Bolting on Hack

Bettyboo1976

Bettyboo1976

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Hi just wondering if anyone else has this problem or just me.. only had my horse a few weeks now but this is driving me mad.. we can hack out ok untill something spooks her.. ie.. barking dog running towards us... then she just spins and bolts for home... GRRR!! i generally pull her up after about 3 strides or so.. (at least she stops) but she does it so suddenly.. doesnt stop spook turn.. just turns straight away catching you totally off gaurd.. what can i do? help please as i lost my confidence a while ago and got her to give me some.. Luckilly i can sit the bolt out easily.. its like she is genuinely scared.. other than that she is so loving..
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My thoroughbread used to do this. Most particularly when my son was riding him. You couldnt turn him or circle either.

In every other way he is the most perfect laid back all rounder but sometimes he just gets the devil in him and decides hes off home.

We found that hacking him in a double was the way to stop him, we hack on the snaffle but if he even thinks of going home picking up the curb rein persuades him otherwise.

He rarely even tries it now, I just think he did it because he could and any excuse would suffice.
 
She is ridden in a straigh bar snaffle with flash, and has a running martingale.. as i said she is easy to stop, and doesnt pull when out although does put her head up when she bolts but comes straight back to me if that makes sence.. i'm not really scared when she does bolt.. its just frustraiting if you know what i mean... GRRR! dont really want to change her bit as she is soft mouthed and dont want to damage her mouth..
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She doesnt sound too bad at all, our TB hurtled 2 miles with my son once.

I would just persevere with her then, turn her straight back round, give her a smack and ride her forward.

She sounds like shes just trying out her new friend!
 
Ok thanks.. i was telling her old mum about it and she laughed saying it was her evilness and not to worry too much.. just wanted to check though.. Lol remind me why i bought a chestnut mare???
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Chum went through a spell of trying to take off with me if a tractor was coming, just a quick turn, no warning but I could stop him quite easily after a couple of strides. I think it was because he wasn't confident in me and it did shake my confidence too.
But because it was just this one thing he was scared of (he isn't generally spooky) I could get myself well prepared for the tractor coming, in plenty of room, facing it and being confident in asking the driving to slow down, stroking his neck, legs wrapped round him and tho' he still trembles he doesn't feel the need to run away and has more confidence in me.
Not sure if this helps
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Well she isnt bolting, she is napping!

If she was bolting you wouldnt be able to pull her up like that, and she wouldnt just stop after a few strides, nothnig would stop her.

Lance used to be a terrible napper,he napped 2 miles home with his previous owner, and had to be ridden with 2 whips for a good while, time, persistance etc pays off in the end.

I agree with Mickey, and if she really is lacking confidence a babysitter may help while she settles in.
 
My horse once bolted the whole way home with me because he saw women bringing her horse out of a field!- i had no chance of stopping him, i was just hoping he knew where is home was! Was very scary at the time!
 
Problem is i dont have anyone to go out with.. by the time i get to the yard after work everyone else has put their ponies/horses to bed..
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I will however try and ride her with more confidence extra leg etc , maybe lots more bonding and extra schooling will help us gain some more trust in each other.. i did realise when i bought her that it would take time to settle in.. however this has happend nearly every other hack.. its normally if we come round a blind bend then she sees something before me.. so its difficult to predict when its going to happen.. we were plodding along nicey yesterday then we turned a blind bend then that was her.. she whipped herself round and we were off....!! (also this is a new yard/area to me so i dont really know the hacks we are going.. just kinda make them up as we go .. I think its time to get my bike out and get exploring the surrounding area.. that way we will both be more confident....
 
It doesn't sound like a napping issue to me - but a confidence issue on her part. I really, really, really would make sure you only hack out in company until she is more settled, and the two of you have more of an understanding of each other.

Was she advertised as being good to hack??
 
yes she was advertised as good hack.. hacked her twice before i bought her, she was with her last owner for 10yrs.. maybe i've done too much too soon..
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.. now i'm feeling guilty.. have i pushed her too much do you think? maybe walk her out inhand this week and stick to some schooling.. nothing to strenuous...
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yes she was advertised as good hack.. hacked her twice before i bought her, she was with her last owner for 10yrs.. maybe i've done too much too soon..
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.. now i'm feeling guilty.. have i pushed her too much do you think? maybe walk her out inhand this week and stick to some schooling.. nothing to strenuous...
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I don't think you have done too much too soon at all - but if she was with her previous owner for 10 years - then of course it's going to be quite stressful for her to be in a new place with a new owner.

I am not a fan of walking horses in hand - asking for trouble in my opinion. Companionship is the way to go - hack out with a friend for a couple of weeks, and I bet you find she'll settle.
 
As i said i dont have anyone to hack out with
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as all horses/ponies are in bed by the time i get to the yard.. and most compete at weekend so kinda stuck on my own for now. but i do hear what you are saying.. will take my daughter and her bike for some company .. better than nothing.. maybe short hacks for say 20-30mins and build them up maybe go the same way? but a little further each time to build her confidence? I don't know... its all so frustraiting and confussing .. i love her so much she is my ideal horse and now this.. I dont want to loose my confidence with her .. I will put a note up in the tack room asking if anyone wants to go for a hack with me through the week.. hopefully someone will
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I wouldn't call this bolting - I thought you were going to say the horse took you back home. Annoying, yes and could be nasty if there is a car coming up behind you. It is really an extreme spook.

She does sound as though she is lacking in confidence, although she stops when you want. Going out in company to start with would be a good idea, and then as she gets used to you she will find that you are the trusted leader - you have to be the teacher and herd boss.
 
I hope that someone will hack out with you this weekend and maybe they can show you some quiet hacks nearby so you have more confidence on your own.
Try not to worry too much about it, you have only had her a short while and you are still checking one another out
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Good idea about putting a note up, what about a friend or OH on foot besideyou, its surprising how much confidence that can give you, and that will transfer to her.

Please dont feel bad you are doing nothing wrong, its not your fault!

It sounds like she is just settling in and getting a bit worried.
 
Thanks... She did do it when i was out with my OH.. this was on the cross country course.. we were just walking round it.. you know having a look.. again came round a corner walking and she spotted a big fence looked at it and thought b****r this and off she went.. again i stopped her. I just dont want to ruin this.. i guess time and patients is the best way to play it... *sigh* maybe i am stressing over nothing..
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Luckilly there is not a lot of road work where the yard is .. its maily offroad hacking.. fields etc..
 
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