Horse Bolting......

[Piglet]

I have a lovely laid back horse but in certain situations he will bolt. It mainly seems to be when there is something moving ahead of him, it could be another horse, sheep etc he doesn't discriminate!! He is hacked out alone and in company, has been to several shows, dressage events but only ever in an enclosed arena or indoor school. I have taken him to a couple of outdoor shows but only in In Hand classes where he has got excited when following the horse in front. His party piece is he will start with a few naughty bucks and then within seconds the head goes up at a horizontal angle and he will bolt bucking at the same time. He is on Thunderbrooks sugar free food and I have had all the checks done including thermal imaging which didn't really show anything untoward. My question is at 8 years old, will he ever get over this dangerous habit and has anyone else any experiences of this and could pass on some advice please, I really don't want to find him a new home.

 

[be positive]

Well first of all it doesn't sound as if he is bolting it is more of an excitable reaction and behaviour he has learned gets him what he wants, he gives you a warning by doing a few bucks before taking off for whatever reason is in his head, a good trainer or instructor should be able to help you learn how to stop it before he gets to the taking off stage, he sounds as if he has got the better of you in certain circumstances, is to an extent just taking the p*** which if he gets stopped quickly should eliminate the issue.

You say he is good hacking and in enclosed situations so a bit of training in more interesting situations with him not being allowed to play his games may be enough, he may benefit from working harder generally as he is a young horse that is coming to his peak, in hand showing is beyond boring for most adult horses so getting him doing something that stretches him more physically and mentally may help.

You don't say what type he is but give him a harder job of work and use his energy in a positive way.

 

[Piglet]

Yup your absolutely right, that is his party piece, frustration at not being allowed to catch up with whatever is in front so he thinks "sod you I am going" but when his head is horizontal with the sky and he is bucking at the same time, it is very hard to stay on top and I am a pretty experienced rider, just never had this kind of thing before so am at a loss. Unfortunately he has had several owners before me (I wonder why) so it is a well engrained habit which apparently has happened quite a few times before I had him, last time he did it with me, I managed to spin him in a circle and "booted" him in the opposite direction. He is a TB/Cob for info