When riding horses, it can be quite difficult to judge how the horse or pony will react to the traffic on the road. Unless you are fairly experienced with that particular horse and are aware of all his reactions, there are a few little ways you can adopt to get him used to traffic when riding out.
Your primary goal is to reduce if not eliminate the chances of your horse or pony bolting in the middle of the road as a result of vehicles approaching from the front or behind. Distracting him from the issue and gaining his full attention will help him trust your judgements.
When riding your horse or pony, pay attention to where his focus is. A lot of horses do get distracted from the ride and ignore commands being given to them which can result in them tripping up and spooking themselves simply from not concentrating.
So what can you do to distract your horse or pony from oncoming vehicles or break his focus on his surroundings? One way is to occasionally tweak the reigns and squeeze with your legs to gently move him into a fast walk and a soft trot to pull his attention back onto his paces. If your horse keeps watching others in nearby fields, gently tapping his muzzle with your crop will help him focus forward.
Horses and ponies can learn fast when they are taught properly. However, this can backfire if you get angry, frustrated or scared when you are teaching him, so it is important to be patient and stay calm. When out on the roads, it is crucial to speak to your horse in a calm but assertive tone. This will help avert his attention from any distractions and listen to your commands.
Keep his attention on you when you are riding by not allowing him to choose his own steps on the route. If you want him to walk over a certain spot in the road that he usually tries to avoid, ride with authority and precision to ensure that he does what you want, where you want and when you want. Listening to you rather than focusing on the vehicles or the neighbouring horses will help him respond to your commands more.
If you are at the first hurdle of walking your horse or pony on the road rather than riding them out, it is crucial that you use a bridle rather than a head collar. This will help you gain more control over him just in case he happens to spook at a vehicle.
Whenever you view any horses for sale, you must insist that you see him walked and ridden in traffic by the current owner numerous times prior to buying. You will be able to see the horses reaction and behaviour when around vehicles and on the road in general. It will also give you the opportunity to see if he requires further training, which you may or may not be able to provide. Matching the horse to your experience is key. - 14915
Your primary goal is to reduce if not eliminate the chances of your horse or pony bolting in the middle of the road as a result of vehicles approaching from the front or behind. Distracting him from the issue and gaining his full attention will help him trust your judgements.
When riding your horse or pony, pay attention to where his focus is. A lot of horses do get distracted from the ride and ignore commands being given to them which can result in them tripping up and spooking themselves simply from not concentrating.
So what can you do to distract your horse or pony from oncoming vehicles or break his focus on his surroundings? One way is to occasionally tweak the reigns and squeeze with your legs to gently move him into a fast walk and a soft trot to pull his attention back onto his paces. If your horse keeps watching others in nearby fields, gently tapping his muzzle with your crop will help him focus forward.
Horses and ponies can learn fast when they are taught properly. However, this can backfire if you get angry, frustrated or scared when you are teaching him, so it is important to be patient and stay calm. When out on the roads, it is crucial to speak to your horse in a calm but assertive tone. This will help avert his attention from any distractions and listen to your commands.
Keep his attention on you when you are riding by not allowing him to choose his own steps on the route. If you want him to walk over a certain spot in the road that he usually tries to avoid, ride with authority and precision to ensure that he does what you want, where you want and when you want. Listening to you rather than focusing on the vehicles or the neighbouring horses will help him respond to your commands more.
If you are at the first hurdle of walking your horse or pony on the road rather than riding them out, it is crucial that you use a bridle rather than a head collar. This will help you gain more control over him just in case he happens to spook at a vehicle.
Whenever you view any horses for sale, you must insist that you see him walked and ridden in traffic by the current owner numerous times prior to buying. You will be able to see the horses reaction and behaviour when around vehicles and on the road in general. It will also give you the opportunity to see if he requires further training, which you may or may not be able to provide. Matching the horse to your experience is key. - 14915
About the Author:
Sonia Panesar has spent the past few years caring for her wrong dream horse. With dangerous horses and ponies being sold all the time her free Horse Buying Mistakes report and 5-Day e-course will help you fast-track past horse buying mistakes. Get your own FREE copy and e-course visit www.horseandponysecrets.com
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