Stopping Runaway Horses.

[Laya]

I've been thinking about what people say about stopping runaway horses. Most people say pull them around in a tight circle and most horses come around and they'll have to slow. Others say to let them run themselves out until they get tired or run into a fence and have to stop. Others say that if you pull a horse's head around, they might continue to run straight forward, and I've had this happen before.

Well, I've also noticed that when I'm just out training Justin, he'll drift towards the barn in the circle that I'm trotting or cantering him in. He'll lean so far into a turn, that I actually worry that he'll fall over!! So, I thought, if a horse is being pulled around in a circle at a mad gallop, what's going to happen when they're thrown off balance???

I'm an experienced rider, and I was just asking of the opinion of everyone what they'd do if they were on a runaway who may or may not have the bit in his teeth.

thanks for listening. :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[Allie]

Laya- I would have to sya it depends on the horse. For most horses, pulling them in a circle is the best way to stop them, b/c if you pull continuosly on both reins, they will simply lean on the bit.

That said, I know one horse who is a confirmed bolter, and will run off with anyone who is not paying close enough attention. I can tell you there is no way he's going to turn in a circle when he's running flat out. He's ridden in a hackamore, and the way to stop him is to pull hard on the reins, and sit it out. If you are an experienced rider, he will notice that you haven't fallen off yet, and slow down. if you are bouncing around, he keeps going till he hits afence or something. He has tried to run on me once or twice, but I got him stopped by pulling hard and yelling at him. on the other hand, I have seen several guys get thrown off him b/c they were to 'macho' to believe he might do the same with them (sorry for those of you who aren't like this, but this horse seems to attract 'macho' guys who think he's fun to ride, then they get thrown, and next time they ride a different horse. I have never seen him throw a girl, it's always guys)

I'm going to get off my soapbox now, and return to the topic. Most people say you should give off and on tugs on one rein until the horse turns, and then you can get him slowed down, and that seems to work for the majority of horses.

Allie :)

[Laya]

Thanks, Allie, for your reply. I appreciate your opinion. I'll keep what you said in mind. Anybody else have an opinion?

Laya

[alexa]

Hi, I'm afraid that I am also asking for help and can't give you any I need it myself !!
My horse is an X-racehorse and up until recently was still racing and even winning. He is now pretty good when ridden in the school and is beginning to understand and slow/stop using Heathers seat/thigh and hand movements as shown in her book. Even outside he is usually pretty good but last Saturday he wanted to run, he did not have a fright or anything. It was a long uphill forest road, we started off trotting and then a collected canter - suddenly it was as if he put himself into top gear with turbo, his neck stretched out and we flew along, the speed and power generated were really exhilarating BUT no way could I stop or even slow him down for a long long way and all of this uphill. This could potentially have been dangerous for anyone using this forest road coming the other way and I was thankful that there was no damage anywhere. The road (not tarmac this is soft forest ground) was not wide enough to try to turn him at this speed.

How do jockeys/lads manage ? racehorses do not always go flat out, they have a strategy when they race and when the train - there has to be some way of control.

I have to admit I loved the speed but I cannot permit it to happen in a public forest so I MUST find a means of dealing with it.

Any ideas would be welcome and if anyone knows a flatrace jocky can they ask their advice and let me know ??

Many many thanks to you all.
Alexa

[Neil]

Hi Laya,

Following a collected canter, I had a horse decide that it wanted to gallop instead of return to a walk but I managed to gather him up by pulling on both reins alternately. I tried just pulling back on both reins but to no avail. Fortunately, there was no harm done, but when I ride that horse I always make sure I have the right length of rein, just in case that was the problem.

Ta ta,
Neil.

[dreamer]

Pully rains can actually be quite dangerous. It could cause the horse to fall, I was told on another board, to alternate presure from side to side, like you see jumpers doing sometimes. It seems to do the trick without the horse falling. I've had my gelding lean too far into a circle twice, once on the lunge line, then with me on his back.

[intouch]

If you are really in trouble (and I have been in the past!) get one rein as short as you can, lean that hand heavily on the horses neck just in front of the withers, cross the other rein over the withers and pull down on it. This will stop anything bar a confirmed bolter, be prepared for a sudden stop and don't go over the neck! I emphasise, only for real emergencies.

[summer]

Hi all
I used to rd steeplechase in the states long ago, and still ride out on point-to-pointers here in the UK. Don't be fooled that jockeys are stopping runaway horses; the trick is not to lose control in the first place. Keep a feel of your reins, and if you think there's an explosion about to happen, use your weight to bring the horse's weight back, lighten the front end, and raise the head. If the horse has his head slightly elevated, he'll find it difficult to charge. Don't pull one reine too hard, or you risk being tpped over the shoulder. Rather, work the bit in the horse's mouth, giving and taking on one side (not a see-saw action, keep one rein constant, and soften the jaw with the other). Also, if you have an excitable horse, don't give him the opportunity to charge, avoid trying to canter slowly across a wide open field, where the temptation is too great. Keep canters to an enclosed area until the horse accepts your contact, and teach him to walk when he assumes he's about to get a gallop. Some riders have hacks where there are confirmed 'galloping places', and if you gallop there everytime, you can't expect a canter or trot next time. Horse's are creatures of habit, so walk your gallop places from time to time, and make the most of school work to help your horse accept a contact before going for a gallop!

[calamity_jane]

In response to runaway horse-

Training a horse is like erecting a building. A strong foundation eliminates cracks in the walls. Take the horse back to the round pen. Sack him out, get him into a bitting rig again, and start at ground zero.
calamity