Bolting horses during a hack

[Ant123]

I went on a hack today after a schooling season. We normally walk to cool the horses down But the horse behind me wanted to canter. Being in front, I started the canter but the horse behind really caught up and started to race my horse. Both riders were out of control and eventually managed to stop them. My horse is a sensible Irish draught and it Has really unsettled me as he has never done anything like this before. He is my first horse and I’m relatively inexperienced when it comes to situations like this. Is this a normal behaviour and any advice beyond a stronger bit would be gratefully received.

 

[IrishMilo]

I wouldn't say the horses bolted here, but I appreciate why it would be scary if you're not used to going that fast They were just racing, which is pretty normal.

 

[Ant123]

Oh thank you- good to know that it’s quite normal behaviour. Need to work on my speed, although it probably felt much faster than it was!

 

[be positive]

It sounds as if the horse behind was taking charge and instead of the rider insisting it walked she allowed it to set off into canter, you may have started first but it was the second horse that was dictating what happened, it took hold, got out of control and yours decided it was fun to have a race, you may have been out of control but were not really being bolted with, I would either avoid riding with that rider again or if you do make sure they do not let their horse do as it pleases, a well schooled horse should not decide it is going to canter and have a rider who lets it do so when riding out with other people.

 

[Ant123]

Fantastic advice , thank you

 

[Archangel]

For future reference you have roughly 3 strides to get a tanking horse back to you in good order. After that they have really got underway and it is a devil of a job to get control.

I had a very competitive horse, he could wind a beach donkey up and get everyone flat out in seconds. This is where I learned the 3 stride rule!

 

[Ant123]

Very interesting- so what you’re saying is that after 3 strides they are on a roll and you really won’t win that fight?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Good advice above. Take confidence in the fact you did pull up uneventfully and if it weren’t for the other rider loosing her horse chances are you’d have been absolutely fine!

 

[Auslander]

For future reference, if you wedge one hand on your horses neck, with the rein fairly short, you can use the other hand to check and release, check and release, which should help keep him anchored.
My horse is a swine for carting me when we canter out hacking - the only way I can hold him is to wedge a hand on his neck before e start cantering!

 

[Ant123]

Thank you so much- such invaluable advice

 

[Archangel]

Very interesting- so what you’re saying is that after 3 strides they are on a roll and you really won’t win that fight?

In the first 3 strides you are still in contact with them and can nip it in the bud. After that they are "in the moment" and it will be harder work for you. As with anything it is timing.

 

[EllenJay]

If you don't stop them on the first three strides - try dropping your reins. They don't have anything to lean against and often slow down. It's scarey the first time - but it works

 

[poiuytrewq]

If you don't stop them on the first three strides - try dropping your reins. They don't have anything to lean against and often slow down. It's scarey the first time - but it works

Takes some balls!!
agree though

 

[YorksG]

I always try and ensure that anyone I ride with understands that we don't do racing. If they can't hold back, then they go first, so they aren't pushing mine on, or if there's a few of us we try and ensure that the line is interspersed with horses who will act as brakes for others

 

[Keith_Beef]

All good advice in this thread.

When we go out into the forest, there are some long (300 metres) and wide (10 metres) stretches where we can canter, but before doing it the instructor or group leader always makes a point of reminding us that we must remain in control and remain in our place in the column. We can be in single file, two by two (or, more rarely, three by three) but the golden rule is no overtaking. If we need to change the order, we slow to a trot or a walk first.

We were out one day, on a path behind one of the training grounds for the racehorses. A chainlink fence and very sparse bush separates the path from the track. As is often the case, I was at the tail end of the column. A lady jockey trotted up on the track alongside me and said "I'm going to come along here at a full gallop, ask your instructor if your group will be OK with that". I shouted the message ahead, the instructor called back to us all to keep control, and said "OK, she can gallop past". We stayed at a trot, and though some of the horses did a little bit of a dance and threw their heads about a bit as she went by, none of them broke out of trot to try to race her.

 

[Ant123]

Thank you all. It’s a great reminder to check with the other rider. As it was the first time I had cantered him on a hack ( no issues in the school) My challenge is now to establish whether he is like that naturally when I ask for canter or whether it was purely situational

 

[poiuytrewq]

By the sound of it I’d say situational for sure.
Maybe next time just pop into canter quietly with a trusted horse/rider a little way behind and I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine x

 

[Wishfilly]

Thank you all. It’s a great reminder to check with the other rider. As it was the first time I had cantered him on a hack ( no issues in the school) My challenge is now to establish whether he is like that naturally when I ask for canter or whether it was purely situational

I'd also say it sounds situational- in future I'd try cantering behind (overtaking is often what starts the racing) or cantering a bit on your own first to make sure breaks are established- do you have any very sensible horses you can hack out with?

