How to avoid a freak accident with horses -Riding on the road with traffic

How to prepare your horse to be ridden on the road with traffic. Warwick has hundreds of full length training videos filmed with REAL horses, REAL people, REAL problems in REAL time. videos.warwickschiller.com
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[@gailpletsch7851]

I once had a lovely little quarter horse mare who I firmly believed was unflappable with any kind of traffic. Tractor trailers, school buses full of screaming children, noisy dirt bikes -- nothing seemed to fizz her. What I had never considered though was that we always rode in the direction of the traffic. One day after almost two decades of riding in traffic, for some reason we were on the opposite side of the road so that the vehicle passed her from behind on her right side rather than her left. To my great surprise, Poppy really spooked. Apparently she was fine with vehicles passing on her left but not on her right! Now, when I get horses used to traffic and other vehicles I make sure I accustom them to being passed on both sides. Just another scenario to think about....

[@jamietownsend3677]

A bicyclist rode past me on my almost 3 year old mustang the other day. Right when he was parallel to us, on the other side of the 2 lane highway, he threw his hand up and yelled, “HAPPY CARONA VACATION.!” She didn’t bat an eye, but it startled the hell outta me!!😆

[@katevillano7969]

Another way to get the horses very use to cars, trucks, horn honking etc. . .is to honk when you go past your horses as you drive into your farm. I have a driveway that goes past both pastures with the horses in them and I have honked going by until they do not even lift their head from grazing. This has transferred to the road, as there are a few places I ride that we stop to eat in town. Mine are use to cars, tractors, trucks, horns, town noise etc. . . .

[@julieenslow5915]

training your horses - a herd at a time - while driving home with the groceries! now THAT is what I call multi tasking!!! way to go!

[@jamietownsend3677]

I honk at mine all the time too. And everyone elses...😆

[@Lise91]

I can't agree with you more. I see so my riders teaching their horses about cars ON THE DAMN ROAD! "Well, he has to learn it some day". It sets up for so many problems, besides it being dangerous for both the driver and rider. I seriously do not understand, why people don't have the patience or understanding to take it slow, find some safe environment and take it step by step. Set the horse up for succes instead of turning it into a dangerous situation, and end up with a horse that doesn't trust cars or the rider, who put it in such an unstable situation.

[@GoodRedBlackRatio]

When teaching my horse about the road and cars, I did not have the option of a volunteer driver working along side me - but, I still applied your lesson about sacking out a horse to gun shot. I rode quite a distance from the busier streets, then closer, then closer, until we rode on the shoulder comfortably. And yes people love to honk, especially when they're angry that your horse shit somewhere. I can't pick it up *right now*, guys! Give me a damn hour!

[@lindaliestman4397]

Excellent information! One of the approaches I like so much about your work, and there is so much to like, is you give horse handlers a realistic view on how much time one needs to put in to prepare a well-trained horses and how to do it incrementally. It is also helpful to observe what your expectations are for horses and how various horses respond. I think that many people do not have realistic expectations simply because they lack the education and experience. Your huge body of work via videos helps people and horses so much!!

[@MaritsView]

03:22 Horse: Ha! Look at me pushing this big thing! #Horsejokes ~Understanding pressure and release. Beautiful video.

[@epona9166]

Really appreciate the time and effort that went into this video. You never take short cuts, or do the video equivalent of etc., etc., etc. Also, it seems like we're seeing longer videos on YT than we used to. Appreciate that, as well, because cannot afford to do the subscription for long period of time. On hiatus now.

[@WarwickSchiller]

This video is several years old, sop the longer videos are not recent additions

[@lisafoster4468]

I did something similar with my Golden Retriever who was afraid of rolling trash bins.

[@Maine931]

This is so great. The only thing I would add, is you might start with all of this from the ground first then work on it all from the saddle.

[@Ra-rg1vk]

He probably did but didn't show it

[@reallifehorsemanship4333]

Really love this video... Its a big responsibility owning a horse & it takes time & effort by the owner. The "victim mentally" as described really bugs me... Its the big "cop out"; blaming someone else or even the horse instead of taking responsibility for not putting a foundation on your horse by lack of training... Even when it truly is the fault of another! I actually don't like it when people slow down for me, because its kind of like "tip toeing" around your horse on the ground & I want my horses to grow in confidence with out backsliding in confidence. Always great Warwick - Thanks!!

[@katevillano7969]

Also do burnouts and toss gravel in the air a tad. . . .at first they reacted, but after a few times, spinning gravel noise doesn't bother them either.

[@mdee860]

Loved this. What some people think is "funny" never ceases to amaze me. Thank you so much for this great video.

