When your horse bolts...

[*GroovyGallop*]

Im just curious really, what do YOU do when your in the position when your horse bolts (and im talking ...hair blowing, eyes watering, cling on for dear life!- bolting) Obviously this is after your *majoorr* breaks have failed to work, what do you do next?

I've never really been in the position before so i thought it might be interesting to hear your stories, or what options i have if im ever in this situation in the future.
I know some people might just sit tight, keep the major breaks and wait untill it's eventually over?
I think i read on here about somebody actually leaning forward to grab the bit rings for the horse to stop..
Or even people leaping of!
so yeah..
would be interesting to hear your stories or advise (:

[showjumper-zoe]

Try to circle her we go round in little tiny circles quite allot when we go on the fields:rolleyes: or if not keep your hands low (if they come up they have got you compleatly) and yank their back teeth out (only joking lol)

[SARSBENGAL]

if you any thing like me you fly off the side:o whoops!! bloody tb!!

[pinkypug1]

I was put in this position alot with a horse i had last year she was only a little 15.1 really fine TB and im 5'7 been riding for 17 yrs and quite strong.

I used to try and turn her in circles but if that failed id aim her at something high and solid eg a wall or high fence this stopped her everytime (but prob culd have ended in disaster if she didnt) :eek::eek: When on the beach i aimed her at the sand dunes or into the water and that also stopped her!

After a few months she decided taking off was getting her nowhere and she calmed down! :D

[jenmac_85]

I try to talk to Tyler nicely and promise him that he will get a nice big juicy carrot if he slows down. Usually by that time I am off and lying in a big muddy puddle with Tyler loking as if he is laughing his head off at me. At least I have been so busy talking I havent noticed the fact I have nearly broken my leg

[MelanieD]

True bolting there's not a whole lot you can do since not a whole lot gets through to a horse in that state.

For just very faulty brakes I find bad language and telling pony that if they don't ****** stop that right now they're going in a ***** tin works rather well with my brakeless little madam :D Or circling or pointing at solid object that doesn't look inviting to jump. One rein stop type thing can be very useful when the brakes fail.

[horseygirl123]

I've had this a few times with my mare since we've been hunting, she now thinks fields mean flat out with no thought to stopping :eek:
I circle if i have anywhere to circle, but then that isnt always an option, especially when its really muddy and slippy like it is at the moment.
My last resort which so far has worked everytime is the one rein stop
We got into a really sticky situation a few weeks back when she spooked and bolted across the field heading straight for a busy main road, if i didnt know the one rein stop then i dont think i'd have stopped her.
I always make sure i praise her when she does stop, which at the time is the last thing you want to do !!!
Its kind of like.... pat pat, good girl for not killing us both :p

[Snow_Pony]

I've bailed before, which wasnt nice. Have also leant forwards to grab bits rings. This is if circling fails, however I have recently learnt one rein stop, so hopefully this will get me out of any sticky situations :D
ETA, this was all on riding school ponies! My own, luckily, have never tanked with me, just gone a bit fast!

[Hellsbells]

go out the side door :o

[lauraandharvey]

ive never been put in this postition with my horse but my cousins old tb trotter i did
i aimed him towards a tree which he cleared :| stayed on tho
my friends 15hh hw cob bolted with me, no breaks at all!
aimed him towards a tree which he threw me in and i snapped the tree XD

[carthorse]

True bolting there's not a whole lot you can do since not a whole lot gets through to a horse in that state.

Totally agree. If you ever have the misfortune to be on a true bolter then there isn't really much you can do except hang on or, if the situation gets too dangerous, bail. Sometimes calm voice aids will start to get through, particularly on a horse that knows you. Don't attempt to point it at something & be wary of trying to throw it off balance as it may well fall rather than stop! On the plus side there aren't many real bolters around, most so called bolters are horses that are just too strong for their riders.

For something that just gets too strong or runs away then I tend to anchor one rein on the neck while yanking up & back with the other, combined with a cross "No!" & a few unprintable comments on manners & breeding :o. If it's just pulling but hasn't got away then I bridge the reins across the neck & let the ill mannered sod haul against itself.

[Wally]

Agree with MelanieD and Carthorse.

Often trying to stop a terrified horse makes things worse.

There is being bolted with when the horse is in fear of his own life and there's not a lot anyone can do.

Then there's being carted because the horse has no manners and respect.

My horse used to bolt, it was a problem that had gotten him a bad name as a problem horse. To cure it, you take you fear, throw it away and in mid bolt, ask him to go faster, tell him what a good boy he is and then bit by bit ask him to slow down. hauling and pulling often only makes things worse.

[Silvia]

....sit quietly and pray?.... I normally fall off at the first spook, though

[slimjim]

It happened to me just over a week ago twice - bloody TB's!!

I just sat tight until she hit the anchors and did sharp right - flinging me off the side!

[mu0ljk]

I'm with MelanieD - my language tends to go out of the window and I have been know to scream obscenities at the top of my voice! :o Not a method I would generally reccommend but....

There isn't much you can do though when they do bolt - Sid used to bolt sometimes and I used to try to circle but generally he was going so fast I was scared to incase he overbalanced.

I would try half halts, asking him to 't-rrrrroooot' and 'steaaadddy' and 'whooaa' and so on and then it would degenerate and then I would either fall off or resign myself to sitting tight till he got bored/tired. I would never ride towards a gate or hedge as he would have either attempted to jump it or throw in a sharp turn - either way we would have parted company!

I rode him at a bank once trying to circle him but he was going faster than I realised and we reached the bank before I could turn him resultng in him leaping up it and then bucking me off. :(

Bolting is not a nice experiance. :o

[Grace O'Malley]

Um, fall off and die :o

Bless her, mine has never shown an inclination to bolt.

[MagicSix]

I have found a good trick is to tell them to go faster - kick them on, shout, whatever - then they think that you told them to go and are more willing to come back for you - worked on over a dozen horses so far as I have never fancied the idea of bailing out midgallop (can't think why:p)

[TB_horse]

Totally agree. If you ever have the misfortune to be on a true bolter then there isn't really much you can do except hang on or, if the situation gets too dangerous, bail. Sometimes calm voice aids will start to get through, particularly on a horse that knows you. Don't attempt to point it at something & be wary of trying to throw it off balance as it may well fall rather than stop! On the plus side there aren't many real bolters around, most so called bolters are horses that are just too strong for their riders.

For something that just gets too strong or runs away then I tend to anchor one rein on the neck while yanking up & back with the other, combined with a cross "No!" & a few unprintable comments on manners & breeding :o. If it's just pulling but hasn't got away then I bridge the reins across the neck & let the ill mannered sod haul against itself.

