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Jack hates bikes and motorcycles

6K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  PaintHorseMares 
#1 ·
I took Jack (who we've had just a year now) on a ride yesterday with 6 other's (he's never ridden with any of them, but did great with that), it ended up being a 6 hour ride and was mostly road. I have had him on the road around home and on one big trail ride last Oct. and he did great. I already knew he didn't care much for 4-wheelers or lawn mowers but can now add bikes and motorcycles to that list. We do have a 4-wheelr, lawn mower and bikes so we will be working with that everyday. Thought I wasn't going to make it a couple times, had probably 6 different groups of motorcycles that went by and he lost it everytime, 5 of the 6 times I was on him and he took off bucking and running but I was able to stop him in a short amount of time (that's a lot of horse to control). I'm almost afraid to take him out on the road again but I don't have a motorcycle and don't know how else to desenitize him to them. Any suggestions??

As far as bikes, we had a group of 3 bikes coming at us toward the end of the ride and I didn't think I could take another episode, I was in the back of the group and the 1st rider asked the bikes to please stop and let us ride around, they ignored her and kept coming so I got off him and was holding him, but they scared him and he took off running, I ended up having to let go and fell to the ground, the bikes in the meantime wathcing this just kept going (jerks, wish Jack would have been a little closer to them and well you can guess what I wanted him to do to them):evil:, I caught up to Jack after about a block and then we walked the rest of the way. Guess I am going to be peddling around the pasture a bit.
 
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#2 ·
Oh my, I'm glad you weren't hurt :shock:
All the desensitizing is a huge help but be aware there is always going to be something that will get a spook and freak.
I had a mare that was a rock, nothing much fazed her. We were riding along our road that gets lots of bikes, motor and non, campers etc (we live down the road from a recreational lake) Anyway, a group of cyclist went by us, we all said "hi nice day" etc. Matty was fine. Then one of those bikes where the rider is almost laying down with their feet out in front went by. She freaked out completely. Fortunately we were almost home and she pretty much just headed that way. I wanted to get the guy to turn around and ride by us a few times to let her see it wasn't going to eat her but we were going in opposite directions too fast :lol:
 
#3 ·
hope this helps you

I have just been to a horse camp where we did a whole lesson on desensitizing,
we didn't use motorbikes but we did use bull whips, (my mare so scared),and what we did was if the horse was not cool with the look of the tarp or bull whip. we would take the horse up to it on the lead as far as they will go then we walk away and come back this time trying a little closer and keep at that till your horse will come very close [don't sneak around your horse],

Then walk up to the tarp or bull whip or motor bike and get the horse to touch it if you can walk them around it then if they are good with that try it when the bike is making the sound [so idling] start from one hundred meters if you have to and keep going closer and backing away [approach and retreat].then do all that while some one is on the bike and moving it.
hope i helped
 
#4 ·
If you can find a pal to ride their bike around you in the arena that will really help. That's who people around here desensitize to bike riders. Unfortunately we have a bunch of idiot riders on the trail near here. They like to reach out and touch your horse as they ride pass. That's all kinds of not fun.

Good luck.
 
#5 ·
Yikes, I am glad you didn't get hurt. I know how it is with big horses. My belgian, Henry is 14 and he is still afraid of things. I agree with Solon on her idea. I am glad yours is not afraid of squirrels, mine gets to worked up when he sees one.
 
#7 ·
We're a horse and dirtbike family... from the desert, so we cross paths allll the time, and I'm tellin ya: Some of these people on Quads and dirtbikes have absolutely no care to slow down past a horse. In fact, I've had a few purpously spook our horses on trail. Anyway, if you don't have a bike, Try looking for someone who does. What kind of bike are you speaking of? Dirtbike, Motorcycle, or a pedal bike?
 
#10 ·
I walked one of our horses many kilometers before I felt she was confident enough to be ridden on public roads or encounter challenging situations on the trails. That's what worked for me. And, there are still situations I dismount and walk for! Better safe than sorry.
It is sometimes difficult to share the trails. I have, dismounted and blocked the trail to talk with young bike riders and explain the best way to ride when encountering a horse on the trail. If there were a group of bike riders acting agressive and doing that to me and my fellow riders, I would get a license number and make a serious complaint to the police. It is always best to handle things diplomatically but I have been known to shake my finger, go eye-to-eye and give a little birdie or so. :)
You must be a "licensed" rider to ride your horse on the roads here. You must have passed a theorectical and practical exam to get your "license". I find most people quite agreeable and horse riders have the same right-of-way as motorized vehicles here. So, I do ride ride in the traffic lane and yield to other traffic as required. I also always wear a reflecive vest when riding on public roads.
The one group I have found it difficult to share the roads with are the "La Tour de France" riders. No license required. They never yield an inch, violate speed limits and the bikes are so quiet that ten or more of them are passing you before you even know they are there.
Walk on to ride safe.
 
#11 ·
As others have mentioned..

The more your horse experiences these things, the easier it gets, but..some horses do have their special set of "monsters" that they never feel comfortable with.

If you feel unsafe, dismounting is indeed the smart thing to do...there is nothing more dangerous that a truly scared horse.

I ride on the road and through parking lots, etc. a lot and while you're de-sensitizing, work with as many different "monsters" as you can. I've found that even slight variations of 'vehicles' can affect a horse very differently....strollers, skateboards, shopping carts, little red wagons, etc, etc.

Luckily, around here, motorcycle riders have actually been the most courteous of all the vehicles I've encountered. They will always slow down and ride very cautiously while around the horses.

Good luck and be safe. Some horses actually enjoy some of these things after a while...our mare, Lady, decided to 'adopt' a pack of bicycle riders one day, and trotted along in the pack with her 'herd' :)
 
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