Horse bolted in arena

Wagtail

Wagtail

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I will keep details brief, but a new horse (been here 6 weeks or so) bolted with the owner in the arena. It was a proper, panicked and blind bolt. She was thrown and is pretty well hurt. A week ago he had a wolf tooth removed. Vet said leave him 5 - 7 days before riding. He's been an angel the entire time he's been here. Owner managed to convey that just before he bolted he was shaking his head and pulling at the bit. Do you think it was too early to ride him after the tooth removal? Looking for reassurance really that it was an explainable bolt rather than something he may do at any time, as I think I will be riding him until his owner is back in shape. Or do you think that it is too much of a risk? Obviously I will give him a couple of weeks off and perhaps start his ridden work in a hackamore.

What do you think? Is tooth removal a week ago a likely cause?
 
Blind bolt as in he went through the arena fencing ? Or just shot off around the arena?

If the former- bullet. The latter, I'd presume pain response, connected to tooth removal? Site could still be very sensitive, some horses are much softer about how they deal with pain.
 
Nasty experience for all involved. Firstly, give him a week off, and if you can in that week get the dentist (or who ever removed said tooth) back, and explain what happened. I would also check tack, back etc.
Some horses are more sensitive than others, my boy suddenly started leaning heavily on the bit, and it turned out he had only a very slight sharp edge right at the back. Once it was filed, he was much better!
 
Wagtail said:
I will keep details brief, but a new horse (been here 6 weeks or so) bolted with the owner in the arena. It was a proper, panicked and blind bolt. She was thrown and is pretty well hurt. A week ago he had a wolf tooth removed. Vet said leave him 5 - 7 days before riding. He's been an angel the entire time he's been here. Owner managed to convey that just before he bolted he was shaking his head and pulling at the bit. Do you think it was too early to ride him after the tooth removal? Looking for reassurance really that it was an explainable bolt rather than something he may do at any time, as I think I will be riding him until his owner is back in shape. Or do you think that it is too much of a risk? Obviously I will give him a couple of weeks off and perhaps start his ridden work in a hackamore.

What do you think? Is tooth removal a week ago a likely cause?
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Difficult, my youngster had her wolf teeth out and only had 3 days off and was fine. Did he have any other dentistry work done? Possibly a sharp bit that he overreacted to? I hope his owner recovers quickly
 
I would get his mouth checked for starters. It may not be healed or there may be a problem due to tooth removal or elsewhere in his mouth. Hope owner recovers well and soon.
 
I didn't see it happen. But she said he was heading right for the fencing as if to jump but slammed the anchors on and threw her. So I guess some sense of preservation. And he was stood calmly by her when I found her. I really hope it is just bruising. Will know after xrays are done.
 
Wagtail said:
I didn't see it happen. But she said he was heading right for the fencing as if to jump but slammed the anchors on and threw her. So I guess some sense of preservation. And he was stood calmly by her when I found her. I really hope it is just bruising. Will know after xrays are done.
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When a horse bolted with me last year (due to cut down of work and not food!!) he actually did jump out of the arena!!!
 
When my gelding had his wolf teeth removed, one broke off and left the root still in the gum. The vet did manage to remove it there and then but did say he would have to re visit if he couldn't remove it cleanly that day. Could there be some of the tooth remaining which caused pain/infection?
 
Wagtail said:
I didn't see it happen. But she said he was heading right for the fencing as if to jump but slammed the anchors on and threw her. So I guess some sense of preservation. And he was stood calmly by her when I found her. I really hope it is just bruising. Will know after xrays are done.
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That's not really a true bolt then?
 
Sounds more like he ran away rather than a true bolt, but still very scary within the confines of an arena. Hope that a readily treatable physical cause is found for his behaviour, but from what his owner said re the head tossing etc, I wonder if he got his tongue over the bit and panicked?

I would start him in long lines when he goes back into work, to thoroughly check out his response to being bitted again.
 
Absolutely agree with others who say get the mouth thoroughly checked out before he's ridden again. It doesn't sound like a bolt, just a p155ing off with. Scary nonetheless.
 
When my lad had his wolf teeth out I was advised to use bit wrap on his bit to make it softer in his mouth for the first week or so back ridden. Maybe something you could try if there is nothing physically wrong in the mouth and just a bit tender?
 
Well I would get a vet with dental training gag the horse and look in it's mouth before considering getting on.
I agree with those that say it does not sound like true bolt .
 
