Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports

Horse Management – Is Your Horse Traffic Shy?

February 25th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

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This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to pleasant rides in the countryside to enjoy all the beauties of spring. Many horses feel cooped up after the winter and it is so good to be out on a soft warm spring day, enjoying the fresh air and the freedom. Riding out like this almost inevitably involves roads and if your horse is traffic shy you can have some problems.

Some horses are just nervous round traffic and if you don’t have good control of your mount that exacerbates the problems and can lead to some nasty accidents. A lot of the problems with nerves are just lack of familiarity. If you can, take your horse out with friends whose mounts are quiet and relaxed with traffic. If they are reasonably experienced riders they and their horses will help to protect you until he settles down a little.

If you try to go out at quieter times of the day when there isn’t so much traffic around that helps. Try and pick a route where drivers are aware of horses and more sensitive to the needs of equestrians too. Alternatively you can ask one of your more experienced friends to ride him on the roads for a little while as your worry and concern about his behaviour will make his fears even worse. He will certainly sense any tension you are feeling through your seat, knees and hands.

In terms of general acclimatisation to road noise and traffic, if you can arrange for your horse to be turned out in a field close to a road this may help, especially if there are other horses or animals who are not bothered by traffic to keep him company.

Generally speaking with patience, care and good horse management most horses will acclimatise to road conditions and you can ride out safely and enjoy all that nature has to offer.