I have what can be described as a true bolter. He luckily hasn't done it many times but he is lethal when he does. You can't turn him, you can't stop him - there is nothing you can do in my opinion.

mine has broken my neck and gave me a bleed on one side of my brain - luckily i recovered. But there was no stopping him - blind panic. I bailed out the side at flat out gallop as he headed towards a rode, and ended up with an ambulance ride and long stay in hospital.

Now i have kept that horse despite being told he's dangerous....but i can never take him into risky areas, and mostly just ride in the school.

I do believe its not a fixable problem as he generally is not a strong horse. He's lovely but if he panics he gallops flat out into anything

[xtremehorseyfan]

Wear gloves as stress can cause sweating which means reins slipping! I usually squeeze with my knees which helps me balance and slows him down (only a bit though!).

*I actually lost both stirrups whilst riding my 16.3hh loan horse for the first time as he was galloping across Stamner Park fields:eek:. Strangely at the time I was not terrified and felt I was more balanced without my stirrups, though I wouldn't like to try it again!

[AbAk]

I have found a good trick is to tell them to go faster - kick them on, shout, whatever - then they think that you told them to go and are more willing to come back for you - worked on over a dozen horses so far as I have never fancied the idea of bailing out midgallop (can't think why:p)


You got there before me MagicSix! If it is safe to do so keep the horse going, especially when it begins to tire - push it on so the command comes from you! ... However, this only works for a horse that is being particularly strong, not a true bolter! If a horse is in a blind panic there's not much you can do...a wee prayer is the best option!! ;)

[redcomet]

i found a soft spot in a hedge and jumped into it! lol

[eml]

Actually a lot of answers, if out hunting or hacking in open country head for a ploughed field (was shouted to me several times when young and hunting keen pony :o)

If a main road or other situation where you and horse are in danger consider baling out (my personal last resort)

Otherwise haul head round (this is not a moment for delicate signals), jam in knees and sit tight on a small circle.

Pushing on etc is great in a confined space but scary on an open bridle path leading to roads.

I over 50 years of riding I have only been seriously scared once and that was on a pony that had been gypsy raced and had no response to the bit ( this was years ago and while riding at a farm while at university!) I overtook the others I was riding with (no choice) and was carted over two sizeable gates/hedges before managing to stop. I often rode the pony out again but had knots in the reins so I could literally hold hard.

In the school just sit quietly for a while then gradually reduce the size of the circle/oval

[Pink's lady]

Like others said, depends what the 'bolt' is. A simple buggering off gets a very ungentle yanking of the head round in a circle. A true bolt, which I have only been unlucky enough to be subjected to once - nothing other than hold on and try to calm the horse. Pulling has no effect (other than stressing an already frightened horse) so you either need to let them run their course or get the hell off. I was lucky enough to be up the hills at the time and the horse bolted up hill - he ran out of steam by the time he got to the top (of the pretty much vertical hill)

[NoviceNic]

So what would you advise if you had the head eating your feet yet the horse is still going forward with speed?? :eek:

[Denbenj]

I agree with the comments about pushing the horse on..I guess its almost like reverse psycology ( eeek sp!)

I have only been on one horse that was really unstoppable. I am a strong rider.. nearly 6ft and well built. This horse was going for a joyride regardless of what I thought, was a usually bombproof mount aswell!!

It was on a road, passing a Tarmac lorry.. the idiots decided to let the tarmac out as I passed them. :eek:

After the initial Screaming!! ( yes I screamed LOL!!) this horse was doing a serious bolt...Pulling.... sawing ...I shut my big mouth up and got my act together!! released pressure on the reins and pushed the horse on... ( all on a road :eek:) Infact I do chuckle back to myself as I was in the middle of the road on a bend at one point and I think I terrified a learner driver!!!:o

Anyhow after the initial pushing on strongly.. I then started to say Gooooood Laaaaad ''and walk'' whilist starting small half halts and gradual pressure on the reins..

He finally pulled up....

I slid of the horse and collapsed to the floor my legs were jelly..

It was truley terrifing!!


We also had a runaway in Tandem on a road.. That was not fun as the carriag was also bouncing up and down the kerb. The same principals were done to the horses ... and once again ( I was groom not driver) I got of the carriage and forced my legs to walk to get hold of the leader... I could barley stand and had no strength!! shaking like a leaf!!

I think its the adrenaline rush of the whole event... wears me out!!!

[carthorse]

But pushing on will no more work with a true bolter than pulling will - the horse is unaware of the rider (or may even think they're part of the problem). I suspect the reason people thinks it works is they push on while the horse is running blind & at the point where they change tactic & ask him to start to slow the horse is just starting to come out of his bolt & regain some awareness of what's going on around him. And there's no point whatsoever in pushing a bolter on when he's starting to slow because in his mind (such as it is at that point :rolleyes:) he hasn't been disobedient.

[horsey1992devon]

Unless horse is going stupendously fast, I try to turn in small circles...but then if you don't have brakes that might not work either.
If i'm in real trouble, I do short, sharp pulls on one rein until horse slows down. It's harsh, but better than being hit by a car or running into a ditch! :o

[Sexy Sietske]

Drop one rein and put both hands on the other (got hold of the bit ring once :p) and try to make them unbalanced so they have to slow down (or fall over...either way they stop :p) hossie soon learnt to stop dead when one rein went very slack and one would end up on the floor staring up at hairy nostrils if one wasnt expecting it :p

[Sexy Sietske]

So what would you advise if you had the head eating your feet yet the horse is still going forward with speed?? :eek:

A horse cant do that for very long...it will tire very quickly. If they tried to run forward eating your feet they would just fall over..or go in the direction they are facing, and with a circle that small it wont be very far!!

[NoviceNic]

A horse cant do that for very long...it will tire very quickly. If they tried to run forward eating your feet they would just fall over..or go in the direction they are facing, and with a circle that small it wont be very far!!

Nope, he goes forward. Not in a circle, forward. :confused:

[levi1739]

So what would you advise if you had the head eating your feet yet the horse is still going forward with speed??

While he's all bent round there, going straight, with no brakes,

"What's his back feet doin?"


Have fun, be safe

Jack

[texel]

A bolting horse is oblivious to the rider and it's surroundings, it is in a heightened state of extreme panic and fear. In this situation all you can do is bend your upper body gently forwards and hang on to a neck strap or mane and go with your horse. Don't pull back or try to heave on the reins.

A runaway horse can easliy be slowed down by using the one rein stop. You can find out about this method easily via a search engine. You have to practice it before the event but it is a really useful tool to have to place in your 'tool box'. It is similar to a half halt.

Read about it, learn about it, practice it and be safe.

[NoviceNic]

"What's his back feet doin?"


