of an accident if the horse did not have a bridle on as they dont feel you are in full control without one. You also need a minimum of 5 reflective items on and the leader/rider must have an up to standard riding hat on.

I think it is a great idea to get them used to it while they are young but would want to take all possible precautions.
 
Stelzar said:
I am looking to start taking my babies out on the road very soon in hand, just wondered how everyone copes with this do you take them out with a more experienced horse in hand?
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Oops, I started early, mine was going out for short walks in hand from before she was weaned! She is just like a big dog, always wants to be with you, and she enjoyed it. Gloves, and a long line, and choose somewhere nice and quiet. 10 minutes max first time and just build it up little by little.
 
This all depends on your insurance policy, and I checked mine thoroughly (I'm sometimes a bitless rider). And as for control, that also depends on the previous work and training that you and your horse have both had. Some feel more control if they are sitting on top, some feel more in control if they are on the ground. People will always argue about that one, but I can't be bothered because I know what the answer is for me personally.
 
If you do take them out on the roads make sure that you and they are fully kitted out in High-Viz. Also ensure that the bridle/headcoller has a dog tag with your telephone number and vets telephone number engraved on it just in case he get's away.
 
Don't feel that you HAVE to take them out on the roads inhand right now, it's always risky, you'll have a lot more control in these situations when he is old enough to be ridden out and you can get him used to traffic when that time comes. Don't forget that youngsters prat around, can slip and stumble, and roads remove hair and skin pretty easily! Ask yourself if it is worth it, and if it is, then make sure knee boots are worn :)
 
I had to walk my mare out when she was 2 as she had an injury (i gave her sedalin the first week or so) but i did go on very quiet roads, she was used to tractors and cars etc just from being on a yard. I think as long as you are sensible about what roads you use and wear hi viz, lunge line and bridle then you should be OK. I also led her as a 3 year old from another sensible older horse to get her used to longer hacks while saving my poor old legs!!!
 
OMG you are all so brave. I wouldn't dream of taking my babies out in hand on the road - very little actual control even in a control halter. Surely if they got loose and hurt someone you would be found negligant in which case your insurance doesn't work Mind you I am a total wimp that said and send mine away to be broken too!
 
scarymare said:
OMG you are all so brave. I wouldn't dream of taking my babies out in hand on the road - very little actual control even in a control halter. Surely if they got loose and hurt someone you would be found negligant in which case your insurance doesn't work Mind you I am a total wimp that said and send mine away to be broken too!
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That could happen when you're riding of course...
Well, I rang my insurance company and they were fine about it. I've got as much control as I need ta, without a control halter. Groundwork and good manners when lead on the ground are the absolute foundation of what I do with horses. But I know I'm unconventional and don't for a minute expect everyone else to do the same.
 
Very good idea. Mine is now almost 4 and took him out on the road in hand from about 2. Gives them great experience. Rather than taking another horse I often got another human to walk with me and help slow down any traffic if they weren't being very understandable.
I also bought a hi-vis saying "Caution - young horse in training" and found people more understanding this way.
I found that as long as cars going very slowly it wasn't too much off a problem. Don't be afraid to stick your hand out and tell people to slow down though - people forget that horses were on the road long before them and that they automatically have a right of way!
Remember to stand between car and horse so that if the horse does freak out they won't go straight into the car!
 
The next thing is that people will say that tabard could be used against you in case of an accident. It's a bit of a myth.
 
nikkiportia said:
Don't feel that you HAVE to take them out on the roads inhand right now, it's always risky, you'll have a lot more control in these situations when he is old enough to be ridden out and you can get him used to traffic when that time comes. Don't forget that youngsters prat around, can slip and stumble, and roads remove hair and skin pretty easily! Ask yourself if it is worth it, and if it is, then make sure knee boots are worn :)
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I know only too well how true those words are!
I took my youngster for a walk down the farm lane, he got away from me and headed back home. I wasnt worried at this point but when i got back home and found him waiting at the barn he was covered in blood and had broken both knees open to the bone. He had tripped over his trailing line and skidded along the gravel drive.
 
I always wanted to take mine out for walks, but came to realise that I just couldn't risk it where I live as I have a very busy main road at the bottom of my lane, so would be a baptism of fire, and also if they did get away from me and bolt back home across this road, then they would likely get squished, as happened to a neighbours horse a few years ago.

If I lived on a very quiet (or dead end) lane then I think I would've done though.
 
Does anyone think that there is the same chance of a horse getting away from them when they are riding as when they are on the ground? When you are on the ground, with a decent length of rope used correctly, you have more leverage. That's just physics. I'm not saying bitted vs bitless, but using the same equipment on the horse's head in each case.
I never have a moment's doubt that I can stop my current horses on-line. I did have a hefty cob that could sometimes get the angle right and get away from me, but he was just as efficient at "getting away" when ridden, so was kept well away from roads. He was a bit of an exception though, he'd defied experts. The point I'm making though was that he was thes same ridden or not, and my ability to stop him seemed to reflect that.
 
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