Dealing with bolting at the field gate

[Montyforever]

Im really not sure what to do it's getting ridiculous now!
My mares are in for most of the time at the mo as the little one is very prone to laminitis and im waiting for her pen to be dug out and the membrane and woodchip laid. But they are still out for 2-4 hours a day no less.
She prances the whole way out and the second she's past the gate she bolts and several times has backed into my other mare while doing it causing her to bolt as well they are in the field so it's not too dangerous for them and I'm only slipping the leadrope through so it does slip out eventually but it's got to stop! It's taking me ages after everyday but I have been going and catching her again and taking her back to the gate until she stands nicely for me to let her go but it's not helping with the first bolt I know it's purely because she's got too much energy, she's a really hyper pony at the best of times but realistically she cannot have anymore turnout apart from in her pen when it's done and the pen is pretty small but double the size of her stable at least. I'm trying to lunge her as much as possible but she's still just as hyper after it!!!
People have said give her treats at the gate until she's let go but I think that will just cause more problems!
Any advice?

 

[dancebaben]

The only experience I have with this involved treats I'm afraid.

One of the horses on our yard had a chronic barging problem. He'd rush through gates and his owners often just dropped the lead rope because he'd tug them over but he'd always stop afterwards, never bolt off. However the girl who does turnouts had had enough. Now he always walks out to the field with a leadrope over his nose to give a little better control (he's rude not frightened the majority of the time). When she gets him to the gate to the field she asks for a stand and gives him a treat. She then asks him to walk quietly through the gate and stand - treat again. If he did it badly or rudly she'd walk him back through the gate and repeat. Treating the "best" attempt.

She's gradually fazed the treating out - now mainly only treating him when he's behaved impeccably or has managed to sort something different from usual (something like a broken bit of fencing). He walks out beautifully.

Do you have to turn both out together?

 

[LouS]

Get a rope halter or similar and do some serious groundwork. Behaviour like that is really not acceptable, I do not like them going crazy like that as all it takes is them to kick back as they run and they've got you in the head.

Once I'd established some serious manners in the arena or where ever I would then take her out to the field with a long rope and take her through the gate and make her stand facing me dozens of times, in then out then in then out, until it becomes so dull.

I know its easier for you to just slip the leadrope and let go but the more she realizes she can get away with it the more dangerous she will be. I wouldn't bother with treats as she's just being massively rude and I expect my horses to learn manners.

 

[Montyforever]

Can't use a chiffney/bit as she's got a deformed jaw and twisted teeth .. She's got perfect manners through everything but this, unfortunately it's impossible to turn them out seperatly because the little one that's doing it either jumps the stable door if she's left behind or jumps the field gate if taken out first she's not mentally all there bless her!

 

[dancebaben]

Try leading them both out on long lead ropes or your naughty one on a lunge line. Shires do a really long lead rope which allows them to get a fair distance from you without getting away.

I guess you've got no one to help you by leading one of them out for you? I know how awkward leading two horses who have different ideas can be! Our girls have regular disagreements when going out together.