Running like the clappers...:rolleyes: Seriously, this is what Captain is capable of. Thankfully he doesnt do it often now. :D

[wildponies]

A couple of horses have bolted with me, one going XC in a RS, i sat it out and let her go for it, we hit a hedge.... she went left and i went right.

I have thrown myself off before as well (same horse) because i thought she was going to jump out of the field onto concrete.

I would just sit it out though, they often justb settle back into a gallop/canter once they've forgotten what they're running away from!

[fishiz3434]

i sit tall! the only way u can stop ** horse is if ** in the saddle and the only way u can stay in the saddle is if ** sitting up :)

[SirGrumpPants]

Sorry to sound stupid but whats the one rein stop?

[Siogfinsceal]

depends on the horse and where I am. I believe theres a difference between a horse that bolts and one that 'runs blind'. With the latter theres not much you can do as nothing gets through to them at all.
If I am in the arena and a horse bolts Id usually let them run it out (hell its not like they can go anywhere!), and then push them on for a bit longer so they learn they cannot just stop and start as they please.
Circling can work but can also be scary. My own mare will sometimes bolt in arena but if shes going too fast id fear circling might cause her to fall.
Outside the arena it really depends where you are id imagine its quiet scary if theres a lot of stuff in the way. One rein stop works for me but I guess it depends on the horse

[Iron Maiden]

I've only been 'true' bolted once. It was terrifying, it was as though the horse was in a trance, he was heading flat out for a busy road on a bridleway he'd not been on before. I was going to bail out, but as a last resort I whacked him as hard as I could between the ears with my crop...sort of kill or cure tactic I guess, he'd possibly have been killed if he'd got to the road & I really didn't fancy bailing. I've never done it before or since. He sort of came to & pulled up like nothing had happened :confused: I have avoided riding 'true' bolters ever since :eek:

[fishiz3434]

SirGrumpPants: Not a stupid Question, a one rein stop is when you pull only on one rein,turning the horse in a circle so they cant keep going forward and will hopefully start to listen to you(kinda like knocking sence into someone. You can do it at any pace to see how it works, after spinning in a circle for a while the horse will usually stop(in the case of mine thats not so but she's just very energetic) but next time ** riding try it at a walk and u'll see :)

[clydesdalelover]

I had a 14.1 hot headed very strong very competitive cob on loan for 3 years and I have had a lot of experience in his bolting! 90% of his bolts were from sheer exurberence, but the true bolting which happened a few times after scary experiences with the local donkeys(which he is petrified of!) Theres not a lot you can do in the situation but a lot to prevent it such as building a strong bond with your horse so he feels safe!!
As for the excitable bolting, If its safe to do so let him go for about 100-200 metres then sit up tall (not back) as this resticts his movement, ask to slow down, using half halts , circles ect. In most cases this wont work but its worth a try, my personal favourite was to brigde the reins so the horse was pulling against himself saving your strength to pull him up after a short while when he's a bit calmer.
The worst case of bolting came on the road, My horse is a gentleman on the road so i fely safe going the 1/2 a mile up the road to the next bridleway,
It was a bright summer day, i had fluresants on and was waling on the grass verge as it was a very wide verge.
Anyway so i was doing everything to make sure i was safe, a motorbike whizzed round the corner and went straight up the backside of the bus that had slowed down to pass me. My horse bolted undestandably and I was now in a very dangerous situation, galloping out of controll along the road, I could not stop there was a junction up ahead so I made a decision, I managed to get him Galloping on the grass and did an extremly sharp and strong tug moved all my weight over to one side and got him unbalanced( I do not recomend this to anyone unless you are in the same situation) As you can imagine he nearly fell over, but I jumped off as I close to the ground now and held on to him he dragged me for about 4 strides and stopped. My advice really is that I beleive when you gallop your horse try different stopping techniques and find what works best then in a bad situation you will know what to do!

[SirGrumpPants]

SirGrumpPants: Not a stupid Question, a one rein stop is when you pull only on one rein,turning the horse in a circle so they cant keep going forward and will hopefully start to listen to you(kinda like knocking sence into someone. You can do it at any pace to see how it works, after spinning in a circle for a while the horse will usually stop(in the case of mine thats not so but she's just very energetic) but next time ** riding try it at a walk and u'll see :)

Thanks! Hope im never in a situation where i will need to use it for real!

[carthorse]

If I am in the arena and a horse bolts Id usually let them run it out (hell its not like they can go anywhere!).


Tell that to the wall that we hit!

[LadyAbigail]

Darling, u sit up straight keep lower leg and back relaxed and talk, nothing works better than talking it keeps you and the horse relaxed. I get galloped off with round fields and main roads but persitance and letting them know YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR OWN WAY MUNCHKIN! always works :)

[vjoy23]

I've been bolted with several times in the space of three years of riding this particular horse, I think the first time it was scared but on one occassion it was just being a w@?ker (so said the onlooker that saw it happen lol).

In my case each time the horse chose somewhere that it was near on impossible to try and one rein stop, it was either a slippery narrow track in woods, a track with ditches either side or finally the road which again was slippy after a spell of rain.
In each case after a long spell of bolting the one rein stop worked but that was way after the whole relaxing hands, relaxing hips and all the names under the sun had come out of my mouth.
This particular horse just set their neck (which is pretty damn thick too lol)
I can honestly say after a horse had bolted and I'm back at the yard, I practically fall off and my legs go to jelly, its the worst feeling of not being in control and not knowing how its gonna end.
I have to admit my reactions aren't quick enough at times and often wonder if I'd been paying more attention etc if I'd have been able to prevent it from happening. Hind sight is a wonderful thing.

[MelanieD]

For a good one rein stop you need to push the back end over and 'disengage the hindquarters' as well as use the rein. Some rubbernecked smartsars horses can keep cantering with head bent around but they can't step across with the back end and keep tanking.

[HeeHaw]

Last Saturday, we were riding our mules next to the train tracks near our house as we have several times before. We turned to face the train that was coming from behind. My 9 year old daughter's mule bolted first. Then, the rest followed suit. We ran and ran with the mules going in the same direction of the train. The sound of the train seemed to be coming from behind. So, the harder they ran the longer the train was coming along beside them. My wife, Tracy, got bucked off in the beginning and lost her breath. The rest of us were off at top speed for nearly 1 mile. Finally, the train passed us and they stopped.

One rein stop didn't work, nothing worked. At some point, I imagined that we were train robbers in an old western movie. This helped me to relax until it was over.

We believe that the difference this day was the strongest leader in their herd, our Fjord mule gelding, was not there. Also, I often am on the lead mule and they look at me as their leader and I was at the back of the group.

Lesson learned - there is no such thing as a dead broke animal! Wear helmets and ride prepared at all times. If you can't sit a fast gallop, practice, practice, practice. Also, learn how to fall - don't put your hands out to catch yourself, roll, and try to get up asap.

