"Bolting"

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This phrase seems to be banded around here a lot!!

I'd say I'm quite an experienced rider and have ridden a lot of horses but not sure I've ever been bolted with, an old horse I had moments which could be considered bolting (jumped a wall into a field off the road once when he'd been spooked by something) but it wasn't quite the blind panic some people talk about.

So was wondering what people actually define as bolting? TBH I do wonder if a lot of the time it's when people can't ride very well!
 
Hmm, totally agree. Seems a lot of people define bolting as "speeding up suddenly and unaided"

I reckon true bolting is absolute red mist. Blind panic, will gallop over/through anything with no self preservation. Not tanking, not getting exited or strong.

J&C
 
Tough one!
I've been bolted with once, trying out a new horse sat on him after 5 steps he went, no stopping there was just nothing there to stop I even tried kicking him to see if it made a difference but it didn't. I was frozen solid after about 5 mins trying to decide stay on or abandon ship, he jumped (sort of) a 5 foot bank on to open moors and we were gone.
I can honestly say it was the most frightening thing I have ever experienced as there was just not stopping him and he was so wreckless he felt like he could so easily fall but at the same time I felt like I was sat on top of a tank going at speed.

I think people over-use the phrase though. The other day my boy took off with me down the road after about 4 strides I stopped him and my hacking buddy went back to the yard to tell everyone he bolted, I then explained it was far from a bolt he was just being an idiot.
 
I would say that 'bolting' is the horse running away out of the control of the rider. That's why it is so frightening - you have no control of the horse.
 
I'd define "bolting" as the horse shooting off, in blind, mad panic paying absolutely no attention to the rider and in a flat out proper gallop for a prolonged period. Proper adrenaline reaction.

B tanked off with me today because he was feeling very fresh but there were really only four or five strides where I felt like I had no control. Definitely this wasn't bolting but to an inexperienced rider I'm sure it wouldn't have been pleasant!

I've owned him 9 years and in all this time he's only properly bolted once. It was honking weather - really windy and wet and there were quite a few of us out. One girl fell off and clearly scared the bejeezers out of him because he bolted across the field and I was actually scared for my life.
 
Ive been properly bolted with once, horse was totally out of control no steering or stopping just went in a panic and didnt stop until he ran into a wall.... *******ing animal. That indeed was my current horse and he went to bolt again for the first time in a year and 1/2 the other day due to the new saddle i think, again no stopping at all but thank god (literally) it got caught early as he accidentally ran into a tree (when he goes he will literally run straight into whatever is in his way, its like his brain just isnt their and i dread to think what would happen if he got in the road or something got in his way), this time i jumped off though!

He kinda does give me warning though by tensing up and going wappy - first time a horse we had been out with loads and round the XC with loads just overtook us which had happened a lot but from a walk he just took off in this blind panic. This time we stepped down a dip and i think the saddle pinched so he just reared (only ever reared once before and that was due to a bad saddle) and then went!

Oh and the reason I know its not just cause im a crappy rider - when this horse isnt bolting hes an abseloute saint to hack, not at all spooky and i have let 13yr old kids hack him out, 9yr olds and complete novices ride him in the school so its not in his character to just take flight or run - if another horse bolts without us he doesnt follow etc ;)
 
Agree with the others - "bolting" is sheer blind panic and nothing and nobody can influence a horse in that state.

99.9% of the time when people say "bolt" they mean "taking off". Taking off can still be horribly scary, but I wish people wouldn't confuse the two - annoys the bejesus out of me when it's clear it isn't a bolt, but more likely a lack of rider ability / schooling. Nothing wrong with that either, and most people have been in one position or another, but don't call it a "bolt"!
 
MrsHutt said:
I would say that 'bolting' is the horse running away out of the control of the rider. That's why it is so frightening - you have no control of the horse.
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I think this is where the confusion lies. For example, sometimes horses get a fright from something, there initial reaction is to take off, which they do, and I think this happens with most horses at some point. Depending on the rider this could end in galloping full pelt down the road or in a couple of strides be back in walk! A bit like the situations K (sorry can't remember your full username, the one with Andy!) was talking about - first one sounded like a true bolt and completely terrifying!! The second just being what horses do!
 
