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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 main objective is to move your horses attention away from the vehicles and fully onto yourself. Distracting him from his concentration on vehicles approaching from the front or behind will help him adjust his viewpoints and place more of his trust in you as the rider.

Some horses and ponies will fully focus on their surroundings rather than to the riders and their commands. This usually results in the horse possibly tripping over himself and spooking himself purely from lack of concentration on what he is supposed to be doing.

One way to distract your horse or pony from concentrating on oncoming vehicles and his surroundings is to tweak the reigns and squeeze with your legs to move him into a fast walk. Do this every now and then to reassure him that you are still there and bring his attention back to your commands. Also, gently tapping your horses muzzle with the end of the crop will help stop him turning his head to watch other horses and ponies in nearby fields.

When taught correctly, horses and ponies can be very fast learners. It is important not to get angry or frustrated when teaching him and mainly not to be scared, as he will be able to read your emotions. Talking in a nice but firm voice will show your horse that you are in control when dealing with the vehicles on the road, which will drive him to listen to you.

A good way to also keep his attention is to select specific spots where you want him to step during the ride and insist on him stepping precisely where you want him. Riding with precision will help do this and help him concentrate more on you and not on his surroundings making it less likely for him to spook and bolt.

Whenever you choose to walk your horse or pony out on the roads to get them used to the traffic instead of riding them, you must always use a bridle, not a head collar. Doing this will provide you with more control to deal with the situation if he happens to dance around or bolt.

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.

Tags: Horses

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