Dave

[allinyourrows]

i keep my heels down, and try singing to yourself, the rythm can help calm, ill try circles, but the last time i did that, i got chucked off!

[luv2jump2!!!]

Hmm... Reminds me of Sundays ride!!

Colby, 3yr 6 mnths Connie, and I were out hacking with another horse (and rider) also human on ground/bike. Returning home from a super ride - very well behaved colby, lead, water, split from other horse to take a short cut alone (experiance as any youngster needs) and he was being fantastic! (Note he has been out with company since the day he was backed, this is not his first hacking experiance).
On the way back, other horse goes in front while we stand and look at some horses in a field - onys a sociolite!!) with Dad - whos on the bike- ask pony to walk on, horses gallop through field to fence, colby spooks straight into dad on bike, scares him self ridiculously, and bolts down the road!!
Everything i've ever been taught in the past 9yrs goes out the window, except, grass, get him off the main road!! There we are hurtling down the road, me trying to steer him on the grass verge, sitting right back in saddle, hands up and yelling 'WOOOAAAHHHH COLBY!! WOOAAHH!', needless to say it wasn't the quickest stop ever! 2 strides from other horse, still galloping, colby stops, looks at me to say 'i've had enough now mum, i'm tiered!!'

So basically the moral of this story is that, you can know what to do, but in that situiation it can just all go to pot, i was prepared for an emergancy dismount, but it was in my situation far safer to stay on! Screaming/yelling, doesn't work we all know that in practise, how many people can indeed say if they are taken by suprise they immediatly thing ' oh great.. instructor told me 2years ago to turn a circle... breathe.. talk to him..' what you really think is - 'Ahh!! I'm going to get very baddly hurt here... Stop horse.. stop!!' and honestly your life does flash before your eyes! Obviously circling in my situation would not have been a suitable idea either due to being on a road.. good job it wasn't busy!

Bolting in the areana i can handle (old horse did this alot) its the entire security issue, fight or flight aka. This will hurt!

[joshes mum]

Its scary my previous horse bolted with me on a road(no traffic about thank godness) i couldnt stop him and i came off and was knocked out cold,i think i was so scared i passed out before i hit the ground as i dont remember falling.Its taken me a long time to get my confidence back and its got to be the most frightening experience of my life.

[KazRider]

There is being bolted with when the horse is in fear of his own life and there's not a lot anyone can do.



And when the dogs that spooked him and made him bolt in the first place decide its fun and chase after him it's really not good at all!!

Thats when you fall off and it REALLY hurts. :D:D
Think i might take some well needed advice from this thread!!

[Cupcake]

Oh I remember riding a true bolter all too well.
It was about 3 years ago and my friend wanted me to ride him because, he was a bolter, and 16hh :o
She jumped on Skye and I on Kip. A motorbike started and the engine clapped (and you know how loud that is :eek:) so off Kip went. Skye followed for a little bit but she is very easy to pull up. I tried everything to get this horse to stop but he wouldn't.

I tried sawing his mouth off but that didn't help, I tried 1 rein stop but he hadn't learnt it, and even asking him to go faster, but that made him panic more. So I saw a huge hedge in front of me and directed him into it. I thought he would stop but he crashed face first into it. I went over his head and broke both wrists trying to break my fall.

Again he took off and was found his way back to the stables.
Very very terrifying. I think that is the only way you can stop a true bolter. I'm so thankful that I didn't direct him into a brick wall, because he would have tried to jump that too....

Haven't ridden him since :o

[Back2Black]

I had to throw the reins at my old cob as trying to use the reins only made him pull harder and go faster! I found throwing the reins at him and giving him a kick made him slow up to thin and easier to stop

[RaetheJumper]

I had this alot at my last RS..

Try to keep your heels down and turn him in circles... That's my instructor said. Oh and keep calm (I did the circle and heels bit, but the keep calm part of it was impossible for me :D)
It did actually work..
But, before turning him in circles I used to Pull gently on the right rein, then left, then right, left, right etc etc. If that didn't work it was circling..

It worked for me :D

[RaetheJumper]

i keep my heels down, and try singing to yourself, the rythm can help calm, ill try circles, but the last time i did that, i got chucked off!

Ooo I've never thought of singing to yourself.. sounds like a pretty neat idea, though. I'll make a note to try that next time (hopefully there won't be a next time, though ;)

[Mary Poppins]

I was bolted with as a 14 year old (am now 31!) and have never been so scared in all my life. I was on a riding holiday and we were riding out in the evening as it was too hot in the daytime and the horses were late for their tea. We have just turned for home and were riding over a field and my horse started to play up. I was sort of in control, but the instructor said to me that my horse had a habit of bolting here and we should swap horses.

I got off my horse, put one foot in the stirrup of the instructors horse and that horse bolted! We were going flat out gallop towards home (so I know we were not going to stop) and towards a main road that we had to ride along with lorries and buses. I had no stirrups as they were far too long and all I could think about was being hit by a bus. So what did I do? I jumped off. I wasn't injured apart from my sleveless arms being cut very badly, but it started a lifelong fear of riding in open spaces to which I still haven't fully got over today. If I found myself in the same situation again, I would jump off again as that horses wasn't stopping for anyone apart from its dinner.

[samsaria]

Rapidly scan surround land/field

Hope to god we go near the softy bit

Hope to god horse doesn't decide to take on any walls/gates

Mind goes blank (not a voluntary thing)

Jump off :rolleyes: but told to stop that nonesense

[willowgurl]

Then there's being carted because the horse has no manners and respect.

this is my loan horse, have fallen off 1/2 times i tryed the one rein stop which slowed him down a bit but by that time he was bucking and i came off.

[mogadoga]

I do my whole, pull stand and pull then get angry. realise it isnt working so sit back, half halt and try to circle. I actually often half halt and ask him to go foward into a contact. Thus getting his head back and regain control. Stop. Breath. And start again.

Doesnt always work though! Sometimes i just have to hang on lol

[coverblown]

oooh this thread has scared me..

I was about to post a thread asking for some xc tips - such is my unrealistic ambition! But reading this has caused me to change my mind!

What a wimp

I am in awe of those who have sat on a bolting horse- and those who have had the courage to bail out. respect.

[cazrider]

My friend had no option but to bale out when the horse she was riding (OH's new horse which she didn't know very well) took off up a hill and the bit broke in his mouth:eek: There's not a lot more scary than going flat out on a very big horse with no bridle.:eek:

I've tried the "push him on and let him think it's his own idea" theory. It does work, but only if the horse in question is over excited or, in my case, cross:rolleyes:. I'd asked him to go a direction he didn't want to, and tanking off was his response. As others have said, it just won't work if the horse is bolting because he's terrified.