Kokopelli said:
Tough one!
I've been bolted with once, trying out a new horse sat on him after 5 steps he went, no stopping there was just nothing there to stop I even tried kicking him to see if it made a difference but it didn't. I was frozen solid after about 5 mins trying to decide stay on or abandon ship, he jumped (sort of) a 5 foot bank on to open moors and we were gone.
I can honestly say it was the most frightening thing I have ever experienced as there was just not stopping him and he was so wreckless he felt like he could so easily fall but at the same time I felt like I was sat on top of a tank going at speed.
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Oo What happened? :o You can't leave it there!
 
I was bolted with when I was a kid on a rescue pony the riding school had just acquired. Still not sure what set it off but here was no stopping it, we were on a path through the ashdown forest and at the end of the path was a very busy main road. I was convinced he was going to kill us both, but I remember I didn't feel panicky at all, just sort of calm - very odd! I ended up bailing into a bank and luckily in his blind run he didn't turn the corner into the road but carried on into the forest. Still don't like hacking, in the back of my mind I'm always nervous if there isn't a long expanse of fields or paths to tire out my nag if it bolts (even though nothing I've ridden since have ever even thought about it)
 
Bolting to me is when a horse takes off in flat out gallop in panic and no matter what you do they don't stop until they're ready.

I've had horses take off on occasions although I've always been able to stop them. I've only ever been bolted with once. It was scarey and it was as if the horse was in a blind panic and couldn't or wouldn't listen to me. She seemed absolutely terrified and to this day I don't know what caused it.

My biggest fear is it ever happening again. When I'm out in open spaces it constantly worries me. Ridiclous thinking really cos it's only happened once in all the years I've been riding.
 
Not wanting to high-jack a thread, but even as a new owner I have a similar pet hate!

The difference between an excited pony and a naughty pony.

Whenever a pony does something (or not!) unexpected, seems everyone assumes it's being naughty, when really it's having fun.

I LOVE the sense of humour ponies have, particularly RS ponies! Granted they know every trick in the book, but you've gotta admire their timing!!

I hate hearing parents moan about "naughty" ponies (particularly ours! :p) when really the ponies are having a laugh and getting a bit excited! OK, it can be a bit scary, but I think that's what riding hats and body protectors as for!

Just my opinion.

My daughter's never been bolted with. Had a few charge off with her, but she's soon got the brakes back. Hope she never experiences a true "bolt". :eek:
 
I dunno. Bolting is true fear i think, i.e. you would have to shoot the horse to make it stop. But being taken off with, where you have NO control or effect over the animal, is bloody terrifying.
 
Interesting to read your replies. Thanks people. Must be awful if it happens for real.. and something that will always be in the back of your mind.

It's quite scary when you think about it, no matter how well schooled a horse is or what you have in it's mouth, they can still do exactly what they want if they choose. It's amazing they are so good most of the time!!
 
Brontie said:
Oo What happened? :o You can't leave it there!
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I think he was getting tired or something as eventually I felt a bit more in control, I lent down grabbed his bit pulled him in a circle which made him slow down a tad and abandoned ship.
I spoke to my RI about it after and she said horses will only bolt for a few miles until they feel they are out of dangers way and then stop so maybe thats what he eventually did?
 
I agree bolting is over used, if it stops at the end of the field it hasn't bolted just fancied a jaunt, if it takes off then runs straight through fencing barely noticing its bolting.
 
Starbucks said:
Why fields though, surely it could happen anywhere if down to fear/pain?
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Not to answer for you Smartiebean09, but maybe its association..? Your mind associates emotions with particular things like sounds or smells, or sights. I think it is for me anyway! A pony could've bolted in our old schooling paddock and jump the fence, but I never felt usafe there, or on the road, or in fields actually, just on bridlepaths.
 
redmone said:
Not wanting to high-jack a thread, but even as a new owner I have a similar pet hate!

The difference between an excited pony and a naughty pony.

Whenever a pony does something (or not!) unexpected, seems everyone assumes it's being naughty, when really it's having fun.

I LOVE the sense of humour ponies have, particularly RS ponies! Granted they know every trick in the book, but you've gotta admire their timing!!

