Bolting pony

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Sarah04

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I got a new pony to do pair Driving with my current Shetland. She went away to be broken to drive and took to it really well she came home, I long reined her, walked her out and went down the village in the cart. At the weekend a friend came with her pony and cart so we went down the village where she has been before and went through a Ford when we got to the other side she bolted and ended up wedged between a parked car and wall. She was facing the shafts. I have no idea what even happened to set her off she's a very laid back pony. I have lost all my confidence and feel so low I'm now not enjoying my ponies. I want to now sell her as a companion as I dont want it to happen again. My instructor said to send her back there for a week to reassess her. I mainly drive on my own and feel I will never trust this pony like my other Shetland. I'm not looking for negative comments I already feel bad enough 😟 just opinions on what other people would do. Thanks
 
Had a similar incident with a pony I broke in. Also very laid back and a super pony. Total over reaction to the situation. Gave it the benefit of he doubt/blamed myself. It did it again and caused an accident and will now never be ridden again. If I can't keep it I will have it put down purely because I know someone will put a kid on it again and think they know better than me. If your gut is the animal is dangerous then listen to it.
 
I'd send it back to the trainer for assessment and ask if they think its sell-able with an honest advert? You wont drive this pony again if your honest with yourself and no one would blame you so do it quick whatever you decide.
 
A driving pony bolted just down the road from me. Ended up crashing through a fence, tipping the cart and catapulting the occupants out. One had the air ambulance out but luckily no major injuries (breaks but not life threatening)
They sold it. Honestly, it's now doing dressage and will never be driven again.
I think I'd keep as a companion if that's a possibility.
 
People have told me once a bolter always a bolter. I'm so worried if I sell as a companion what happens if she's resold and people are not honest about her. I have 6 ponies and only bought her to match my Gelding .
 
That's why I won't sell mine. Once it's sold someone will get it and sell it on. In fact mine was sold unbroken and I now have my doubts about that. You cannot sell a horse like this with a clear conscience in my opinion because there are plenty of people with no morals.

Mine is currently being a companion to a friend's horse. You couldn't get a nicer pony but who wants to take the risk of a repeat with a worse outcome.

Mine went for nearly a year without incident. So assessing it for a few weeks means nothing imo. You saw what happened. Don't let anyone talk you round.
 
Sarah04 said:
People have told me once a bolter always a bolter. I'm so worried if I sell as a companion what happens if she's resold and people are not honest about her. I have 6 ponies and only bought her to match my Gelding .
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My riding horse bolted with me , if I can't get to the bottom of why, then I won't ride again, I will NEVER sell on , I would never want him sold on and misold and someone get hurt. I will secure his future by his staying with in my control. If I can't keep he will be PTS. His welfare is the most important thing, along with safety. There are worst things for a horse then being dead. Or being field ornaments :)
 
I would get the pony assessed by a professional. I have a friend who bought a youngster last summer. It had apparently been sat on as a 2 year old in the home previous to the one she bought it from. They had sold it as they lost their grazing. It was being sold again due to ill health. This pony bolted in the long reins and in hand when she first had it but seemed to improve greatly. Was sat on a few times with no problems and then it bolted whilst being led by an experienced man with her on. It came to me and was fine for a while then did it again from nowhere. Personally I would have shot it as it was simply dangerous but it's original owners circumstances had changed and they bought it back. They have since had issues I hear but are blaming it on everyone else. Please take a professional's opinion and then listen to it.
 
Has she been well exposed to other ponies driving previously?
A driven pony bolting is usually deemed a much more serious issue than one doing so ridden. A veterinary check might not be a bad idea?
 
I had one that bolted/ran driven. Like FfionWinnie's was also allegedly unbroken which I highly doubt. I had it pts for reasons given by others. Professional assessment from vet and instructor was no physical issues and most likely an evasion. He also kicked people and other horses hard, put me in A&E with a probable small crush fracture so I considered it highly irresponsible to sell him both for his sake and any potential buyer. Still feel bad, he was let down badly by humans but he was unsafe.
 
Send it back to the trainer. But from what I have heard, once a pony has had an accident while driving it can never be trusted again. I went to try one for a friend that was being sold as a riding pony on the understanding that it would never be driven again. And even a very experience and successful Private Driving horse had an accident in the ring and was sold as only a riding horse eventually.
 
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