Flame_ said:
Ride it in an indoor. I had a horse that used to do this and it was horrible and flipping dangerous in big outdoors.
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Unfortunately, I don't have one here. I think I will stick to lunging, and good idea re long lining. I'll do that too before getting on board.
 
Just another thought might be worth getting a physio to take a look J needed a fair bit of work on his face after he had all his tooth trouble.
 
Bear with me please..9 year old came to us a couple of months after wolf teeth were removed, and took off on a number of occasions for NO apparent reason. Could this be a similar scenario - our dentist did a cursory look and said her mouth had healed nicely, but was very surprised the teeth needed removing at that age? Anyone ideas..don't mean to go off on a tangent, horrible, horrible accident and I hope your friend is recovering? Chocolate brownies to make her better.
 
This is how I had my serious accident due to a tooth issue - total blind panic during a show jumping competition and bolted into arena side; this was the only time ever pre and post that he bolted.
 
How long was he actually going for? It's reassuring that he stopped, makes me think pain or fear and not a true bolter. All the horses I've had have done an 'oh my god' spook and gone for it for a few strides at some point, it's just one of those things, I wouldn't be jumping to the bullet conclusion quite yet.

Also I've seen incidents where people have claimed they're being bolted with and it seldom is! Usually either naughty horse tanking off towards the gate or a spooky bum tucked in and shooting forwards sort of a thing. Same as people saying the horse bronced when it actually just fly bucked... I think it's probably more than a coincidence re the teeth thing, and your plan to give him a few days off then try again seems like a good idea :) I also agree maybe having vet or dentist have a look in his mouth.
 
I would have a good look (actually more of a good feel) of the bit, if the tooth needed to come out because it was causing ridden problems, it may have slightly scratched the surface of the bit. This will be more or less likely dependant on the metal the bit is made of. Try running it over the inside of your wrist, rather than your fingers.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. I am probably around 70% satisfied that this was a panic reaction that hopefully will not be repeated. The horse is 8 years old, previously used as a working stallion but gelded and broken in less than a year ago. His temperament, ridden, on the ground and with other horses has so far been exceptionally good. He has not put a foot wrong. I guess that really, he is very green and being ridden is a new thing for him. I think that it was probably pain from the tooth removal and/or getting his tongue over the bit. He is ridden in a hanging cheek with cavesson noseband. Maybe a drop would be a good idea. But I will be giving him a couple of weeks before getting on him, and chat to his owner about possibly getting the vet back to look at his mouth again. I don't think his owner will be able to ride for some time, bless her. I would really like to get him back being ridden calmly and safely because I know she will be feeling terrified of getting back on him again.
 
I hope the lady is feeling better, she had an awful fright there. Just wondering how experienced she is ? Aside from the tooth issue, could she have become unbalanced which sent the horse shooting forwards which ended in both of them panicking ?
 
maree t said:
I hope your friend is recovering well. No help on the horsey front sorry
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She's still in hospital as a precaution. No fractures found, but obviously really sore.

MerrySherryRider said:
I hope the lady is feeling better, she had an awful fright there. Just wondering how experienced she is ? Aside from the tooth issue, could she have become unbalanced which sent the horse shooting forwards which ended in both of them panicking ?
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She is very experienced and balanced so I don't think so.

I am beginning to worry more about the horse though, as I say he hasn't put a foot wrong, but actually that's not true when I think about it. A week ago he broke out of the sand turnout (completely shattered the fence). He came trotting back to the courtyard and was calm but a little nervous. I put that down to his buddy who can get a bit bossy at times and sometimes chases him about a bit (but not aggressively). Then a couple of days ago when there was a lot of argy bargy going on in the next field to him (when a mare chased and kicked my filly), he jumped over the pole across the gateway to his field, taking the top row of electric fencing with him. He ran down to the sand and stood peering round the gateway, frightened. I just put that down to him being a bit of a scaredy cat. But now I'm starting to worry about whether he has a strange 'switch' in his brain which makes him run. I think I will urge his owner to get back in touch with his previous owners and see if there has been any history of him doing this kind of thing before. I just hope if he has, they will be good enough to disclose the information. After all, if he has done similar before, then we would have to think very carefully whether we should get back on him.
 
I would be getting dentist/vet to check the mouth for infection, if the horse is in pain then it can make them more nervous as they can feel more exposed/at risk, it can also cloud their judgement. It would just be something simple to rule out,
 
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