Dangerous pony

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hannah12

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I posted on here a few days ago about the pony I ride! Really really strong with a tendency to bomb off thus becoming uncontrollable and you cannot stop him at all!!! I'm not a novice rider, been riding for ten years and do horse care at college! I spoke to the owner but doesn't want to try anything she thinks 'he'll grow out of it' however the girl that used to ride him and broke him in taught him that it was okay to bomb off etc:/ it's getting dangerous, I'm just yanking on his mouth, and it isn't doing anything! Really need advice on what to do and how to convince the owner!!
 
He's not mine! I just ride him, as the owner refuses to ride him because of this. There is nothing, I've tried half halting to see if this gets any more response and sitting as deep in the saddle as possible- nothing works
 
One hand on the neck, other hand pull. Brace yourself against his neck for a one rein stop if desperate
 
Okay thankyou, will try! He throws his head about a lot but he's too strong for a martingale snapped the last one and puts his nose on the floor as well then takes off!
 
When he does it pull really hard on one rein (don't just let go of the other but don't have more than a light contact). This will pull the horse's nose round to his shoulder and disengage his hind quaters effectively stopping him
 
My pony is very strong and takes off with me. I found practising rein back for the first few minutes of a ride and then randomly throughout the ride really helps with my brakes.
 
I used to ride a 16.3hh TB that did this - the first time I rode him I was 14 and he bolted me up a main rd into my village and fell on his side going round a corner and into the oncoming traffic! Luckily we were both ok though he did need stitches and scarred his knees. I continued to ride him and found the only way to stop him was, as the others said, to pull on one rein really hard and to circle him. Gradually the circle would get smaller and he would slow down to a halt. Nothing else worked - sever bits, severe handling etc!
 
Your other possible option if you are confident, capable and experienced with someone on the ground in a super safe place and you know he won't jump out is to do the opposite of what he expects. Throw the reins at him and boot him. Don't let him stop until he is knackered, make tanking 10 times harder work every time he does it

**** not suitable unless very experienced and in a safe environment ****
 
Yanking on his mouth is going to make him worse as horses tend to run away from pain. I would try and establish what it is that makes him run off and then go from there. If he's throwing his head about lots he may be uncomfortable somewhere.
 
this sounds maybe pain related rather than plain naughtiness. Get the owner to check the teeth and back and saddle fit. If that is ruled out then try circling if safe to do so. If not see if you can teach the one rein stop as suggested but teach it in walk first and gradually up the pace from there. Also I do agree with the pushing the pony on and making him stop on your terms and not his may work as once he realises tanking off means harder work he's less likely to want to do it.
 
I too was going to suggest pushing him on until he wants to stop then pushing him on even more but as stated he does need to be in a very safe environment to do this. It does work though extremely well and usually quite quickly
 
amymay said:
Dont ride him.
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Totally agree with this! You are risking yourself for someone else's pony, and that someone is not even interested in helping you or the pony.

Also I think this could be pain related, or at least started as pain and is now a habit? Either way, pony should be checked for pain.
 
We took our pony to the beach when he used to do this.

When he took off the rider kicked him on and just kept him going. We thought he was going to have a heart attack.

When they came back I'm not sure who was sweating most, the pony, the rider or me.

But he never did it again!
 
Sounds like you need a synthetic noseband and standing martingale - He'll have a devil of a job to break that and put a Waterford bit in his mouth - will usually stop a tank!

However in the meantime - go through the usual checklist

Have teeth been done - sharp teeth injuring the cheeks and tongue will have just about anything bolting?

Does his tack fit him - saddle and bridle?

Good Luck with him and stay safe. People have given you the tips on dealing with a horse once they bolt - all good ones
 
One rein stop works, but you can improve this by working on getting a really light bend /yield with your horse to the (lets say) left when you pick up the left rein and ask for the horse to tip its nose slightly to you. If you work on this at the walk in an arena, and get a light response, and then work at it as you go up the gaits, then it is easier to use this in an emergency.

I use this yield inside leg/inside rein, to get a bend whenever I feel my horse getting a bit funny. Yields help the horse concentrate on you, but also puts him in the right position if I need to use a one rein stop/disengage hindquarters, so I act before he bucks, shys, bolts or whatever.
 
my pony does this out at fun rides hunting xc etc and you need to really pull with one rein, it is the only way i can stop him works really well for every one i know who uses it.
 
Thankyou for all the advice everyone! To all that said about stopping riding him and him being a death trap--I completely agree and have thought this through many times, just deciding on how to tell her! The other woman that hacks out with me and owns this pony also thinks its hilarious when he bolts with me? I don't think it will be so funny when he tramples someone because we hack out on a walkers route that gets very busy in nice weather!
 
Please stop hacking him out, he's not your problem, just tell the owner straight, and as for your hacking partner, well, words fail me.
 
So you would risk your life just because you can't work out which words to string together? If you think you should stop riding him then stop.
(1 rein stop at speed can result in stunt rider falls, take care if you decide to go for that option. What I think of as a 1 rein stop is to "catch the thought" as you feel him take that first bolting thought and get the hind legs disengaging until he relaxes, then go forward).
 
hannah12 said:
Thankyou for all the advice everyone! To all that said about stopping riding him and him being a death trap--I completely agree and have thought this through many times, just deciding on how to tell her!
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Just tell her straight. Say thanks very much for the opportunity she's given you of being able to ride him. But at this time you just think he's too much for you.
 
hannah12 said:
I posted on here a few days ago about the pony I ride! Really really strong with a tendency to bomb off thus becoming uncontrollable and you cannot stop him at all!!! I'm not a novice rider, been riding for ten years and do horse care at college! I spoke to the owner but doesn't want to try anything she thinks 'he'll grow out of it' however the girl that used to ride him and broke him in taught him that it was okay to bomb off etc:/ it's getting dangerous, I'm just yanking on his mouth, and it isn't doing anything! Really need advice on what to do and how to convince the owner!!
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There a several reasons for this

You do not say what his tack is like - what bit - etc.

I would tell the owner this is a serious problem , one beyond your capability and she needs to:


  • First check the pony out round his bridle area and mouth for sore patches or swellings.

    He could be hard mouthed now with all the pulling. They evade the bit by crossing the jaw or setting their neck.
  • Check his teeth make sure no dental problem.


consider and instructors ride him in the school to see if they can fathom out what is wrong.
could be back or saddle issues
could be just plain bad manners.

I would avoid hacking him out at the moment until all the above is checked out .

Because this problem could lead to serious injury to you or the pony, until its ressolved.




Then you may - depending on above
  • have instructress hack him out
  • need to change saddle or reflock it
  • change his bit
  • maybe a martingale
  • review his diet
  • add a calmer
  • use of hackamoor or bitless bridle
If he was turning and going I would suggest a fulmer snaffle. That at least helps with horses setting the necks
 
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