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.

Distracting your horse or pony and moving his attention and concentration away from the oncoming vehicles and onto you will help reduce the likelihood of him bolting in the middle of the road or dancing about in an uneasy manner.

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.

It is amazing how fast horses and ponies learn if they are taught right. Horses are sensitive to your emotions and so it is vital that you do not get angry, frustrated or scared when teaching. When communicating with your horse when riding him on the roads, it is important to talk to him in a calm but firm pitch, which will demonstrate authority and make him listen to you rather than watching the vehicles.

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.

It is imperative to see how a new horse deals with traffic before buying him. When you pay visits to any horses for sale, make sure that you watch the owner walk and ride the horse on the roads with vehicles to see how he reacts. Being able to see how he reacts to vehicles on the road will allow you to make a decision on if he is comfortable if he needs more training.