I hate hearing parents moan about "naughty" ponies (particularly ours! :p) when really the ponies are having a laugh and getting a bit excited! OK, it can be a bit scary, but I think that's what riding hats and body protectors as for!

Just my opinion.

My daughter's never been bolted with. Had a few charge off with her, but she's soon got the brakes back. Hope she never experiences a true "bolt". :eek:
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Hi-jack all you want for me!:) At the end of the day it's got to be a pretty dull life being a RS pony, so good for them for providing their own entertainment! ;) Ponies are brilliant, there's so much more going on up their than with horses!! My first pony was amazing, he was a saint with babies and kids who were genuine novices, but then he would start introducing his little tricks as you got more experienced, as if he knew he was teaching you how to ride! Brilliant!

Complete tangent to original thread! :)
 
Starbucks said:
Why fields though, surely it could happen anywhere if down to fear/pain?
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I only get nervous in open fields/ spaces since the bolt but I'm not sure whether that was because he went onto open moors and I associate open space with being bolted with. I get shivers just talking about it tbh something I will never want to experience again.
 
Starbucks said:
Why fields though, surely it could happen anywhere if down to fear/pain?
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This is the thing Starbucks. At the time, I was very inexperienced and very young and I havent experienced anything like it since but unfortunately that one time was enough to scare me of open spaces. My dream would be to gallop but my fear of open space wont allow me to do it and I have the most bombproof pony too. I hate how that one time has made me feel :(
 
Kokopelli said:
I think he was getting tired or something as eventually I felt a bit more in control, I lent down grabbed his bit pulled him in a circle which made him slow down a tad and abandoned ship.
I spoke to my RI about it after and she said horses will only bolt for a few miles until they feel they are out of dangers way and then stop so maybe thats what he eventually did?
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Should have entered him in the grand national! ;)
 
The other day I took my lovely horse into a group lesson at my fab local riding center, as I usually ride by myself with teacher I was glad for a change though when I asked for a bice canter he full speed galloped down a to c then zig zagged throw the others! I wasnt to scared but he jumped over a jump and I flew off. I didnt hurt until the next day but does anybody no if I should treat it as bolting or anyone any other advice x Please help me and my baby x
 
I've been bolted with once. Was out on a hack walking along a path and she just went. Straight along path, across main road. Ended up pulling rein, kicking with other leg, she lost balance on a turn and fell over, I flung myself off

Have been ran off with in a similar fashion - ex racer decided he wanted to gallop, but he did it, and stopped and snorted like "right Mum, that was fun!"
 
Starbucks said:
Hi-jack all you want for me!:) At the end of the day it's got to be a pretty dull life being a RS pony, so good for them for providing their own entertainment! ;) Ponies are brilliant, there's so much more going on up their than with horses!! My first pony was amazing, he was a saint with babies and kids who were genuine novices, but then he would start introducing his little tricks as you got more experienced, as if he knew he was teaching you how to ride! Brilliant!

Complete tangent to original thread! :)
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Sorry! I was just thinking about it today!! They get bad press sometimes I think! And your bolting thread reminded me. Some people seem to relish having something dramatic to talk about, when all I want is good positive reports from my daughter!!

Ponies definately seem smarter to me!!! I love em to bits!!! The smaller and fluffier the better :D

However, seriously, must be completely new underwear moment when they do bolt with you - akin the brakes on my car failing!!! :eek:
 
SmartieBean09 said:
This is the thing Starbucks. At the time, I was very inexperienced and very young and I havent experienced anything like it since but unfortunately that one time was enough to scare me of open spaces. My dream would be to gallop but my fear of open space wont allow me to do it and I have the most bombproof pony too. I hate how that one time has made me feel :(
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How rubbish. :( I can totally understand, if you've been completely terrified by a situation it's natural not to put yourself into a similar situation again. I think what I'd do if I was you, is take your pony to a huge long beach somewhere for a good gallop! Somewhere where there would be no danger if the worst happened and I reckon once you'd done it once and everything was fine, you wouldn't be frightened any more? Maybe I'm talking rubbish so feel free to tell me to shut up, but it's really sad that you dream of galloping, but can't. :(
 
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