If you are nervous about this (which is fair enough!), I'd consider paying someone experienced to hack the horse out with others and alone and find out what their reactions are!

In general, I find when a horse starts to tank, turning a circle to the left is a good tactic to try and stop them, rather than trying to pull against them- I agree you have to catch it early though.

 

[Spotherisk]

OP next time you canter out hacking practise your transitions... okay I’m doing 10 strides then asking for trot, trotting on to that bush then cantering on the other leg for 15 strides etc etc. Keep changing it, keeps the horse with you.

 

[mini_b]

OP next time you canter out hacking practise your transitions... okay I’m doing 10 strides then asking for trot, trotting on to that bush then cantering on the other leg for 15 strides etc etc. Keep changing it, keeps the horse with you.

100% agree with this but 10 strides is too much for a proper bogger offer. I struggle with this on straight lines and do 3/4 strides, trot or walk, don’t even try change legs I just take it right back down then once they are quiet, 3 strides and build it up. Mines genuinely strong from being a git/unbalanced/anxious and a too long canter is enough to ask for problems. You’d have to run him ragged- which would end in a fall.

 

[JJS]

If you don't stop them on the first three strides - try dropping your reins. They don't have anything to lean against and often slow down. It's scarey the first time - but it works

This was the trick with my ex-racehorse. She actually had phenomenal brakes, but if you pulled, she just went faster; if you let the reins slowly slide through your fingers, she'd come back to you in an instant.

 

[Ant123]

You were all right- took my horse hacking alone Yesterday Just to test whether he was Crazy in canter or the the situation earlier on in the week was purely a result of the other horse. It took a fair amount of courage but he proved to be the Irish draught that I always thought he was.thank you all for your support and advice

 

[be positive]

You were all right- took my horse hacking alone Yesterday Just to test whether he was Crazy in canter or the the situation earlier on in the week was purely a result of the other horse. It took a fair amount of courage but he proved to be the Irish draught that I always thought he was.thank you all for your support and advice

Well done, you will have gained a lot from the bad experience in a roundabout way, every good experience builds confidence but even the bad ones can give you something to learn from and take forward, you now know what might set him off, how to avoid it and that it was not in his nature to tank off but that he does have a bit of cheek that requires thinking about, onwards and upwards

 

[IrishMilo]

If you don't stop them on the first three strides - try dropping your reins. They don't have anything to lean against and often slow down. It's scarey the first time - but it works

The only time this works is when you train the horse through repetition that dropping the reins = end of gallop. To do that you need to drop the reins only once they're completely out of puff and slowing down on their own accord every time until they learn the cue.

FWIW if any horse charges off with me and I didn't want them to (in a safe place), I'll make them run faster and longer than what they wanted... they soon learn it's easier to listen.

 

[Landcruiser]

My horse used to tank off like this, the first time I was properly shaken up! As I have become more experienced over the years, I have found it easy to nip in the bud, I can't even remember the last time he did it now, it's so long ago. Hot tip: work on your balance, your seat and your core strength and use these, rather than your hands to hold/stop your horse. The last thing you want to be doing is hauling on the reins. To partly see what I mean, try stopping him in walk without using your reins.

 

[EllenJay]

The only time this works is when you train the horse through repetition that dropping the reins = end of gallop. To do that you need to drop the reins only once they're completely out of puff and slowing down on their own accord every time until they learn the cue.

FWIW if any horse charges off with me and I didn't want them to (in a safe place), I'll make them run faster and longer than what they wanted... they soon learn it's easier to listen.

That's not totally true. My old Welshie used to take off in canter, and I tried everything to stop him. One day I just dropped my reins, he came back to me - he wasn't trained through repetition - it was just that he had nothing to pull and lean against.

 

[Keira 8888]

You were all right- took my horse hacking alone Yesterday Just to test whether he was Crazy in canter or the the situation earlier on in the week was purely a result of the other horse. It took a fair amount of courage but he proved to be the Irish draught that I always thought he was.thank you all for your support and advice

Such good news - well done you! X