[Kc..]

You would not believe how many times in the PAST Nimby has done this with me, the first time i sat on him when we got home he did it. :eek:

He's lucky i love him!

But anyway i tend to saw the reins.. and if that doesn't work cross the reins. I NEVER try to circle cus i always worry aobut him slipping and falling :rolleyes:

I HATE being in a situation where you feel like you have no control :(

[8-legged-pony]

I've only ever had a true bolt once, the gypsy horses got out of their field just up the road, our horses must have heard them, as when we turned round the lady I was with's horse just took off, and Spyder followed absolutely terrified. He overtook the other horse and just kept going, it was down an incredibly narrow bridlepath and then onto a steep road joining onto a 40mph road. I couldn't circle him as I had nowhere to circle, so I hung on for a bit hoping he'd slow of his own accord, I lost both my stirrups but managed to cling onto a bit of mane and just hung on. He galloped down this road, then thankfully slowed down to turn onto the main road - he has road sense! But before I could get control again and sort myself out he shot off again and we were heading towards a 70mph dual carriageway :eek: I don't really know what happened but I think I must have thrown myself off knowing that if I hit that dual carriageway we would both be killed, I remember thinking that I was going to die. By some amazing luck instead of running straight on to the dual carriageway, Spyder took a right turn towards home and managed to take him and the other horse (his rider had fallen off right at the beginning - so we were galloping along with a riderless horse behind us) to safety.

There was absolutely no way I could have stopped him, a horse bolting out of fear just keeps going until it finds itself safe - for Spyder this was recognising home. So I clung on, then baled out when I really really feared for my life.

[Chels&&Cleo]

Cleo does this :o

She does it on the roads we almost got hit by a car a few months ago, she just tanks off when she no's were on our way home i just cling on for dear life or i try to turn her head in tiny circles to slow her down :) which is difficult because she puts her head waaaay up in the sky she has a very thick neck which is vertially impossible to turn when she wants her own way, in the last year i've proberly been bolted off with about 20 times, scary stufff :confused: :D

[lauraandharvey]

hes never bolted :|
lucky me eh
wen he tries to bolt i can hold him
but as hes gettin fitter i ant got a cat in hells chance!!

[cinammontoast]

Ohmigod! Just been posting re my sheer terror of galloping, let alone bolting. It's why I fell off badly last time I went on a hack. None of this has encouraged me-may just school forever! A friend of mine used to say it was best to encourage her nutter to go faster and tire him out-too scary for words! Mine's a speed demon anyway-thinks she's a race horse when she looks like a heavy hunter but is really a TB-no wonder she's so crabby!:)

[Lubii]

When a horse just takes off with me I either, If its safe to push them faster and faster they soon learn its easyer to behave then being made to run around(its no fun when mum makes you do it lmao!) or if making them go faster doesnt work, disengage the hindquarters so quick they dont have a chance to fall over.

with a true bolter feet come out of the stirrups meaning i dont have anything holding me in if i have to bail, sit up and talk calmly to the horse while half halting, only turn if theres a fence/wall etc in the way and even then very slowly (as in not turning sharply) you just have to ride it out really.

[cinammontoast]

Ohmigod, thank God I read all the posts before stupidly deciding I should solo hack for the first time ever today! Crabby cow wasn't really in the mood anyway-nasty Mummy dragging her out of the field and the sunshine. She was OK on the way but once in a big field obviously felt we should be going faster: I was determined not to so turned her for home after which she spooked at a car-normally she's fine in traffic, then she rolled some stones and spooked herself then-Oh God-a squirrel came barrelling down the road, having itself been spooked by another horse from the yard! We had a moment of clinging to the martingale, praying, while she decided whether to bolt or not (luckily she fancies the gelding we came across and he's very calm so she saw him being cool and did the same). My co-loaner says it's good experience so I should do it more! Frankly, I'm having a stiff drink and it's only 5 o'clock!:eek:

[Sticky's GF]

This happened to me last yr - YO was ill and wanted one of her TB's cantering as it was due to run in a scurry. Its a wiry little ex pointer and nimble as hell, like riding a frickin pencil compared to mine! Anyway were having a nice steady bound along then it spooked and just shot forwards, I already had reins bridged but this thing was NOT stopping! The more I pulled the more I saw nostrils! We soon got off good ground and onto cattle churned up stuff that has bricks in it :eek: left was a steep drop, right was back towards home and a cattle grid :eek::eek: so I kept straight and hung on thinking 'OMG if he falls this is going to hurt!' Thankfully he stopped before we reached the barbed wire fence at end of field. I am NEVER riding it again!!!

[Miki]

I have been in this position once before when a 24 yr old mare decided to buck and run away with me over an eighteen inch jump too. She could really move when she wanted to.
I was thrown forward by the buck and rode most of it on her neck. My reins were way too loose because she hates people pulling on her mouth over jumps and I had experienced the resluts of doing this already, bucking. When I finally managed to sit up andshorten my reins I got her to stop.
One ethod to stopping a running horse is to grab one rein near the bit and yank it so they have to turn. It is't particularly nice to the horse so it is only used as a last result and you should only ever practice it if you eliminate the yank on the rein.
If you really can't stop you can do an emergency dismount, that is jump or have a controlled fall. It is better than flying off without preparation.

[Dawnn]

I can totally sympathise with you all.

My horse 18.2 IDxTB use to bolt and luckily I found it was due to a badly fitting saddle.

He has bolted since, but not for a long time (touching wood) it is pretty scary. :eek:

[Tesh_Tesh]

I was put in this position alot with a horse i had last year she was only a little 15.1 really fine TB and im 5'7 been riding for 17 yrs and quite strong.

I used to try and turn her in circles but if that failed id aim her at something high and solid eg a wall or high fence this stopped her everytime (but prob culd have ended in disaster if she didnt) :eek::eek: When on the beach i aimed her at the sand dunes or into the water and that also stopped her!

After a few months she decided taking off was getting her nowhere and she calmed down! :D

I AM 5'7 AND HAVE A 12.2HH PONY U ALSOLUTE COW
WHAT GIVES U THE RITE TO FINK THAT U ARE BETTER THATN WEVERYONE THAT DONT HAVE A MASSIVE TB WHAT A SNOB
SNOB SNOB SNOB
U PROBS CANT EVEN RIDE ANYWAY U ONLY BUY HORSES IF THEY LOOK GOOD U VAIN COW I HATE YOU
YOUR A DISCARSE TO THE HORSE WORLD! THIS IS WHY EVERYWHERE ME AND MY PAL GERRY GO WE GET PUT DOWNA DN CAKLLED CRAP I ABSOLUTLEY THINK THAT YOU ARE VERY SPOLIT AND NASTY. ADN VAIN

WELL TEHRES A LIST ISNT THERE
AND I TELL THE MODERATOR WHAT U SED TO ME
YOU CALLED ME AND SED ME well THIS IS MY SECRET UNTILL I WANT TI TO BE U CRAP HEAD

[fairlady]

Goodness Me, if you must come on the board to insult people and post threads that are going to upset people, could you please at least have a dictionary beside you so that you can at least SPELL your insults correctly,and please try and refrain from using TEXT speak.......