[@JCElzinga]

Its mostly cause in video games horses are super calm and do exactly what the controller says it should. It give a real false impression

[@johnmcfadden9732]

My horses, who don't live close to my house, can pick the sound of my truck approaching out of any and all other road noise because they've connect my truck with being fed.. i knew my dogs could recognize the sound of my vehicle while largely ignoring all others, but I was surprised when the horses would leave their heads down as the truck or cars in front of me drove past their paddock but would raise them as i approached and rather than coming to the fence near where I turn into the driveway, they'd head in the opposite direction to where I actually park and wait for me there.. Suffice it to say they're not afraid of vehicles but I'm afraid they'd eat my truck given an opportunity..

[@jenneanej]

Robyn as drifter... :-)

[@JonnaMartinezCrochet]

This is a great place to start with my new mare as we have TONS of logging trucks going down our road every day. I'm scared to take her straight out there. Thank you for this video.

[@Lissalou-ig2hw]

Girl i feel your pain but mine is chicken trucks

[@devilssemblance5938]

what I've found works, though I know you've likely fixed it by now, is that if you take her on short walks (NOT saddled) down the road, going a little bit further each day and forcing her to stand still and not panic when trucks come by. I've been doing this for about five months with my little yearling filly and she's now entirely over her fear of cars, though motorcycles still spook her a bit since she doesn't see them as often. Keep treats on your person the first few times and show her if she stands nicely and relaxes she gets rewarded. Cars = positive experience is a good thing to teach her. When you go out and ride her, reward her with praise, loose reins, and lots of petting.

[@mihakabercic4457]

there loud as tooand they go fast

[@LisaHouserman]

@@devilssemblance5938 Good advice. Now that I'm older, I think I would also lead the horse first. Both animals I've owned were not afraid of cars so I've not dealt with teaching them not to be afraid.

[@devilssemblance5938]

@@LisaHouserman as an update 3 years later, my girl is now a four year old and a semi can drive past her and she doesn't flinch. We still get a ways off for motorcycles and ATVs but shes not spooky about it, just nervous. :) forgot about this comment haha

[@Lissalou-ig2hw]

i had to learn the hard way that why i lead my young horses down the road 1st before we go down. The road cause sadly i live around alot of chicken houses soo chicken trucks are constantly passing us

[@DeeinNZ]

Great advice. I got my horse completely safe on the roads, we started out slow and increased intensity till we were riding on State Highways as I was vision impaired so he was my only form of transport. We rode and drove for 3 years and we could handle everything, till the day a logging truck and trailer thought it would be a good idea idea to pass us doing 100km, at 13.3hh it was more wind gust than my little guy could keep his footing, sadly now we are terrified of trucks. 3 years of hard work gone, we are still trying to work on getting out confidence back, I am still trying to find ways to correct those flying ducks that hit us on our roller coaster. Great work tho and good advice for anyone having to ride the perils of road riding.

[@MaritsView]

Dee T Hate it when people do that... That's incredibly rude people could slow down a little bit they don't need to pass you that quick that's just rude.

[@julieenslow5915]

I hear everyone calling them rude, but that does not sit well with me. Rude is when you have no manners. What that truck driver did was risk that horse and that rider's life. That is not RUDE. That was one step away from negligent manslaughter or homicide or something like that! Three years of training, and that driver destroyed her only means of transport. Is there an attorney in the house?

[@julieenslow5915]

@@IAMCANADIANWOOT Well I certainly agree with your hope. My brother was a trucker - a lot of really good people are truckers. It's also possible the driver was not paying attention and saw them too late to slow down, which unfortunately is another way to say negligence. The good news is the horse didn't bolt on to the highway so we know her three years of training and conditioning worked. The bad news is that horse was traumatized. I am not one to ever Sue but this would be an exception. I would have at least consulted with an attorney to know where I stood. How does she get around now?

[@julieenslow5915]

@@IAMCANADIANWOOT Well i am conflicted on this one. Here in the states, we have a law that says (totally paraphrased), ignorance of the law does not give freedom from the law. That said, i have no idea if there is even a law about this. But I for one do not blame the victim and expect him/her to pay all the consequences. Nor would i assume that riding a horse is indicative of having a lot of money. Yes, equestrian sports do indicate you have financial support somewhere. But it is not uncommon for people in a rural area with an acre or so of grazing land to have a horse. If you read the original post, you will see the horse was a pony, and he/she states the truck was doing 100 kph - which would not have been in the states. More likely Canada. So perhaps you know if a law would exist about this? Even in Canada though, i am pretty sure people grew up seeing westerns and movies and know that horses can spook. As for being likely to sue - Americans have the reputation for jumping on that bandwagon when ever possible. I, however was the victim of medical malpractice, spent a year going from hospital (for surgery) to skilled nursing facility (to heal up for another one of 8 hip surgeries). I am now disabled. And i never sued. We are not all alike. But i still think that letting this incident slide by without at least getting an attorney to advise you is tantamount to telling truckers - do what you want!

