Riding Green Horses on Roads

[clara81]

I've just been browsing the H&H forum as I do occasionally (I can't be bothered joining, it's too bitchy and fast-paced for me) and there is a thread about leading youngsters out in hand on the roads. A few people have said that their horses were too big and strong as youngsters to lead out so they waited until they were ridden to take them out! I nearly fell off my chair!

Is that common practice with big horses (or at all) to just ride them out? I assume they mean they go out in company, but still!

[jennyb]

Not something I would do, but each to their own, lol!

[SueInBlue]

Erm...My "big horse" had to learn to walk rather slowly with me on the roads as i couldnt keep up with him, I thought it was good practice for him, still, as said, each to their own

[Deleted]

How many people do you know who expect to be able to ride a dressage test/ go showjumping/ XC but can't load their horse or lead it in from the field without being dragged?

That seems mad to me too, but it seems to be rather commonplace!

[petethebee]

The way I do it is as follows.
Firstly teach horse to understand the dually fully in all directions from the ground.
Then take horsey for walks along our forest tracks until no longer jumpy in the dually with at least a 20 foot line so that when horse panics and runs it doesn't move my feet and I can ignore what it's afraid of.
Then up to the road to watch traffic until no longer jumpy.
Then along road for short distances, gradually extending the time out.
When horse is pretty good for as far as I feel like walking everyday (about four miles) I then start again from the beginning on its back.
It's hard work and it takes as long as it takes.
One of the most important aspects is not to be frightened yourself, so don't put yourself in a frightening situation.
To ride a totally green horse on the road is asking for trouble, but then there is no such thing as bomb-proof in my opinion.

[Zuzan]

at a guess there are horsey people for whom the sole purpose of the horse is to be ridden.. which leads to the "not bothering with groud work/ leading" attitude.. I expect they rely too much on agressive handling in difficult situations.... (loading etc)

personally I spent years leading Neets out not only on roads but cross country (off piste leading...) too we did ditches / logs / brash / tumble down stone walls.. etc etc as well as roads.. never mind the odd wooden bridge and torrential foards..

[anastasia55555]

well if thats what they want to do, rather them than me thats for sure!!

[jen1]

and when the horse has its first sppok out of fear what do they do, ? alkethene and pipe no doubt

[jill]

I used to long rein rather than lead, teaches them not to rely on the presence of a handler in front. That said, I have started numerous horses without ground work on the roads, just taken them out ridden with older experienced company for the first few months until they get their own confidence.

[donnalex]

I ride mine out of the road green. First I ride on our lane, round in a circle through the quiet estate/biddy flats then when they are confident I take them on the other estate and roads.
You will be surprised when they are green and see something spooky they dont leap or go mad they tend to stop and stare a bit, then move on when asked. Its as they get lder that they go loopy if they see something spooky. The ones Ive had that have reacted badly on the road have been the already broken in ones!

[2 bays & a grey:D]

I think both are risky. You can be run over by the horse or kicked on the ground, or you can be thrown, if it spooks violently enough. Add into the mix ignorant drivers and roads are recipe for disaster. I just wish we didn't have to go on them. I will be in the process of getting Nancy used to traffic now, its a shame regular riders don't have a local police force they can take their horses too

[clara81]

So it's mostly as I thought then. Phew! I was thinking how wet am I, getting all nervous about leading my 12.2 pony out when other people are just hopping on 17.2 beasties and marching off up the road lol!

I suppose if you're lucky enough to have quiet lanes and tracks it's probably not that bad but I keep and school my ponies in a land-locked field where they don't see anything and then the road out of the farm is a busy main road used by cars, lorries, buses and tractors so it's all or nothing really.

[specialsparkle3]

I always rode green horses out on the road. I was a confident rider, and I was brought up to believe that one had more control of a horse from on top rather than on the ground where , unless you are long reining, you had little control of a horses back end suddenly swinging out into traffic. This is the reason why I hate hearing about people taking their youngsters " little walks " through heavy traffic. One nasty experience in traffic with a baby will live with it forever.

Young horses take their cue from their rider, so if you worry about traffic, or things on the road so will your horse.

modified to say I would make sure I was in the company of an older sensible, horse during the first few weeks if possible.

[jen1]

Jan 11, 2011 10:16:32 GMT 1 2 bays & a grey:D said:

I think both are risky. You can be run over by the horse or kicked on the ground, or you can be thrown, if it spooks violently enough. Add into the mix ignorant drivers and roads are recipe for disaster. I just wish we didn't have to go on them. I will be in the process of getting Nancy used to traffic now, its a shame regular riders don't have a local police force they can take their horses too

"" id call that dramatising ,is that the video you play in your head" (re- our chat this morning" i think you need to re-load with confident thoughts , you cant fool horses ya know , there are ways to keep you selves safe, id have said going out on the rd is the ends result , like donna said she practises tiny routes and getting larger as they go on, you need a holiday with nancy and watch us ill prove to you it can be done, i really do belive i control traffic with body language when on the ground that spills into riding on the rd, no flys on me when it comes to busy rds, lol

mta, there is in traffic and near it, i dont do in traffic until ive got full control over there feet, disengaging the hind quarters is a must before doing "IN" traffic

[2 bays & a grey:D]

I agree Jen1. It is ALL in my head, depending on my mood, my thought processes change daily and given the reason I am not coming to yours today (our conversation this morning ), I suppose i am on negative thought process today .

I must admit I have never been great on roads, not had any major accidents or anything, just had very near misses which were enough. Cars & vans don't bother me in the slightest (unless driving too fast), but lorries & buses make me very uncomfortable (especially given I saw a lorry doing about 50mph through a 30mph zone the other day, on the part of the road I would have to go on to get to the moors!!)

We will chat on Thursday.