SPOLIT - I presume is SPOILT and spelt this way:)

DISCARSE - I would presume meant DISGRACE:)

You really should not post when you have just 'thrown your toys from the pram' and get in an awful state with your words and spelling:p

I sincerely hope it is half term or something because it really seems to me that you should not be missing school otherwise, looks like you really need to attend, and pay more attention to that nice Teacher.

Oh and this is how we spell TROLL - but I would expect you have seen that word quite a few times on your posts by now, and even you should by now be able to spell that correctly. B O R I N G is another word that springs to mind. Oh and before you call me any names - Yeah believe it hon, and then some. lol.

I appreciate you are once again on our list of 'banned' members however, this is for when you pop up again....Go play with your Dolly.

[skips and soda]

Goodness Me, if you must come on the board to insult people and post threads that are going to upset people, could you please at least have a dictionary beside you so that you can at least SPELL your insults correctly,and please try and refrain from using TEXT speak.......

SPOLIT - I presume is SPOILT and spelt this way:)

DISCARSE - I would presume meant DISGRACE:)

You really should not post when you have just 'thrown your toys from the pram' and get in an awful state with your words and spelling:p

I sincerely hope it is half term or something because it really seems to me that you should not be missing school otherwise, looks like you really need to attend, and pay more attention to that nice Teacher.

Oh and this is how we spell TROLL - but I would expect you have seen that word quite a few times on your posts by now, and even you should by now be able to spell that correctly. B O R I N G is another word that springs to mind. Oh and before you call me any names - Yeah believe it hon, and then some. lol.

I appreciate you are once again on our list of 'banned' members however, this is for when you pop up again....Go play with your Dolly.

Lol! Brilliant reply! :D

[mu0ljk]

Goodness Me, if you must come on the board to insult people and post threads that are going to upset people, could you please at least have a dictionary beside you so that you can at least SPELL your insults correctly,and please try and refrain from using TEXT speak.......

SPOLIT - I presume is SPOILT and spelt this way:)

DISCARSE - I would presume meant DISGRACE:)

You really should not post when you have just 'thrown your toys from the pram' and get in an awful state with your words and spelling:p

I sincerely hope it is half term or something because it really seems to me that you should not be missing school otherwise, looks like you really need to attend, and pay more attention to that nice Teacher.

Oh and this is how we spell TROLL - but I would expect you have seen that word quite a few times on your posts by now, and even you should by now be able to spell that correctly. B O R I N G is another word that springs to mind. Oh and before you call me any names - Yeah believe it hon, and then some. lol.

I appreciate you are once again on our list of 'banned' members however, this is for when you pop up again....Go play with your Dolly.

Teeheehee!!! :cool::D

[cat_burglar31]

....annnnnyyywaay back to horses :)
alot of people are saying here that its difficult to stop a horse if it is truly bolting, I was just wondering if its possible to steer them at all or is it really a case of having no control at all?:confused:

[carthorse]

In my experience I'd say you have no control whatsoever until they start to come out of it. A true bolter is so intent on escape that he pretty much forgets what a rider is & nothing gets through, that's why they are so dangerous.

[smoothrider]

My first horse, when I was 22, was a big Clydesdale/Thoroughbred cross. Really a sweet guy, until the first time I took him out in the field. I was riding in an egg-butt snaffle (Dumb!!) and he saw cows, and that was all she wrote!! We were going so fast water was flowing from my eyes and everything was a blur. There was standing water that we flew through. I knew to pull him into a circle, but man was he strong. I remember I was standing in the saddle and pulling with both hands on one side of the rein, and in all honesty the entire incident was probably less than 30 seconds, but it felt like an eternity before he came around. And that horse, after all that, had the audacity to turn around a look at me as if to say "what?" That was 27 years ago, and the memory is as vivid as if it was yesterday. After that, I put him in a mechanical hack, and he did take off again, but stopped shortly after he started, and then he never tried again, although all trust was gone at that point.
Now, I have perfected the one rein stop, and if I even feel a twitch of an idea that my horse is contemplating running off, I immediately one rein him, flex a couple of times, and get him to relax before he has a chance to do anything stupid. Kind of drives my fellow riders crazy, but I don't ever want to be in that situation again.

[helenhorse]

well i do the 1-2-1-2 act56n w5th the re5ns h6wever 5 have been adviced by people to when horses bolt to grab their manes with one hand and do the 1-2-1-2-1 action with the other so that they are forced into a bending position and are distracted.....

[NoviceNic]

well i do the 1-2-1-2 act56n w5th the re5ns h6wever 5 have been adviced by people to when horses bolt to grab their manes with one hand and do the 1-2-1-2-1 action with the other so that they are forced into a bending position and are distracted.....


:confused:

[carthorse]

Please NN don't :confused: her - she'll just treat us to some absurd explanation in a patronising tone & my blood pressure ill go sky high!

[Alice25]

When I was much younger I was riding my mum's friend's cob on a hack... with mum and mum's friend. Whilst they waited at the bottom of a field I cantered her up it, and then back towards them. I was suddenly aware that my nice canter was rapidly turning into a less-than-nice gallop, and we went whizzing right past them and right back to the yard! I'm pretty sure she was just testing her luck, and I probably could have stopped her, but my brain just turned to mush :o My course of action was to hold on for dear life, and burst into tears as soon as she came to a standstill :o:o

I've never been on a horse that is truly bolting out of terror... thank goodness. I'd probably just sit tight and pray, or maybe jump off if the whole thing got too scary :o

[*katie*]

Ummmmm. . .
After the 'oh sh*t, oh cr*p, motherf***er, bu**er, bu**er, bu**er, I'm going to DIIIIIEEEEE!" that usually comes tumbling out of my mouth, i tend to try and turn in a large circle so that at least i'm not faced with a massive fence/road/river/crowd of people (:D) then hang on for dear life until they get tired/bored/calm down or if all else fails - bail out :o! I never sit there yanking at the reins because i learned at a young age (thank you looney ponies!) that it doesn't make a blind bit of difference if your horse is that wound up - they're not going to notice what you're doing let alone listen to you - i just try and sit it out for as long as possible and if they haven't stopped after a long while and are putting us both in danger i grit my teeth and jump off - i probably go about everything the wrong way but hey I'm still standing (so far!)