[@julieenslow5915]

@@IAMCANADIANWOOT It is all just a very disturbing situation on all sides. I don't have a solution, but thank you for seeing the problem. I agree with you, and also hope for the pony and the girl.

[@PartanBree]

Excellent advice. As a motorist, of course I would slow down (but not shift down!) and pass wide - it's my job to cause as few hazards as possible, but that's the rider's job, too, by preparing their horse. If everyone with a brain works to increase the margin of safety, then we might avoid an accident when the nutcases come along. Surprising how few people get this, they want to go on about how it's their right to do this or that on the road, and it's the other person's job to look out for them - no. It's your job to expect everyone else to be an idiot and drive/ride defensively to allow for it.

[@karenburrell2283]

Thanks Warwick. You're right about all that, as usual!

[@neesiedavis4062]

I'm chewing and licking my lips ! lol This works with kids and dogs also!!👍👍

[@makaylam947]

haha, funny horse was falling asleep while you honked the horn.

[@petlau2327]

very goog step by step explanation! greetings from germany

[@HelloArianne]

Very helpful! My horses can be ridden on the road without much problems, accept for one; some people won't pass, or sneaking up behind… and therefore basically driving the horse by car! Sometimes it's a truck, and you know the sissing sound it makes when it changes gear! That's something I can't get rid off. There is plenty of room to pass. And one time I tried bending to stop, my horse turned and turned and turned so fast.

[@madeleindevilliers2530]

Yes, sometimes people in cars do not consider that a horse might get a fright and jump sideways or infront of the car. Even the most trusted horses might get a fright you do not expected. It's stil a animal, not a program machine. Wish some of the drivers slow down and be more polite. Will keep everyone more safe. Thanks for that drivers, that slow down. Much appreciated.

[@clairajules1713]

Would this be good for prepping to ride in a parade? Will a horse that is fine with a car horn spook at a fire truck horn or old car style horn or does the horse associate all horns as the same thing?

[@Carouselpics]

They seem to do better because you can follow something which builds confidence. I always had mine desensitized to flags and things that might startle. Never any problems.

[@rayvnsroost]

In about the last 6 months I discovered your videos and totally enjoy them. You provide valuable information for all horse owners and trainers but this video gave me a good chuckle as your wife was doing what you asked sometimes it just appeared as if the horse was looking at her and saying "are you kidding me??"....just made me chuckle

[@superlekkerwoodend7578]

Good boy Bundy! Thanks Warwick! Of course!

[@kaybarrett7599]

I ride with people who expect car drivers to wait whilst their horse messes around in the road, it really annoys me! I absolutely agree with your point that you have no control, there will always be an idiot somewhere who goes past too fast, so prepare for it. Wish more people could see it that way. Much less confrontational.

[@TracinyaLachance]

I agree with this, but I will still be angry at people who drive REALLY close to the horse, at speed. I wouldn't like it if you did that when I was on a bicycle, and I don't like it when I'm on a horse. Honestly I think some of the horses I ride are more chill with traffic than I am. Trucks are big and scary.

[@stigsparre]

Very cool horse

[@kyliebarakat5621]

So cool thank you for the information Also great driving from robin

[@gingercox6468]

Once out riding along a back road we passed house with an above ground pool. No one was in the pool. Then out the door came a running person who proceeded to do a cannonball into the pool, making a big splash. Never been there before, no reason to think they had a problem with us. It was done to try to spook the horses. We thought of the perfect revenge we didn't do. What's that? Just slipping a bit of horse manure into the water. Lol don't get caught.

[@christaseiler8525]

Thank you for the video. I have done my ground work quite well, and in the arena everything is fine. I have worked with my groom and the tractor and the car, just like you showed in the video. My problem living in Switzerland is the roads, we use are tiny and our bridles paths are shared with dogs walkers, people walking with walking poles, making noise, and most of all feared the biggest tractors, with the cutting machines in front, or tractors with a second part attached, which makes a metallic shotty kind of noise and also extremely scary are the Tour de Franc fanatics, that ride past us, with no warning, finding it extremely amusing when the horse freaks out and bolts. All of these situations, I can not practice at home. So would be glad for your advice on how to proceed. Thank you

[@This1LifeWeLive]

while wwe can prepare our horses for MOST things, we can;t for everything. So this is where focus and release training comes into play. This is taught in his videos on his website, but is the fundamantal key in everything he now teaches. The idea is you first teach the horse that YOU are the source of safety and relaxation, and they need to keep their attention on you. The horse is taught at home how to correctly react to new and scary objects so when something happens away from home, the horse may startle but turn his attention back to you instantly and relax instead of bolting, bucking, running, etc.

