nervous horse in traffic

[Deborah]

I am currently riding a four year old who is nervous in traffic. Recently I was nearly thrown when she encountered a lorry. How can you help me please?

[Jo]

I can't imagine riding a nervy horse in traffic but they all spook at something, I suppose. My instructor always insists on riding abreast a nervous horse so that it is never next to the traffic, but this only works if you have someone with a bomb proof horse who can ride with you and also assuming the roads you ride on are no main roads. It's OK riding in twos on counrty roads but I imagine busy A roads would be a different proposition. I hope you get it sorted.

[KB]

In the Practical Horseman magazine they recommended taking a "green" horse out in the company of at least two other horses that are not bothered by much and putting the green horse in the middle. That position makes the horse feel safer. It doesn't have to worry so much about what going to eat them from behind or what scary things are in front! We have always tended to do this and it works well. It also works well if you have young riders or new riders. The only other thing I can suggest, which is abit harder to do, is moving the horse to a pasture that sits against a road for a time. My thoroughbred was very much bothered by headlights on cars when it started to get dark. But since I bought property that borders a road he isn't bothered by them at all any more. I can only assume that he became desensitized to it just being out there - I didn't have to do anything about it.

[Sarah]

hello!

I have a young horse who is a fool in traffic too. I have tried the two suggestiond above, and while they do work for most horses, they didn't work for me. After a lot of effort, i am now happy with having cars pass me, but if it is a strage vehicle (with roof rack, trailer, tractor, lorry, etc.) I am usually in the next county in a matter of seconds! Teh way i got Tango used to cars was by perseverance, and making sure that i rode down roads where i wasn't likely to meet traffic, and especially not fast traffic. On a road like this, taking someone on foot or on a bike who can explain to the driver that you are on a very nervy horse helps.

With regard to lorries, etc, again try going with someone who can flag down the vehicle if possible.

My most important tip is that riding on the roads is a dangerous thing to do anyway, particulary with a spooky horse. Take all possible efforts to avoid traffic - try to pull into a driveway or something to get yourself away from the spooky vehicle if at all possible. If there is no escape, try to get the vehicle to stop so that you can go past it, it is much easier to move a horse round a stationary object than try to get it past a moving one, or stand still as a lorry passes.

Good luck!