Tips for Crossing Motorway Bridges

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Parkranger

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Just after a bit of advice......near to me there's a motorway bridge that I need to cross sooner or later for good hacking.

The sides are apparently quite high so 'safe' enough, but I need to get my head around it!

Not sure what new boy will be like but I think I'll just trot him over it.

Problem comes with one eye boy - took him over one before and made the mistake of not keep his head in and he was fine on the first bit, but the second bit was too much - think it was because he couldn't see where the traffic was going. So, he span and we hit the fence (still thank god to this day it was a high strong one) and I kicked him into a canter so we got over it!
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I think the only reason we had a problem is because he couldn't hear my voice (it was crossing M25) so he got scared - he's usually pretty unflapable.....

so, any ideas - apart from not making problems for myself and just getting on with it and trotting over!
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Right well all I can tell you is what I did the first time with Bodey.

Firstly find yourself the most sensible, motorbridge confident horse you can find to follow.

I personally didn’t trot but walked (gave Bodes as much time as he needed to take everything in), and kept right in the middle of the roads. Stuff the cars they can wait.

And when I got the other side Bodey had a good handful of treats.

I’m quite lucky in the fact that Bodey is a sensible chap and is very food orientated so that helped.

Just take it slow, give the horse time to absorb everything, and practice, that would be my advice.
 
I agree. Last year we encountered moterway bridges for the first time. I went in company with my trainer on her horse and we walked as steadily as we could. Kept chatting and as chilled as I could be. She was a bit looky but I def think trotting would have spooked her more.

Slow and steady would be my advice and in company preferably.
 
Ditto the above, many moons ago I was at a yard that overlooked the M23 and you had to cross the motorway to go anywhere. The 1st few times I went over bridge (with low sides) I was sandwiched between 2 horse's and 1 in front who were used to going over the bridge Couldn't really trot over it as it was downhill. What it made worse me was that my mare wouldn't walk over the iron girders in the road she had to jump them You then had to hack along side the motorway and either go under it or go over a mahoosively high bridge that went over M23 and M25. Its takes as much to get your own head around it, then your horses.
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well my yard is just down the road from M25 and we have to cross the bridge at Clacketts lane services or another further up each time we hack so quite experienced now over the last 4 years of helping get horses used to it...please please DONT trot..if your horse spooks you will either loose control or re-inforce the fear factor and encourage him to rush off over the bridge. As Jobo says find a bridge proof horse and then walk with him over it, if your particually anxious yourself get off and walk with the horse but otheriwise keep to the rise of the road,..ie the middle so that the horses are furtherst away from the traffic, its the flashing as they disappear they dont really like..choose your day as well, a day like today in the wind and spray isnt a good starter day!!!...I have taken all my liveries over and many friends now and thankfully all are now bombproof on the bridge and accept it as part of their hack no problem but keep it really steady and make a lot of fuss of your horse , remember they cant hear you above the roar of the traffic so just scratch the neck with your fingers as you would when they might be a bit tense ....you will be fine and in a few weeks will wonder what all the fuss is about...
 
I would just keep calm and try not to let him sense you are a little nervous. I took Baron over one and he didnt bat an eyelid and he is a nappy horse generally.
 
Ditto all the above, walk don't trot, get a steady friend to accompany you, and keep calm yourself. I took my 4-year-old out with a friend and we went back and forth across it 6 times the first day - I had a very determined friend!

When I had to cross it on my own for the first time, I rode down the middle and kept looking dead straight ahead. I found something in front to focus on, and didn't look at the traffic myself or let my head turn at all. They can feel the weight of your head move as you turn it, so I figured if I wasn't looking, he would be less bothered too. Seemed to work for us and I still resort to that strategy if there is any problem (extra wind and rain, emergency services hammering past underneath etc!).
 
Would you be better getting off and leading them across? I think thats what I'd do with yours.

I have to take F over a small one to get to the fun ride... and have been a nervous wreck about it in the past. We walk over it as the surface is a bit slippy, but dont think I'd like to trot - don't know why really though? Its just a small bridge, but I take him in the centre of it (and sod the traffic, they can wait for the 30 seconds it takes)

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We have a motorway bridge very close to us and have taken many babies over it over the years.
Ditto the above use a nanny horse for the first time, just continue a nice relaxed walk as you begin to go over the bridge. If the horse wants to stop and look thats fine, just give them time and show them theres nothing to worry about.
We've never had a big problem, this weekend our newly broken 4 year old went over it the first time and she was absolutely fine she was more interested in the yellow crash barrier signs than the lorries dashing by underneath.
 
interesting - everyone on my old yard told me to trot!! TBH, I think he'd be ok - got to cut him some slack as he is blind!

I think it's just a horse crossing, so I could travel as far as possible over to his blind side so he doesn't really notice the cars? My sharer agreed that we'll probably lead them both over first time....both my boys are very voice orientated and as I'd probably be more confident on the ground, it's probably for the best to walk over first couple of times!
 
i used to cross the M42 years ago, it had low fences each side. i'd wait until there was a gap on both sides coming, with no big lorries just cars going underneath, and no traffic along the lane i was on, and then trot very smartly across in the middle. seemed the safest thing to me, never had a problem. i was always on my own though, and felt that being on the bridge for 6 seconds was better than being on it for 20...
 
Can you go over with another who thinks nothing of it just to show him its nothing to worry about

also you could walk him over in hand a few times loaded up with polos or carrots, i walked my girl in hand the first couple of times and now she does not bat an eyelid

good luck
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I crossed the M62 on a fun ride, without thinking about it before hand! It was nice and wide and the mare was ok, I think I was more worried, she took exception to the crashbarrier more than the lorries underneath. She was in company and I think that helped. So my first time crossing a motor way was dressed in pyjamas, dressing gown, night cap and with a horse with tinsel in her mane and tail, with a hot water bottle and a mouse attached to her saddle and a pretty red and green scarf round her neck.
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Just thinking though - crossing the A3 is going to be a whole lot different to crossing the M25! I'll do it early early on a sunday morning first few times so that there's less traffic.....
 
Now that the longer daylight hours are approaching I would start doing it in the early hours of the morning when there is little traffic. I would tend to walk rather than trot and if possible go the first few times with some laid back horses and riders who will travel at the slow pace required to keep your horse nice and calm and feeling secure
 
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