[@shmeeden]

Hand-walking the horse through these situations would get them used to them while putting you at less risk.

[@Soundvermont]

I appreciate all your videos

[@kristyzahn5661]

Thank u so much for all your brilliant advice!!! I really need it!!!

[@WarwickSchiller]

Thanks for watching

[@debtompkins5363]

the unexpected will eventually show up. Recently it was a 12' shiny kayak coming along the lake shore where we were watering 3 horses. All the horses fixated on the strange object coming right toward them. My green 4 yo and a spoiled 17 yo had seen 'slow small' kayaks on a river on other rides and were only curious. the 3rd horse was 24 yo trail weary, all geldings. My horse was tight and concerned but accepting my assurance to stand his ground. until the other 2 horse bugled alarm and snorted. His terror overtook him, he whirled and leaped the bank. I let him because to have tried to stop him would have pulled him over into my lap, The other 2 horses had not yet been remounted and their riders managed to keep their bolts from resulting in loose horses; the youngster was not able to settle back down, tossing his head and getting light in front, still wanting more distance from the monster now visible still following the shoreline on the far side of the lake decent

[@WarwickSchiller]

This video is about preparation. Taking a green 4 year iold and a spoiled any age horse anywhere, you know before you left home that they werent prepared. So there was no surprises there.

[@roughwater3454]

Yahoo! Good stuff.

[@bronwynmines7555]

This is a fantastic decription here Warwick Thanks SO much ! All makes a lot of sense .

[@ebonypegasus9864]

I wish we could have seen it on a horse that wasn't dead quiet, and did react as I'd like to see what you do in that situation.

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

I love Bundy 🥰

[@beau0276]

Great video. Would like to see one on getting used to Harley Davidson bikes.

[@WarwickSchiller]

Just insert a bike where the truck is, same process

[@maria-laurahedges8208]

This was such a good video. It actually pains me how many times I've been out riding my horse and the company is petrified of cars. You can't tell them though so I may want to point them in your direction! Thanks!

[@yvettemendoza4884]

great video Warwick!

[@airmanoneal]

Would working all these steps and adding sliding tires from slamming on the brakes be beneficial? Or would the sound of the horn cover that as well? Thanks!

[@phantomglasses]

No, the horse has to be desensitised to the horn and breaks seperately. However, the second time will be faster because the horse knows that both sounds have the same source.

[@suemcfarlane4199]

It’s the same with anything we are fearful of let alone our horse if you break it down into small enough parts non of them appear overwhelming when taken one at a timemakes even the most fearful occurrences less so

[@sonseere10]

Robin is saying 'who are you calling an idiot person?!'

[@angelam1824]

Someday, my horse will be this broke. It may not be soon, but it will happen, step by step!

[@sonseere10]

This 'well started', not 'broke'. 'Broke' implies the old cowboy way.

[@KKIcons]

ikr? Bundy is my horse hero! My horse is 15 and still not nearly as broke as I would like to see. Don't forget to get your friends to hand you something like a plastic bag or a can out the car window, and accidentally drop it, sometimes, too. That was one that threw mine off a little, and it really happens on trail rides.

[@KMJCAN1313]

Fabulous videos, thank you.

[@jermainetaylor5386]

great tips about horses and vehicles, she's pushing that dually too. ..

[@pepeboy234]

The horse starts to run after the truck..hilarious

[@LovelyWeirdo17]

LOVE this video! Would love more like it!

[@joycenesselhauf180]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this video!!! In the area where I live you cannot ride without encountering traffic. This one of the only videos I’ve seen that even deal w this issue let alone breaking it down in an understandable format. One question that I have is this- we also deal with are semi’s and trucks pulling long bed, empty trailers that clang and bang as they go by. I know most of us don’t have access to those things to desensitize our horses to. Does this go back to basic desensitizing?

[@joanngia]

Great job, Robyn!! Oh........you too, Warwick😊

[@RYAN-gz5sx]

Brilliant as usual :-)

[@vera1753]

I have one problem, the only thing my horse is afraid of is horses. Do you reccomend a (highly supvervised) Cowworking clinic? She does like hem when she is in the pasture and will stand side by side. but once we are on a ride she will totaly freak out about them and run across the driveway etc. What do you reccomand?

