Cars Beware!!

[Slave 2 Magic]

Here's a good one for you. A lad at our yard recently bought a tb ex racer. He has tried to ride her on the roads but she kicks out at cars. I know that somewhere in her past she must have had a bad experience but how to stop her doing it? Hacking anywhere by us means going on roads and how do you car proof a horse without actually offending anyone?

[bexj]

Gosh, I've never heard of that before! And I agree, there's too many cars around here to risk that!......Does she do it when she is out in company? What happens if there is another horse inbetween her and the road? Does she do it inhand? Can you borrow a scrap car and try to train her away from the field, where it won't matter if the car gets the odd boot?

[Maddison's girl]

perhaps start by parking cars outside the riding school whilst she is being schooled (assuming you have a school that is) then perhaps progressing on to leading her past cars, parked and moving. oh and get a good insurance :(

we had a problem on sunday when a plank of a boy racer in his souped up car tryed squeezing past the horses nearly hit my daughter and her horse and Maddison kicked out at her car! I dont know what would have happened if she had actually kicked the car :(

[domane]

Ooh.... am I an awful person for gleefully imagining how lovely a swift shoe-clad hoof kick taking out a smug boy-racers headlight would be? :rolleyes: If we could get away with it of course. I'm not really suggesting I want to borrow her.... it's just sometimes those inconsiderate drivers really make me :mad: !!!

In reality.... does she kick out at ALL cars, ie, stationary AND moving? If it's just moving then perhaps it's a self-preservation reaction she started which is now a habit. But I have no idea how to change this. Perhaps having her rear shoes removed will reduce damage....

[BNaturally]

The rider must be pro active in directing and molding this horse behavior when around cars.Thr rider should request the horse to stop, watch and totally submit to it rider commnands.
The rider must not wait until the car is to closes to the horse, you would need to give it something to focus on - like move this way, now move that way, stop and turn this way, then turn the other way.
This would keep the horse busy and focus on the rider and forget about the car.
All horses need emotional/mental/physical training.
I hope this helps.