Quartz
Well-Known Member
I am sooo disappointed in myself and horse, confidence is now battered. More my confidence and trust in him then confidence in riding. He has been bolting when jumping, but dressage and hacking out fine. In fact I have cantered and galloped him out on hacks on my own and with other horses; he has always stopped when I have asked him and been good as gold.
Anyway today went on a hack with another horse (first time with this horse). Started to trot and my horse decided to put 4 massive bucks in (he never does this). Walked for a bit then trotted again, he started to canter so let him for a bit. We said we would trot again, the other horse went to trot and mine just bolted. There was nothing I could do, usually I would think to cirlce as I do in the ring when he does this after jumping. Path was too narrow and he was going way to fast to do a tight turn. Evertime I tried to pull him up he went faster and faster, we arrived at a t junction where we headed straight, jumped a small hedge and headed off into a field where he then applied his emergency break. All very unsettling. Just don't understand where this came from, and of course now worry that he will do this on other occassions which puts me off hacking. I usually love going out for a canter and gallop with neighbour and her ex race horse so why behave like this today? He is seeing the oesto next week incase an underlying reason especially has he has started bolting after each jump. But woudl a horse in pain bolt on a hack? Or is it just the sunshine? So worried about it all at the mo. Any words of wisdom would help settle my nerves. Also my friend said I should have hit him as a punishment with my riding crop which I didn't do (would you agree with this?)
Anyway today went on a hack with another horse (first time with this horse). Started to trot and my horse decided to put 4 massive bucks in (he never does this). Walked for a bit then trotted again, he started to canter so let him for a bit. We said we would trot again, the other horse went to trot and mine just bolted. There was nothing I could do, usually I would think to cirlce as I do in the ring when he does this after jumping. Path was too narrow and he was going way to fast to do a tight turn. Evertime I tried to pull him up he went faster and faster, we arrived at a t junction where we headed straight, jumped a small hedge and headed off into a field where he then applied his emergency break. All very unsettling. Just don't understand where this came from, and of course now worry that he will do this on other occassions which puts me off hacking. I usually love going out for a canter and gallop with neighbour and her ex race horse so why behave like this today? He is seeing the oesto next week incase an underlying reason especially has he has started bolting after each jump. But woudl a horse in pain bolt on a hack? Or is it just the sunshine? So worried about it all at the mo. Any words of wisdom would help settle my nerves. Also my friend said I should have hit him as a punishment with my riding crop which I didn't do (would you agree with this?)