Taking babies out on the road in hand!

Tinypony said:
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.
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To each their own but physically there is no way you can hold a 500kg horse which has got a fright. Absolutely nothing to do with manners/training/competence/confidence just physics.
 
I agree with you, no more than you could "hold" them when riding them. Accidents sometimes happen when you are dealing with a 500kg horse. However, with a bit of training we just do our best to avoid them.
 
robysfarm said:
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.
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Wonder how this would work if you had to cross a road or lane to get to your turnout? Hats on, bridle on and no less than 5 reflective items before you can bring in!

Does make sense though with some idot drivers around!
 
Tinypony said:
I agree with you, no more than you could "hold" them when riding them. Accidents sometimes happen when you are dealing with a 500kg horse. However, with a bit of training we just do our best to avoid them.
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Fair point - as said I'm not the most confident anyway. I just think that when I'm on them if they spook and run you've got more time to calm them. I did get off one which started to freak when cars came up behind it and it felt far more dangerous for everybody. Years ago, I remember long reining through the centre of Burnham to Snowball Farm, wouldn't dream of it now so maybe its an age thing or maybe cars have got worse or maybe both.
 
djlynwood said:
Wonder how this would work if you had to cross a road or lane to get to your turnout?
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Our summer turnout is in the village and we have horses to walk down there on the road away from the yard. Minimum (yard rules) is hat, bridle and hi viz tabbard. No exceptions. If you are on the road with a horse in hand then a bridle and hat and hi viz are a must as far as i can see. My horse is a dope to lead and has never played up but i still abide by this.
 
scarymare said:
Fair point - as said I'm not the most confident anyway. I just think that when I'm on them if they spook and run you've got more time to calm them. I did get off one which started to freak when cars came up behind it and it felt far more dangerous for everybody. Years ago, I remember long reining through the centre of Burnham to Snowball Farm, wouldn't dream of it now so maybe its an age thing or maybe cars have got worse or maybe both.
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I did lots of things when I was younger that I wouldn't dream of now LOL!
I think this is partly down to what we're used to. I am so confident in my groundwork that I ride with a halter under the bridle, and the rope attached to my saddle or round my horse's neck. In times of trouble, I get off, get my rope in my hand and away we go. Others say you should never get off. Unless we meet the individual people and horses and see first-hand how they operate together, nobody really knows what works best for them.
:-)
 
IMO there are a lot more cars on the road nowadays which does not help. As for riding versus leading, apparently the statistics say you are safer on board.
 
Small fry went for his first walk on the roads today - he's 6months old. Good as gold and not in the slightest bit bothered. He loves going out and seeing things.

If you're youngster doesn't lead well enough yet to take on the roads safely they you have a lot fo groundwork to do! If I can't control and trust the horse to behave itself inhand on the roads I sure as hell wouldn't be taking it out under saddle!
 
The comment about not being insured leading a horse out on a road is a load of rubbish and you should not be with an insurance company that puts rules like that on you stipulating you do not have control in a headcollar as muc as you do in a bridle! They cannot state whether you had sufficient control. As someone said, a horse in flight/fright you cannot hold if it really wants to go, whether you have a headcollar/bridle on it, are riding or leading it!

You would have to be proved to being negligent if something happened and by just leading a horse in a headcollar you are NOT automatically negligent. Move insurers if they put these sorts of warranties on. I worked in equine insurance for 7 years until last year and you can't put those types of conditions on cover!
 
From a safety point of view make sure you are wearing a hat, gloves, hi vis, you are leading using a lunge rein and your horse is also wearing hi vis.
 
My friend started leading her filly out from 6 months, she felt it was better to get her used to it while she was a baby and not too big! She just walks her up to the village green, farm shop or pub! It has worked really well and she is very confident in traffic and with new things. In fact if something unusual is happening she tends to take her up to have a look.

I think you need to be very confident on the ground to do this, and I believe she did the first few trips accompanied by her husband with a 2nd lead rope attached.

Oh, and yes definately wearing hat, gloves and hi viz.
 
All i have to add is that mine would all be well over 16-17hh when broken and to be honest i do not want a a huge lump of muscle underneath me seeing traffic for the first time.
Hence mine are all out on the roads from 8 months old, by the time they are broken to ride as they have seen every thing they possibly can by that age i can concentrate on them rather than anything they may look twice at.
When i first take the out i take them 2 at a time with an experianced person leading each foal and a person in front and a person behind.
Each person deals with their youngstock different so hence i would not critise anyone for doing different to me and would not expect anyone to say my way is wrong
 
Never taken mine for walks onto the roads.

They are turned out next to a main A road, they are passed with tractors & machinery daily, they have hay brought by tractor, and water (to the fields) by car.
 
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