This is a discussion on Having to lead a horse on the roads within the Horse Training forums, part of the Keeping and Caring for Horses category; My 5 year old mare is very good to ride out on hacks in fields and on the road but ...
My 5 year old mare is very good to ride out on hacks in fields and on the road but once when i had to get of and walk down a hill because it was quite slippery in a place she has never been before she was strong to lead and was trying to get away, i thought i was going to lose her but i didnt let go. What way could i teach my mare walking on the road is ok without having to try it and fear her getting away? It was also harder because she has a martingale so i couldnt take the reins over her head.
She has been fine to lead in places we have ridden several times but new places made her panic.
i would just always take a lead rope and a handfull of pellets with you try and make going into the new area calm and relaxing and a positive experience. lead her on the rope talking to her and offering her some pellets. but she is young so you have to remember she is still learning things so she isnt trying to do something wrong so dont punish her for doing wrong just reward her for the positive
you and your chains horse...........first off what kind of bit are you using?, my last mare (morab) used a phelem bit with a running martingale with double rains so my curb rain was free to use ( only if needed) in the fall i would fox hunt so i incounterd a lot of up hll and down hills (some very steep) and would spend off season just hacking in area's that i knew were steep and would have to dismount to desend in to what i needed to get in to and yes treats where a added bonus.....with our mare abby who is 3 now just walking with her and working with her does the trick......we have a bar ditch in front of our house and i tend to walk her in that and in and out of it, it just takes time and patence with a young horse.....i've been know to groom abby in the front yard where the road is and grain truck speed past ( she use to spook and try to run away ) but now calmly grasses when they past...
lol no no no giget i'm not being called cruel it's horse because in every post she suguest a chain in some ways.......just waitting for the whips to come out next