[prettybluepony]

I dunno, gunna sound crazy but I'm not scared of being bolted with except in a small arena sized space… :rolleyes:

The mare I used to ride used to bolt when she young, she was badly scared once, and then made a habit of it. You'd be trotting, cantering, and then she'd just go, like as fast as her little legs could go, and boy was she fast. (She gave our racehorse a good run for her money over a 1/4 mile) I think I just learned to deal with it.

This works for me, but as I said, I'm only scared of being bolted with in arenas, otherwise it only takes a moment to stop the panic train.

Keep 'em safe. Even if it means screaming at cars to get out of your way… and try and relax, your horse will follow on from you, sit up, and plonk your heels down, say a couple prayers, and breathe. Don't drop the contact, but don't go at there mouth unless you need to to be safe, you could scare them more. If it's not safe to drive them on, try and head for a hill. (They'll get tired quicker) and if they have a "tickle" spot, a place they like to get a scratch from you use it if it's safe to reach it, just rubbing them on their neck, and singing/talking to them can make them feel a lot safer, you need to be there for them. If your in a field or hilly area, drive em on, scare them if you have too, so they know running don't make it better, and make sure you stop them and make them feel safe at the end, so they learn that your not letting them get hurt.

If you've got guts, lead/ride them back to what scared them. Show them it, and make them see that you won't let the evil bin bag get them! Smile to your self and think as you bring that big bottle of gin back to the yard. "One day that little sodding horse of unknown parentage, who's mother was a female dog will be fantastic and you love them, sometimes. The bruises, stained knickers and new bad habits you've got because of them is just there way of say "love you too", not to mention they don't make you watch football/rugby/snooker/golf."

For me, if any of this happens in an arena, I'm crying and telling the horse where I'm going insert the pitchfork later. :cool: Each to our own phobia.

Gawd I can talk for the UK, and some small EU countries too… ;)

[aussieannie]

I have had two experiences of a horse bolting. the 1st out hunting. we had just jumped out onto the road and my horse grabbed the bit a took off. i was 13 at the time. i settled in on top kept my cool and let him gallop on the side of the main road for 13 miles. he stopped eventually !!!!!!! the next was riding cross country. i circled and circled until he stopped. each time is in indiviual exeperience. If youhave a horse that wants to keep doing it
SELL him one time mught end in disater They are other BETTer horses out ther.
besafe

[Cochise]

My first pony seemed to only have two paces: fidget and flat gallop! I was at the age where I had no fear and I thought my pony knew what he was doing, so I wasn't worried. It's that flat out irrational fear bolting that scares me. A pony I rode afterwards was like that, I just had to sit up and hold on. It wasn't the bolting that would make me fall, it was the sudden stop at a fence or gate!

Cheek will bolt forward about 3-4 strides when he thinks a monster has reared up behind him, but that's as far as he'll go.I just sit up and stroke his neck.

[carthorse]

I have had two experiences of a horse bolting. the 1st out hunting. we had just jumped out onto the road and my horse grabbed the bit a took off. i was 13 at the time. i settled in on top kept my cool and let him gallop on the side of the main road for 13 miles. he stopped eventually !!!!!!! the next was riding cross country. i circled and circled until he stopped. each time is in indiviual exeperience. If youhave a horse that wants to keep doing it
SELL him one time mught end in disater They are other BETTer horses out ther.
besafe


I'm not convinced a horse could gallop for 13 miles :eek:. Even a bolter will stop once they've put what the consider to be a safe distance between them & the problem.

Sell him may sound like good advice but there is a very very limited market for a bolter even if it's talented in other areas. If you didn't declare the problem could you live with yourself if someone else got hurt? Even if I did declare it I couldn't.

[Georgette]

Hi everyone

My first post ever - let's hope I don't mess it up!!!

What is a one rein stop? Is it the same as a half halt?

I used to own a true bolter who used to react to all attempts at stopping him by slowing down just enough to get a good buck in. Am now very nervous of cantering my new, ploddy, slow horse and so all tips on stopping a bolter would be very welcome

[Tonto]

i've just googled 'one rein stop' and watched a video clip of an australian demonstrating it. as far as i can tell this is what to do:

let the outside rein go loose
pull straight back by your hips with the inside rein hard
push down/forward with heels to brace yourself
push in with inside leg to 'disengage' horses backend

i have noticed a couple of times on this thread it has been mentioned that the horse has to have prelearned 'one rein stop' but i'm unsure of the reasoning behind this.

i had my first lesson on a hunter/tb horse at the rs recently and found that all he wanted to do was run. i didn't ask him to canter but he was boisterous and just kept on going into canter/gallop (possibly?) even from a slow trot with a huge 'bound' of energy! i feel safe enough in the arena but really want to learn how to keep him in trot/walk/halt and be more in control before i'm out in open countryside

[sotanimals]

Im just curious really, what do YOU do when your in the position when your horse bolts (and im talking ...hair blowing, eyes watering, cling on for dear life!- bolting) Obviously this is after your *majoorr* breaks have failed to work, what do you do next?

I've never really been in the position before so i thought it might be interesting to hear your stories, or what options i have if im ever in this situation in the future.
I know some people might just sit tight, keep the major breaks and wait untill it's eventually over?
I think i read on here about somebody actually leaning forward to grab the bit rings for the horse to stop..
Or even people leaping of!
so yeah..
would be interesting to hear your stories or advise (: if your horse bolts, then turn it in tight circles. they won't go any further if you get their head. but my little mare, is that, LITTLE, so when i get the mail, and she spooks, then i have to try to turn her. i need to go back to using a bit, because i use a halter and a hackamore.

[Fizz]

last time jay did it he put his head down, grabbed the bit & went, i could not get his head up or turn him, he ended up tripping over a drain & i went over his head.

i don't try to lift the head as it never works with jay, if i have room i push him on, if not i try to circle, other than that i pray:o

[puzzles]

Then again, I think that we have to accept that sometimes you cannot control a horse - only minorly influence it at most.

x

[peronacedressag]

Turn hard!! Make as small a circle as you can, until you get control, then stay on a biger circle to balance your horse out and get him thinking about you, and not what set him off.

[peronacedressag]

Turn hard!! Make as small a circle as you can, until you get control, then stay on a bigger circle to balance your horse out, and get him thinking about you, and not what set him off.

