Baby bolting in fear - how to handle?

aimeetb

aimeetb

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Hi All,

Please could I have a little advice?

Recently when leading my filly out to the field a horse in one of the paddocks lunged at her over the fence. She was scared and shot forward but I held her, it kept lunging and she bolted.

There are 2 horses that lunge at her over the fence and when they are deeper into their fields she comes in and out like an angel - not naughty at all so I do think its down to fear rather than taking the mick but they are inevitably by the fence on occasions and lunge at her she panics and sometimes I can hold her, sometimes if there is anyone there I have another leader and we hold her but sometimes she manages to bolt away.

I am of the opinion that she isnt being naughty just realises that as a baby she is at the bottom of the pecking order and runs away (she have never even put her ears back at another horse - she is a very friendly little thing).

Unfortunately, for now we cant move paddocks but should be having a rotation in the next few weeks so I might not be by them then.

Do you think this is her just doing what is natural and I shouldnt worry about it and maybe she will grow out of it as she becomes more self assured or should I be doing something else?? Any experiences of this??

Thanks Aimee xxxx
 
amymay said:
Why does she have to be led right by the fence??
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The paddocks are set out either side of a track, the track isnt very narrow, nicely set out actually but if a horse come thundering up the field at the side of her of behind her with its ears back and lunges it terrifies her! :(

ETA, I always lead her with me on the side of the horses that scare her so she is as far away as possible from them.
 
Ah, I'm with you.

Well, I wouldn't say she was being naughty at all - just frightened.

I'm not sure really what you can do about it........
 
Well make sure that you have her on a lunge line so she cant escape and ideally have another horse between her and the lunging horse, i assume she isnt out alone?
 
amymay said:
Ah, I'm with you.

Well, I wouldn't say she was being naughty at all - just frightened.

I'm not sure really what you can do about it........
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I am so glad you said that!!

I dont think so either, she is not a naughty filly and she does walk perfectly when they aren't all over her!

I hate to think that people think she is being naughty and I refuse to punish her for being afraid. I think I'll just have to handle it quietly and as best I can and hope she gets a bit more assertive as she gets older! :)
 
dianchi said:
Well make sure that you have her on a lunge line so she cant escape and ideally have another horse between her and the lunging horse, i assume she isnt out alone?
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Hi,

No she isnt out alone but sometimes there isnt anyone at the yard and this is when the problem is as there is no-one to help me lead her or another horse.

I could put her on the lunge I just worry that if she leaps around and gets it through her legs or something it would upset her more??
 
aimeetb said:
Hi,

No she isnt out alone but sometimes there isnt anyone at the yard and this is when the problem is as there is no-one to help me lead her or another horse.

I could put her on the lunge I just worry that if she leaps around and gets it through her legs or something it would upset her more??
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I certainly wouldn't advise putting her on a lunge line either - just asking for trouble.......

And agree that handling it quietly in your own way is the best way forward.

If you hear the horses thundering across the field - turn her to face them.

Hat and gloves for you :)
 
Surely its better that you keep a hold of her than her run off and hurt herself?

Sorry when you said filly, i thought you meant as in foal stil with mum.

Although i have always made sure my horses will walk in pairs from the field in case there are 2 left in the field you dont have the dilema of which do i leave in the field?
 
nooo! please dont use a lunge rope, boss used 1 where i use to work walking out 2 field as horse use to bolt, horse bolted which boss couldnt hold on 2 and as lunge line much longer than lead rope, got tangled around legs and horse broke leg, had be shot! sorry, no idea really as 2 what to do 2 stop bolting, just natural reaction, i dont think i know a horse that wouldnt run from horses like that! just hope you arnt by them after rotation...
 
dianchi said:
Sorry when you said filly, i thought you meant as in foal stil with mum.

Although i have always made sure my horses will walk in pairs from the field in case there are 2 left in the field you dont have the dilema of which do i leave in the field?
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My fault I forgot to put yearling in the OP!!

I will have to practise this actually for the winter, just incase!

If there is anyone at the yard I will start to try this it may help her with this problem too especially if its the boss in her field - she is a force to be recond with - glas she likes my baby!! xx
 
kcoop86 said:
i dont think i know a horse that wouldnt run from horses like that! just hope you arnt by them after rotation...
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I know, she is a delicate soul!!

When she first gets introduced to new horses it has to be on a headcollar, if you just put her in the field they never get near her, she just runs off and wont let them say hello!

