Advice Please - Naughty Horse and bits

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Charlie123

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Hi there

I have an ex-race horse that often gets too strong for me to canter and gallop. He is also in the very bad habit of bolting (and yes I mean the flat out, stopping for nobody and nothing whilst his rider is shipped off to hospital bolting. More recently he galloped home which was two miles!) He is currently ridden in a loose ring snaffle and no noseband.

What would you recommend as the next step up?

I am thinking a grackle (he used to be raced in one) and bit wise I'm not sure.
A friend suggest a Waterford or a Dexter Ring. I have tried a Dutch Gag before and it makes no difference.

I have had his back, saddle and teeth checked so I know there is nothing wrong with him.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Charlie
 
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Mines like that well the anti social bit theres very few people i will let near him tbh but hes fine with me now still occasionally pulls faces but i just ignore him. He also can be argumentative to ride and has got a decent buck on him the only thing that i find with him is that he has to be worked daily and reasonably hard and to vary his work we do loads of hackin, just to keep ontop of him otherwise it can take me 20 minutes to get him to concentrate. I backed him and only had problems once he was a bit fitter and obviously was feeling good about himself and he learnt just how big he was. Have you changed ur routine at all or your feed a pony at our yard became very spooky and scared stiff of jump poles within a matter of days with no explanation untill we learned her owners were giving her 4 scoops of pony nuts throughout the day in a snack ball! They sent her mad
 
I would get his back checked. Often they can get jammed over the ishium/illeum area and every now and then a nerve pinches causing them to truly bolt.

There is a big difference between a horse bolting and just getting run away with and there is always a reason for them doing so.
 
I'd forget about trying to find a stronger bit or gadget to try and solve this really dangerous problem. I'd start training him again from scratch. You really need to be in control of him and not letting him decide what is going to happen. If you cannot ride him in a head collar and stop him in any gait then he isn't really safe to hack out.
 
My mare was the same. Ex-racer, would just take off in the field for having fun.

How do you attempt to stop the horse once it bolts? April never did well with just a simple 'woah, now'.
I had to sit up, out of the saddle, and kick her on for maybe 1 or 2 seconds, let her think she was REALLY getting a good run. Then I'd sit back, and half halt with both reins, very quiet like. She'd slowly come back to me, and after a few half halts we cracked it. :D
 
hi, i have actually posted a thread on here regarding bits - my horse is a 16.2 id hunter and is very strong she goes fine in the dutch gag until we start trotting or cantering and leans on the bit and goes full speed ahead! She has also been known to bolt and yes has left me to find my own way home! :rolleyes:She went away for schooling and typically hasnt put a foot wrong except lean on the bit.:rolleyes: I am going to try the waterford gag as then there will be nothing for her to lean on. Bitting is such a minefield!!:confused::confused:
 
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