Getting a horse used to going out again?

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almrc

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If you had a horse that has been out of work and just in a field (but doing ground work etc) for almost a year and a half, due to many issues, mainly putting head down and bolting (no stopping the horse!) How do you get it used to going out again? The horse is being ridden again and coming back into riding on nicely.

So do you long rein out on a hack first, if so on the horses own or with another horse?

Or do you hack out, again with a horse or on its own?

A good bit is being used now for training only, so if the horse does decided to run (which it has got out of the habit of doing now, it only does it when its worried and it is a worrier and a proper scardey cat!!) I would hope to have breaks!!

Thank you in advance :)
 
I would only hack the horse out in company if it's had such a long lay off.

But a bolter, I'd never get back on......
 
Really?? The horse did learn to run off, that the horse could run off as he was allowed. I am using a myler combination bit, I have long reined in the scary big field, the horse tried to go, but couldnt due to the bit. The horse used to try and run if you led accross the field. Has come on so well and I have found the horse now only tries to run if I am doing some ground work or something that the horse is scared of, ie fly spray!

Unfortunately, as the horse is a worrier, obviously makes things a bit worse. But I have hope, a lot of hope!
 
I would start off slowly, maybe just tacking him up and walking him in hand and build up from there. Is there a school you could try him in to test the brakes on your new bit before you go off hacking?

My daughter did it a similar way with her mare who decided she didn't like to hack alone, and it seems to be working, but I am not a rider so can only go on what I've seen her do.
 
I would either lead out in-hand or long-rein, depending on which you feel gives you most control, in company with a very sensible safe horse, which is larger than yours. IME scardey horses need the actual physical barrier of a larger horse sometimes. When you do start to ride out, I would go on a very short circular hack on the quietest route possible in the company of that same horse.
 
Is he actually "bolting" or just tanking off with you.
Big difference. If he is a true bolter put him right back in that field as no bit or contraption will ever stop him.
If he just tanks off get him out with a sensible horse and experiment with elevating bits and good schooling,
better to go out with another than on your own.
good luck
 
sam1am said:
Is he actually "bolting" or just tanking off with you.
Big difference. If he is a true bolter put him right back in that field as no bit or contraption will ever stop him.
If he just tanks off get him out with a sensible horse and experiment with elevating bits and good schooling,
better to go out with another than on your own.
good luck
Click to expand...

ditto all of this.
 
You say he has got out of the habit now, but then you say he did try to go but didnt because of the bit.

I would be very dubious about taking a frequent bolter out on the road. Sometimes you could have the strongest, most effective bit in their mouth but if they are gonna go, they will go.
 
Sorry if this is a silly question, but what is the definition of tanking off and bolting? Then I will answer you :)

When the horse gets worried, and its not all the time, but things he is very scared of, like the fly spray...I cant actually think of anything else at the moment as he hasn't done it for so long, his head goes down and pulls and pulls - generally you can hold him now a days, but sometimes he decides hes gone and hes gone - you cant stop him. (I guess this is tanking off then?)

When I used to long rein in just a rope halter he didnt like someone long reining from behind, he would walk out nicely but refuse to stop. He would become so strong, so much so I have had OH there holding pulling to stop, that hes been pulled over. I would never have dreamed of long reining in the big field, only in the small paddock in the small field I had made. However, with the combination bit in, I took him straight to bottom field and long reined him from behind in it. Massive field, he stopped turned no probs. I have even trotted him and cantered him in there (when the ground allowed!) stopping no probs.

I have a lot of work to do before I take him out the gate - I want to get him riding nicely in the bottom field and do a lot more long reining too.

I have one very safe ride able horse, and a youngster (3 yrs) who is very good friends with this horse, his mate but her age may worry him when out, although the youngster goes for walks often, the riding horse is a lot more secure and does no wrong, also the leader of the herd.
 
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skychick said:
You say he has got out of the habit now, but then you say he did try to go but didnt because of the bit.
Click to expand...

Sorry, cross posted but its because I straight away took him to long rein in the big field. All new to him and worrying for him - a year ago you couldnt lead him into the big field without him running off.
 
In that case i would say he is just taking the pee a little bit, lots of work schooling him and not letting him get away with it.
be wary of new bigger stronger bits as these are not always the answer. They need to be backed up with proper aids. He needs to know stop means stop wether you are on the ground or on top of him.
A bolter is a very scary thing, I have had one and in 3 years it only happened twice. once was enough ploughing through an 8 foot hedge into someones garden 6 feet below. he nearly killed himself and gave me 2 broken ribs and a concussion.
The next time was in the middle of necarne 1* course! Rider said he honestly thought he was going to die, the horse kept jumping but with no regard to the fences rider could just about steer he hoped the stewerds would help pull him up but fair play to him he finished
needless to say horse now enjoys a quiet life in a field!
It is just not worth it tbh.
 
OMG sam that is so scary, I would not take a horse out like that, you are brave, I would be petrified!!!! And I can understand what you were all saying now, I guess I wasn't really sure what a bolter was. I am kind of glad you think he is tanking and not bolting, in fact extremely glad.

I completely understand what you are saying and I am so glad this forum is here which is why I am asking, as the advice and help is invaluable. When he runs off, he pulls so he gets away, runs for a bit but then stops in the field, though his friends are in the field and I work on the outside of it or the field next to it. You just go and re-get him again. I have only just started re-riding him so I am looking ahead quite a way in the future yet but best to be prepared so I can do anything I can.

When he used to try and pull away, we just try and hold on so he knows he can't go. 90% of the time, this works. A year ago, he would be stronger and pull away about 80% of the time.

I know bits are not always the answer, but I am using this as a short term thing.
 
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