On the plus side the other 2 in the field had a proper dominant mare power struggle fight the other day and mine just ran and stayed firmly out of the way - No kicks for me! xx
 
might be an idea to think about how to stop the other horses doing it so badly, could you wave something in their face when they get to you or would that be too late? or would you be bale to put up some electric fencing on the inside of the field to keep them further away from the fence?
 
amy_b said:
might be an idea to think about how to stop the other horses doing it so badly, could you wave something in their face when they get to you or would that be too late? or would you be bale to put up some electric fencing on the inside of the field to keep them further away from the fence?
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I was thinking about taking a lunging whip with me so I could try but to be honest its too late when they are that close she has already clocked them and started mega backing off ready to go also, I did try the other day to shoo one off whilst holding her but its really hard with her freaking out on the other end of the lead reign! LOL

Again with the extra fence, unless it was an extra 20 foot away I dont think it would make any difference - good idea though.

It is a difficult situation because none of the horses are doing anything wrong - they are just being horses so I dont want to seem like I am blaming any of them, its just horses and mine being particularly sensitive I suppose.

I suppose I wanted to make sure that other people agreed that she wasnt being naughty and see if anyone had ever had this and could tell me -dont worry she will grow out of it. You have all come up with some good ideas though so thank you! xx
 
Poor little filly! Not going to be much help I doubt, but maybe try taking some feed in your pocket and trickle feeding her as you walk along, aiming to get her attention on you and not the others. If she spooks, then she should learn that you are good, and she won't bolt off. Of course I understand that not many like to hand feed their 'babies' for fear of nipping, but an idea is an idea? But as someone said before, make her turn and face the others when they come over, keep her calm, lots of talking and stroking. It is not her fault. I expect the others are jealous of her good looks!!!!
Good luck.
 
RuthnMeg said:
Poor little filly! Not going to be much help I doubt, but maybe try taking some feed in your pocket and trickle feeding her as you walk along, aiming to get her attention on you and not the others. If she spooks, then she should learn that you are good, and she won't bolt off. Of course I understand that not many like to hand feed their 'babies' for fear of nipping, but an idea is an idea? But as someone said before, make her turn and face the others when they come over, keep her calm, lots of talking and stroking. It is not her fault. I expect the others are jealous of her good looks!!!!
Good luck.
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Another good idea, I will try this too!

Funny, someone else at the yard said they thought the horse was chasing her off as he didnt want him near to the other gelding in his field as he was jealous of her beng so pretty!!! That must be it then! LOL! xx
 
A stubs scoop of grass nuts, don't give them to her unless the horses are coming over, then shove it right under her nose. Sing to her, blank the other horses, and make your body position, relaxed and carefree. Relax your shoulders and keep on walking.

Don't pay any attention to the other horses, and whatever you don't feed them.

Have someone do the gates the gates for you,

Wear hat and gloves, and above all look ahead
 
Mucky Shavings said:
A stubs scoop of grass nuts, don't give them to her unless the horses are coming over, then shove it right under her nose. Sing to her, blank the other horses, and make your body position, relaxed and carefree. Relax your shoulders and keep on walking.

Don't pay any attention to the other horses, and whatever you don't feed them.

Have someone do the gates the gates for you,

Wear hat and gloves, and above all look ahead
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I think this may be part of the problem, thinking about it, I am probably anticipating them doing it and giving her tense signals, I should just walk and ignore them and I'll try this and turning her to face them and see what works for her.

I must say this morning I went with a going to get on with it atitude and it was fine but then there weren't any horses at the fences! LOL xxx
 
can you carry a schooling whip so if the horses lunge you can 'shoo' them away (i dont mean wack them over the fence - although tempting - its happened to me in a stable block, not very pleasent)
 
smiffyimp said:
can you carry a schooling whip so if the horses lunge you can 'shoo' them away (i dont mean wack them over the fence - although tempting - its happened to me in a stable block, not very pleasent)
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I will try this, its just not easy to hold her with 2 hands let alone 1 whilst shooing with the other! LOL! But I think its worth a try maybe, cant be worse than doing nothing! Thanks xxxxx
 
Tampax! Might be worth trying soaking and drying 2 tampax, so they have swollen and dried and using them as mufflers in her ears, as they have strings with which to pull them out. I know this can work when clipping horses and plenty of horses are competed with ear muffs in (though I doubt they use tampax in the competition arena :D:D)
 
Sportznight said:
Tampax! Might be worth trying soaking and drying 2 tampax, so they have swollen and dried and using them as mufflers in her ears, as they have strings with which to pull them out. I know this can work when clipping horses and plenty of horses are competed with ear muffs in (though I doubt they use tampax in the competition arena :D:D)
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ROFL! Are you serious!! That made me LOL!!!

Really???? xx
 
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