[Drummer & Eli]

Drummer full on blind bolted with me last summer, pain related and he had a spell in hospital. luckily it was associated with jumping pain so i was in a safe arena....but still non to nice and thought several times about bailing out of the side door

there was no stopping d and no rein aids that did not panick him more. just voice and sit still and quite - you cant stop them, everytime i felt D's muscles slightly relax and took up the outside rein very gently he was off again (not that he stopped inbetween time, i could just feel him slighly relax)

i would not have wanted to use one stop or pull an outside rein at the speed we were going as i dont know how he managed to stay up round the corners as large as he made them

we just had to wait till he stopped and he was not listening to any aids anyway, perhaps he heard the voice after a while but blind bolting, your pretty screwed i'd say :rolleyes:

i would deem Drummer strong to jump but that is in no way what i have ever experienced to his bolting episode that was pain orientated - lucky his temperment was not to buck me off, as it was his back, but i knew he thought about it then felt better of it (maybe when he tensed his muscles it hurt more) i also knew he was eyeing up the arena fence, he was slightly listening then and i told him in no uncertain terms that we would not clear the fence at that speed ;) was pretty horrific though

no advice!!! but i again would not try and turn a horse that is truely bolting for fear of having it land on me (just me personally)

[aussieannie]

Im just curious really, what do YOU do when your in the position when your horse bolts (and im talking ...hair blowing, eyes watering, cling on for dear life!- bolting) Obviously this is after your *majoorr* breaks have failed to work, what do you do next?

I've never really been in the position before so i thought it might be interesting to hear your stories, or what options i have if im ever in this situation in the future.
I know some people might just sit tight, keep the major breaks and wait untill it's eventually over?
I think i read on here about somebody actually leaning forward to grab the bit rings for the horse to stop..
Or even people leaping of!
so yeah..
would be interesting to hear your stories or advise (:
it is the scariest thing ever. I have sat there until the horse pulled up and I have been pinged off hitting a tree, and broke my leg. Once i circled a horse and stopped it.
Handle the situation as it arrives and pray it never happens again

[y03mylers]

The pony i've got on loan IS a true bolter and i must say it is a terrifying experience that i wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. He's bolted with me once and i was petrified, i couldn't turn him, stop him or anything. I prayed he'd stop before we got to the road. After about 10seconds he jumped a puddle and i lost BOTH my stirrups, and on solid mud i wasn't about to bail, managed to stay on at a full out gallop and he stopped an inch from the car park that joined onto the road. I then had to get off because i was shaken so much and thought if i stay on like this he's going to panic and i'm not doing the same thing the opposite way down the track :rolleyes:

Some rude woman who was on a field nearby said to my friend who ran after me 'she shouldn't be on here if she can't ride that horse' and that made my friend (who was frantically running after me to check if i was ok) extremely angry and she replied 'it's not her fault it's bolted' and then i rang her to say i was alright and she told me what had happened and said 'selfish ******* $$$$$ you could have been injured or killed and she's complaining when she wasn't even on the path in the first place. how dare she'

x

[y03mylers]

Maybe i'm mis-understanding something here but i have only ever been truely bolted with once in my life and everyone seems to be saying turn in a circle.

I didn't have the choice of turning as well as breaking because he would not listen to anything i said.

x

[Pink's lady]

Maybe i'm mis-understanding something here but i have only ever been truely bolted with once in my life and everyone seems to be saying turn in a circle.

I didn't have the choice of turning as well as breaking because he would not listen to anything i said.

I think a lot of people who say or think they've been 'bolted with' have actually just had the horse bugger off at high speeds with them. Not the same things and that kind of horse can be yanked in a circle if you pull hard enough (and their bit doesn't got through their mouth!).

A true bolt it uncommon and there is nothing at all you can do about it:eek: That's what makes it so scary! The horse I was on was spooked by a crow scarer going off, jumped forwards, slipped on a plastic bag and went mad:eek: She couldn't listen to anything I said, leap the dry stone wall then set off up the hill. She very nearly managed to get to the top before almost collapsing.

Kalli has bolted since this thread started, not with me on her thankfully. Poor Ali.

She was happily minding her own business, hacking along with Pink when some F*$&%^ idiot came around the corner at 60mph, slammed their breaks on screeching the tyres and missing Kalli's bum by literaly mm's, and skidded into the tree. Poor Kalli lost the plot totally.

Shot forwards, tripped up the kerb (loosing her rider in the process, which was maybe the best thing!), regained her balance and buggered off. Leapt the 3ft stone wall into somone's garden, hit the washing line and leapt the 6ft (yep, really - I can't see over it at 5'8) solid stone wall out the other side:eek: into the cow field behind. Galloped madly across the half mile of field, leapt the next fence and finally came to a halt a mile away, infront of a 6ft hedge with a 5ft ditch (thank gods since the main A71 was the other side:eek: ) and stood shaking whilst Ali walked all the way over to get her.

She was well and truely terrified, totally out of her mind with fear. She couldn't think about what she was doing, tackled jumps she could only just get over and left her best friend behind. She was so frightened she wasn't willing to come back across, even when Pink was brought along (who was also frightned but managed to contain herself).

There is no way in hell she could have been stopped and interfering, had the rider been on, may well have killed her as she cleared the second stone wall.

[Blair Witch]

I had a really bad bolter. What you have to remember is don't have a steady pull, give and take so the horse can't brace against the bit. Sit deep in your saddle and circle your horse ASAP, making the circle gradually smaller.

[Suzanne2]

There is the pulley stop, meant to be much safer than trying to circle an out of control horse. Shorten one rein and fix into neck, about half-way up hard with much pressure. Then pull up on other rein. I've never had the bad fortune to have to do it. Let me know if it works...!

[monsoon1983]

My horse used to bolt, it was a problem that had gotten him a bad name as a problem horse. To cure it, you take you fear, throw it away and in mid bolt, ask him to go faster, tell him what a good boy he is and then bit by bit ask him to slow down. hauling and pulling often only makes things worse.

I had to do this with a freinds pony - she was too scared to ride him anymore, so i was excercising him for her, we where hacking on the farm and he set his neck and tanked, as she started to slow i pushed him on and on until he couldn't run anymore - ok this sounds cruel, but i decided the pace and when we would stop! anyway i eventuly pulled him up and started walking home. it seemed to work for him, after a couple of times he stopped tanking off and my freind finaly built up her confidence to ride him again.

[Willywilddog]

This is not an easy question, as the situations tend to differ. If you KNOW your horse is a bit inclined for high speed, no brakes running away, a freshly worked paddock, or soft sand beach is ideal to make him run in a fairly controlled environment to tire him and change his mind about running away with you (having someone with the emergency number on speed dial is good!). This may take a few goes, but they will eventually get the idea.
If you are in the terrifying position of a true bolt try and assess the immediate danger (cars, trucks, wire fences etc), the one rein stop is pretty effective, though can take a bit to get through the horse's fear factor. If all else fails, bail (pick your spot). It sounds drastic, and painful, but infinitely better than being carted into a ditch, under a truck, or through a fence.
I truly hope it never, ever happens to you.