When and how do you start traffic proofing your youngsters?

[flaxen]

At what age do you start traffic proofing your youngsters, how do you do it and how often?

My 2 yr old is already over 15hh ( was only expected to make 15.2hh ) and as i keep my 2 at home ( pony as companion ) I have no older experienced horse to use as help. He has already been bitted ( only gelded earlier this year as was getting a bit full of himself in the winter and needed him to do as he was told as I had a c section and didnt need pulling about).

I bridle him and have started walking him about on the roads where we live. We have a farm so he has seen tractors moving about but passing traffic is a bit different. He is actually very good and is taking it all in his stride, only jittering about a couple of times ( only 2nd time out today, 1st time was 1 mth ago ) he has seen cars, vans, motorbikes and boy racers. Its much quieter on a weekend than the week but still busy as our farm drive is actually on an industrial estate. I make sure he is booted all round including knee boots.

I dont manage to get him out much due to hubby not helping with daugter ( have to do horses 5am before baby wakes up and only have 30mins on an evening to do them before she kicks off at being in her pram ) so only get a chance now and then when baby at grandmas.

When hes not bothered at all with small traffic then I will start taking him out when its busier to see moving lorries. I also dont have anyone who could accompany me on an older horse. I am also on my own with no help.

 

[spacefaer]

Wow - it's not easy for you is it?!

I'm currently helping with 2 youngsters - one belonging to my YO who is 4 and I have rebacked her this summer. She has been foot perfect with traffic, due in no small part to the tractor driver here being brilliant with her and her brothers. He regularly drives in and around their fields, very quietly. The tractor gets parked in their field and they get to investigate it thoroughly! They also play with the quad bike daily when their fields are poo picked.

She went out with a couple of "sensible" older horses the other day, and ended giving them a lead past a hedge trimmer, while they span and were generally stupid!

The next door neighbour has a just backed 3 yr old who I've been hacking out with, on one of the sensible hunters - she was broken in over the last couple of months and has just come home to be ridden away. Her owner regularly led her down the lane to borrow our arena all spring, to get her used to working in a school and get her lunging.


tbh, if your boy is being sensible, I wouldn't worry too much at the moment - he's only 2 and you have plenty of time next year, or even the year after - I try and let 2 yr old be horses and not do too much with them - he sounds well handled, and well forward in his education. Don't beat yourself up that you're not doing enough - the 2 yr old here just about leads and we're not rushing to do anymore than that with him.

 

[JanetGeorge]

My youngsters start their traffic proofing as soon as they are old enough to go in the field with their mums. I drive around in my tractor feeding, Mums come running to see me and foals follow!

This continues until they're ready to be backed. At present, I'm delivering big bales of haylage into the mares' fields, every 2-4 days depending on how many in a group. Mums come right up - foals with them - sometimes I struggle to be able to make progress because I'm surrounded - I have to rev the engine and sound the horn to get the little poppets to move a few feet!

My 2 and 3 year olds are in rented fields down the road - the farmer runs quad-biking over and through their fields - and occasionally has to rescue a client when the youngsters converge on a quadbike and surround it!

Not surprisingly, when they're backed and start hacking out, traffic doesn't bother them The only thing that WILL spook them at first is bicycles - but as long as you can get the bike rider to call out and talk to you, then they're fine too!

 

[mtj]

This is probably beyond obvious, but are there any yards adjacent to main roads in your area?
Even grazing, with sensible company, can start the process.

 

[Four Seasons]

I started when mine was weaned and was good to handle. Now at 2 years he isn't bothered by anything.

I just took mine on a headcollar, a lunge rein and a short whip to correct him (my 2 year old is still a stallion). In the spring/summer/autumn I took him out twice a month. If some farmers were busy in a field, I'd let him graze at the side and let him watch. Pat him plenty of times and make a big fuss of him. I also do some training in the arena, get plastic bags out, cones, bright things etc. He has become so easy outside!

 

[Wheels]

Mine was introduced to traffic very early, his field is next to a road that has buses, tractors and lorries going past at various times of the day. He is now 3 and has been out for walks in hand a few times and also long reined a couple of times without any bother. I also have a long driveway so will be getting my hubby to ride his bike up and down it to get my youngster used to the noise etc.

Sounds like you are already on track