[@dorinecapaletti288]

That happened to me, while I was riding bareback. Teenagers gunned their car, trying to spook my horse. I leaned forward and asked her if she wanted to run and she did. Otherwise, she was calm with their shenanigans.

[@mikeburton1703]

i guess in australia they use both hands to guide a horse.....do you teach neck reining?

[@WarwickSchiller]

Sure do, eventually

[@c.h.1073]

Why is that girth so loose?

[@kenmorris2290]

We have a new phenomenon in my neighborhood...people flying big flags in the beds of their pickups to make a political statement (and they like to zoom by and honk too). Another thing to get horses used to, but the same technique works.

[@shenedadenney8649]

I would love Ike to see this with a horse that actually reacts

[@WarwickSchiller]

That horse would not be ready for this

[@MrThebodon]

This is great!

[@sonseere10]

Don't forget the water balloons...................yes, it happens.

[@WarwickSchiller]

Oops forgot about that

[@ljbroussard5519]

And don't forget the flock of gigantic, hostile geese which might attack without warning from someone's driveway in a suburban neighborhood where a reasonable person would not expect an onslaught of barnyard fowl... yes, it happened to me (and that was the day we discovered how much scope the colt I was riding had when it jumped at ten feet in the air while attempting to evade Goose Force 5.)

[@elizabethblackwell6242]

Ha!

[@moonharp]

sonseere10 😢

[@PatrickKingHorsemanship]

So I ride directly into the traffic to make the drivers slow down (since nobody wants a dent THAT big in the hood of their car). Do you think that's safe? ;) As always, great video, my friend!! (Flying ducks may be encountered on this roller-coaster! LOL! I LOVE IT!)

[@GoodRedBlackRatio]

Here's the thing though as a driver, why should I *have* to slow down? Slowing down is a courtesy, not a requirement. As a rider I am responsible for what my horse does, I don't expect cars to slow down for me. I feel like, if you do ride right infront of cars to make them slow down, one day you could be liable for a terrible accident.

[@PatrickKingHorsemanship]

GoodRedBlackRatio In many states, at least here in the eastern US, horses legally have the right of way.

[@listenup9940]

GoodRedBlackRatio Actually you are wrong. In many countries it IS an old law. Australia, USA etc. In fact if required you must even stop. It dates back to horse and carriage days where horses always had right of way over the occasional car!! So best you slow down and not cause an accident. Even if not a law you attitude is poor. Assist each other and avoid problems.

[@brittanyritenour4695]

Yes I agree. It is no different then a pedestrian walking across the road or rules for a motorcycle. You should slow down but I think its good for people to be aware of what they are doing as well not just drivers but it still is drivers responsibility

[@leealexander209]

Let anything, horse, dog, car, motorcycle, truck, get past my horse and the race is on unless I pull him up. Not spooking, just must outrun anything that gets on front of him. I put him out to play and he is very eager when he heard a ranch vehicle coming. He positions himself to wait for it so he can race it along the fenceline which is where this race thing all got started. I guess I need to work with him on that but he never got to go for a gallop until after he turned 6 when I got him so I kind of hate to step in and spoil his fun. Maybe just let him have fun with it in turnout and rein it in when being ridden or led. At least he has finally gotten to learn how to horse. To socialize with other horses as well as how to run, buck and play in turnout. He's even learning most humans aren't so bad. But how am I ever going to get him to understand he can't steal snack food from people who stop by his fence to look at him? Hahaha

[@KKIcons]

omg I never heard of a horse that chases things like a dog, that is so funny.

[@bwci33]

How 'bout horses who attack tractors?

[@WarwickSchiller]

Ive never seen one

[@leeevers8976]

Doesn’t seem like much bothers Mr. Bundy 🤩

[@jlwing8360]

The one thing i didnt prepare for was the idiot who threw a beer can while driving past and it hit my horse in the head. He was not bothered by much, but that beer can got to him...

[@jlwing8360]

Super useful thorough video though - many thanks!

[@audreye7078]

Hope you got the license and filed a complaint

[@jennyrosd2003]

Haaaa. Theres so much more you could do for fun. Get the neighbors out for a big parade of all the trucks n tractors, lawn mowers and ratty trailers full of junk. Dirt bikes ,Harleys and electric bikes and drones!!

[@tamaraollila5197]

I love watching your video's ....BUT...do you not have any horses ....that actually have the problem...and we can watch how you deal with it....this horse has no problems...

[@equinestudio7381]

This actually was a horse's first time dealing with cars and all sorts, it didn't bother the horse as much tho because Warwick has done so many other exercises and desensitization with this horse.