Wmy does my horse step out into the traffic?!

[OneInAMillion]

My horse is pretty much as bombproof as you could get in traffic.
Owned him for three years and have no problems.
Recently, however, if a vehicle comes up the road and I stand him on the side (eg on the verge) he stands fine and then, as the said vehicle gets about 7/8m away he jumps out onto the road in front of it!! There doesn't seem to be anything I can do to stop him doing it. Any suggestions would be very welcome??? I can't help feeling that one day will be squished horsey and mummy!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

As he's obviously been fine up till now, there has got to be something going on to make him start this.

With the last horse I had, when I had him first, he did almost the same thing: when a car came up behind him he'd be going along OK, then for some inexplicable reason he'd turn out his bum into the path of the oncoming car! I just couldn't figure it out, but in hindsight, he'd never ever been ridden solo till I got him, so I just wonder whether it mightn't have been a confidence issue manifesting itself. I got the vet to check his eyesight but nothing wrong.

Which brings us back to your problem: personally if he's been OK with traffic up till now, I'd be inclined in the first instance to get the vet out and just to check his eyesight, to make sure there's nothing funny going on there.

Then maybe do some work in the school, getting him, or rather reminding him, to yield from the leg when you want him to - also you could do this on the ground, pushing behind the girth with your hand.

Q's you could ask: How is he generally? Is he stiff on one side? Have you changed the saddle/bridle recently? Have YOU had any injuries/back problems? Have you changed his bit? When were his teeth checked? I'd be inclined to also perhaps have a physio to look him over to see if he's stiff anywhere, plus perhaps there could be a shoeing issue? Sorry, these are lots of things to look at (and all potentially expensive!) but there has got to be something going on for your horse if this is something that's just starting up and he's obviusly trying to tell you something, its just finding out what exactly!

So good luck.