The advantage of riding out in a non-rural area..

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chaps89

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I used to keep my horse back at home in the midlands, we were semi-rural (lots of countryside but still near busy roads & few quiet country lanes) And it wasn't uncommon for people not to slow down or be rude to you if you hacked out.
I've now moved my boy down to London with me and it's sort of quiet housing estate-ish area that we're in. Anyway he's not too settled hacking out on the tracks/quiet lanes but round the roads last night with buses, lorries, bikes, cars etc he didn't bat an eyelid (tho it was recycling day so of course the recycling boxes were going to get him!) and everyone slowed down- mostly I think because it's a bit of an unusual sight so they were too buys gawping! Hehe. Not sure I'll chance it on the A road near us tho- that might be pushing it! (Tho he has been down them at home, it was a fast but none busy road, this is constantly busy and asking for trouble me thinks)
I obviously have a city friendly and country wimpy horse!
 
Tis true people do tend to slow down - be ready to hop out of people's way if needs be though as IME not all London drivers understand the space a horse needs. I remember one memorable occasion when a driver passed us so close her wing mirror was briefly caught in the pony's tail - thank goodness for an utterly unflappable temperament (when it suited him)!:eek:
 
my horse is the same, really good on busy roads, even when there are road works, diggers, signs etc and rush hour traffic, but ride past a field and a horse neighs or cow moos and were off!!!
 
I used to live near Heathrow and the riding wasn't to bad and because the traffic was most of the time it was less scary and there were pavements to hop on to. I used to take them to a piece of waste ground and watch Concord take off you used to feel the vibracions through your stirrups.
Probably won't give up rural Dorset for it but had plenty of fun at the time.
 
My ex-racer is almost bombproof on the roads, and all my 'accidents' have happened in off road places, like in the woods when a dog chased us, and in an open grass field, which he was convinced was a racetrack.

Today was recycling day, and my boy just plodded along behind the lorry as glass bottles were being chucked into it and there was a hell of a racket going on. Then he walked calmly past when the oncoming traffic had gone, and he couldn't have cared less. He also doesn't mind builders, road works, window cleaners, tractors, motorbikes, lorrys, flags. He likes them all. Brilliant!

However... Then (we are currently riding out an hour earlier than usual because of the heat) we rode past the local primary school and it was just before 9am. Unfortunately my TB does not like large numbers of small children, and he threw a hissy fit in the road. I'd like to try to desensitise him to this, but not knowing many small children, it's a bit difficult, and when he lunges about on the road, so close to where they are all walking to school, the mothers get very worried, so it's probably not sensible for me to practise with real children. I think this is one thing I might not be able to overcome, and it's probably best if I avoid riding past there at that time of day. :o
 
Could you try going past the school later in the morning when it's playtime? We have a primary school near us and the first time we went past my youngster was freaked out by about 50 small children running up to the railings shouting "horsey!" at the tops of their voices. At least they were safely enclosed in the playground though. We have timed it 'wrong' a few times since but he is more relaxed about it each time and doesn't even mind the teacher blowing the whistle now.
 
the first year of owning my boy it was hacking round council and private estates no access to otherwise fields were flooded most year round but hey, due to circumstances did him the world of good
 
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