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Home Home and Family Pets Teach Your Horse or Pony to Stay Calm on the Roads
Teach Your Horse or Pony to Stay Calm on the Roads PDF Print E-mail
Written by Sonia Panesar   
Riding a horse or pony out on the roads can be quite daunting, especially when you are not fully aware of how he is going to react to the other vehicles. Although you may not be sure on what his response will be towards the oncoming noisy tractor or that loud motorbike, there are a few ways you can prepare yourself and the horse for them.
by SoniaPanesar


Riding a horse or pony out on the roads can be quite daunting, especially when you are not fully aware of how he is going to react to the other vehicles. Although you may not be sure on what his response will be towards the oncoming noisy tractor or that loud motorbike, there are a few ways you can prepare yourself and the horse for them.

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.

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.

To help break your horse or ponies concentration from his surroundings and distract his attention from the vehicles on the road you can occasionally tweak the reigns and gently squeeze with your legs to increase the pace and move him into a fast walk. This will help him remember the fact that you are there and giving commands. If he is paying too much attention to other horses and ponies in the fields, you can gently tap his muzzle with your crop.

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.

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.

When teaching your horse or pony to become more familiar with traffic, it is recommended to also take him on short walks on the roads by leading him and not riding him. However, when you do this, always ensure that you use a bridle instead of a head collar, which will give you more control over him if he gets scared or bolts as a result of the oncoming traffic.

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.

About The Author:

Sonia Panesar has spent the past few years caring for her wrong dream horse. With dangerous horses and ponies being sold daily 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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