Devonshire dumpling
Well-Known Member
As title lol
Has anyone ever put their hands over their horses eyes whilst it was bolting?
- Thread starter Devonshire dumpling
- Start date
FionaM12
Well-Known Member
HAHAHAHA! This is all my doing, isn't it? 
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
Ha ha ! No, but I have been known to mutter 'Oh *****, oh, *****,oh *****' in rapid succession.
Devonshire dumpling
Well-Known Member
Someone with a short necked horse who is prone to bolting needs to try it, if it fails, take hands off fast!! lol
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
I've put my hands over my own eyes as I slid out the side door gracefully....
Ginger Bear
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't be Able to reach my horses eyes! Think I'd fall off trying!
PoppyAnderson
Well-Known Member
You'd need to be Mr Tickle.
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Or Stretch Armstrong. Or Inspector Gadget - GO GO GADGET ARM!
FionaM12
Well-Known Member
To explain.
This is a spin off of the "What silly things did you believe.." thread in which I wrote:
"When I was a child I had a Reader's Digest book of facts which said if you were riding a horse and it bolted, the correct thing to do was lean forward as it galloped along and put your hands over its eyes. It then wouldn't be able to see where it was going, so it would stop.
I was at the age where, if something was written in a book, I believed it to be true. So I believed this for years, until I started riding.
I then realised that whoever wrote this piece of advice had never been on a horse!"
This is a spin off of the "What silly things did you believe.." thread in which I wrote:
"When I was a child I had a Reader's Digest book of facts which said if you were riding a horse and it bolted, the correct thing to do was lean forward as it galloped along and put your hands over its eyes. It then wouldn't be able to see where it was going, so it would stop.
I was at the age where, if something was written in a book, I believed it to be true. So I believed this for years, until I started riding.
I then realised that whoever wrote this piece of advice had never been on a horse!"
Devonshire dumpling
Well-Known Member
yeah but I reckon it will work, we just need a test pilot!! and if you have a short necked breed in gallop, it would be easy to try! Please nobody under 18 apply! lol
milesjess
Well-Known Member
Haha I'd give someone a medal if they could reach!
Devonshire dumpling
Well-Known Member
Grrr I am gonna get volunteered in a min..... It's possible with a Haflinger... his neck is so short you can stroke his cheeks.. BUT he bucks, so bog off!! lol
starryeyed
Well-Known Member
Don't really fancy trying it!! (plus he'd probably just fall over)
katastrophykat
Well-Known Member
Shame I lost my old mare- I would have tried it out for you... When she went there was only one option... To DROP the reins. Totally- on the neck, hand her full control and hope like he'll for the next few strides. She always came back, but only once she had control. Honestly- mares!! However, was nice and short coupled and I could reach her easily at flat gallop.
Easy to say when she's been 6' under for almost two years though!! Wouldn't much fancy trying it on the dementa-welsh, though I do know I could reach, the little bugger is already partially sighted (!!) so not entirely sure it would have any effect!
Easy to say when she's been 6' under for almost two years though!! Wouldn't much fancy trying it on the dementa-welsh, though I do know I could reach, the little bugger is already partially sighted (!!) so not entirely sure it would have any effect!
JFTDWS
Well-Known Member
I could reach my beasts' eyes but the old lad wouldn't waste his energy by bolting and Fergs thus far hasn't tested my brakes... If he does, I'm more than happy to have a go...
PingPongPony
Well-Known Member
Well, since i'm under 18 i can't volunteer BUT Spotsrock has a pony that bolts sometimes and has the tiniest neck ever so i shall ask her if she'd be willing to try The only way to stop him now is to drop the reins and hug his neck, he stops straight away
(trots off to find spotsrock)
The only way to stop him now is to drop the reins and hug his neck, he stops straight away (trots off to find spotsrock)
Befney3
Well-Known Member
I tend to find other ways of stopping mine but it always takes a few laps of the school. He's an ex-racer & genuinely bolts in flat out gallop so could be a candidate for someone to experiment on. He has quite a long neck so would need a tall person or someone with long arms. I'm not actually prepared to be the test pilot myself!
