Traffic training Luna!

[cblover]

Hi there, our new filly Luna has clearly never seen traffic or much of life in general really!

Yesterday we took her out down a quiet road for the 1st time. she had her dually on and both me and hubby were kitted out with hi-viz gear.

Anyway, at first she wouldn't go over the road markings, then she spooked at the signs on the road, she reacted with varying degrees to the traffic from looking tense to running round in circles but................ she did walk away from the others

(although they were shouting for her), she did respond well to the dually and my voice and she didn't totally loose the plot!

We did the same today and she walked away from the group no probs again, she crossed the white lines fine and passed the signs no problem but the cars/vans still scared her! Bless her, I know she's trying to do the right thing but she is genuingly scared!

Any tips or advice on how to continue this progress? I'd love to hear other people's experiences! Thanks.x

 

[Cazza525]

Try taking her alongside a schoolmaster. Put her on the inside and schoolmaster on the outside...she should learn that there's nothing to be frightened of. Alternatively, just let her follow the other horse and constantly reassure her with your voice.

 

[hollyandivy123]

do you know a friend who has a field next to a busy road, pop her in there with a good friend and leave for 1 week or more if you can, we use to put ours next to the m5, sandwiched to an A road beside where they use to store the touring fairground rides......................very good in traffic after that and with octopuses as well

 

[cblover]

Luna grazes by the side of an 'A' road now. I took her out by herself so that she could get used to being independent but I do have another horse Kinzzy, who is totally bombproof that could be used as a lead for her.

I'll try her with Kinzzy at the weekend to see if her influence is effective - I don't want her to become reliant on her but equally it would be good for her to get her confidence in company first.

 

[lucy1984]

Brings back memories with my then, 2 year old....
She was weary about the white lines and 'stop' signs! bless! I first took her out with company and on her own from then on, just wore gloves and had a lunge line on her bridle- safely wound up (just in case she decided to take off in fear of the unknown) Luckily there wasnt much traffic for the first few times, so she could concentrate on her surroundings. i just used a calm voice and when she did good, when a car went by etc, praised her with a pat

I think its all about the initial bond you have in the first place, I think Izzy trusted me which helped.

 

[CBFan]

Like Luna, Starsky bless him hadn't seen much of life before I got him so I know what you're going through. to this day, he's still a bit wary of cars but he's vastly improved. I think the key is not to make a big thing of it, don't jump or act scared but give her the opportunity to look at things that worrry her and let her try to understand them. repetition is the key. perhaps you could drive your car up to her stable door to give her the chance to see it and hear it? taking her out with other equine company occasionally will do her some good too but it is important that she doesn't become completely reliant on it.

Keep up the good work and I'm sure, come spring you'll have a completely different horse

 

[cblover]

Thanks everyone, much appreciated.

She already grazes near a main road and she's been stabled as my dad was on his JCB just outside her stables door digging up the road and she never badded an eyelid.

Even today when she was freezemarked, the guy pulled his car right up to her stable door and she wasn't fazed at all.

I think it was because she was alone going down the road - maybe she's not quite ready for that yet. I'll take her with Kinzzy at the weekend and see how she is then!