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
Well, since i'm under 18 i can't volunteer BUT Spotsrock has a pony that bolts sometimes and has the tiniest neck ever so i shall ask her if she'd be willing to try
(trots off to find spotsrock)
Ah now, this is a friend of mines' theory. You drop the reins and hug the neck - tight, so you block off the windpipe, causing the horse to stop. Haven't actually seen HER try that one though.....
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
But there is a grain of truth in this theory. If ever you have the misfortune to try to lead a frighten horse out of a barn fire, put a blanket over its head so it can't see and it should lessen its fear. I think race horses have been put in the starting gates by using a hood to calm them also.
Blinkers work on a slightly different principle as they don't completely cover the eyes but reduce the range of vision, although can be useful for spooky horses. However, once the horse has gone into flight mode, blinkers can make the horse run faster so probably you'd need to fully cover the horse's eyes when it bolts.
However, I'm not confident enough with this theory to try it. Might help with loading issues though ??
PingPongPony
Well-Known Member
nope not tight at all, horse is just generally confused as to why she's hugging him not yanking on his gob to stop, so he stops and turns to look at her with that look on his face that just says ''what the hell are you doing?!'' and yes i've seen her do it, works everytime and is quite funny to watch
Bikerchickone
Well-Known Member
Maybe someone should try bopping the horse on the head with the book - probably help more lol!
Hubby said he could design some remote control blinkers to cover the whole eye if I wanted to try it... but imagine if they got stuck on?????
dorito
Well-Known Member
Ok let's say it works and horsey stops - you've still got all your weight forward with hands over his eyes - you're going to have a nasty fall I would think.
In any case I recall a televised race meeting where a horse had been hooded to get it in the starting stalls, it got away somehow and was loose, blinded by the hood, and bolting. Took quite a while before it was caught...I think we can safely conclude this theory is nonsense!
In any case I recall a televised race meeting where a horse had been hooded to get it in the starting stalls, it got away somehow and was loose, blinded by the hood, and bolting. Took quite a while before it was caught...I think we can safely conclude this theory is nonsense!
Shantara
Well-Known Member
As I put in the other thread, I once saw a horse who's rug had flipped over it's head (How, I do NOT know, it was still done up underneath) and it was galloping around, literally in a blind panic. It crashed through one fence and went head over heals over another, where the rug ripped off and it stopped and was fine.
Perhaps if the eyes are covered gradually and it knows it's happening it might have a chance or working...but if it's sudden, it may startle it into going faster?
Spotsrock
Well-Known Member
I have a short neck pony prone to this. Next time he goes i'll try it! I normally jump off before he acheives warp speed and he stops. Throwing my arms round his neck and hugging him has been known to work. Cr*pping myself and muttering i'm going to die over and over doesn't work. In full on bolt nothing does except arriving home.
Spotsrock
Well-Known Member
I should add I am working on this in safe environments so as not to endanger the public lol
FionaM12
Well-Known Member
Brandy
Well-Known Member
Damn. Must think of something else to try then........
SonnysHumanSlave
Well-Known Member
Hahaha!!! Have to say all the times I have been bolted with I have never thought to try this, If ted ever did Im sure being blinded would stop him. My first pont I ever owner was a bolter.... I think he wouldve gone faster! :/
misterjinglejay
Well-Known Member
Devonshire dumpling
Well-Known Member
OKKKKK so you are the nomionated one!! If you die and there is some sort of legal enquiry.. can see it now on the news, a Spotty Rock dies after some moron (me) suggested it on a forum lol.. So you need to put in writing you are mental or something!! (which is probably a fair point)
1) Make sure no dead end near when blinding your horse
2) make sure no potholes
3) have your best underwear on!!