Horse bolts when mounting

Crabbypink said:
Thank you to the last few posters, who were positive. No matter my 30+ years experience, I am still learning. I've never done this particular job with this particular horse, but I do think it is worth trying. I do have deep pockets, Bonkers2, but that isn't the point. I may have to resort to Jason Webb, and that would be OK, but for now, I'm willing to try myself, so long as I think I can make some progress. We have backed way off with this horse, and we are doing a lot of playing, desensitising and just trust development. I would love to say I'd post his progress in a few months time, but it wouldn't be worth the barrage of nasty comments I'd get again. So thanks to everyone who did post something positive. I'll keep your ideas and suggestions on a page, and read them from time to time. For now, though, I'd like this thread to close. I tried to get H&H to delete it, because of the amount of ugliness in it, but so far, no luck. If I end up with a beautiful field ornament, then so be it, but it won't be because I didn't try my hardest. I have all the time in the world, resources, and good people around me. Thanks again, to those who tried to help.
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Please point out the ugliness!!!!! Sometimes the truth hurts( Like all of us at some time I am sure you wish you had never seen this one) its not a personal attack on you If you hang around long enough you will see what im getting at .
 
I think one issue here may be the way people use the word 'bolt' these days. Some of the answers are clearly from people who describe any run forward of a few strides as a bolt. The original post, on the other hand, is about a genuine bolt. The description is 'like a runaway train' as soon as a rider puts their weight on his back.

The known history of this horse is that at nine years old, three attempts have been made to get him ridden, and failed. The dealer most likely thought they could take the horse from an owner they saw as a numpty, get it ridden and make a fat profit. I'm sure they were relieved to be able to pass it on to the OP without making much of a loss. This is a crunch point for me. I don't know any dealers who would pass up the opportunity to make a big profit on an attractive horse. If they have passed it on, then I believe they think it is not sellable ridden.

The likelihood that at eight or nine when the dealer got it there had been no other previous attempts to break the horse is slim. This is very likely the fifth, sixth, or higher, attempt that has been made to break this horse. The white wither marks may even be where it has reared and gone over backwards in the past.

The question now, assuming that the OP or a 'difficult horse' specialist manages to get it ridden, is whether it will ever be safe to ride when it has such an ingrained bolt reaction to things that hurt or scare it.

I would love to see the OP post video of the horse being ridden. Unfortunately I think it's more likely she'll be posting her x rays to Facebook.
 
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but..... you cannot make a sweeping diagnosis from a paragraph. Rather than jump down the OP's throats, you could ask the question first. I have years and YEARs of experience, yet what it has taught me is how much I don't know. I learnt a lot being on a pro yard and seeing horses coming in for training and reschooling, but most certainly don't have all the answers. Seen 2 exceptionally tricky youngsters, 1 of whom had clearly been started so badly that he was terrified and would bolt, properly. That took nearly a year to sort out but he was worth it. His was a major trust issue and you would never know it now to see him working. Had the privilege of watching a really good racehorse backer come in to assess and work with him and he picked up, tested and amended numerous methods to find a way of getting through. The other was backed in the same way, but has always been hot and tricky and that would seem to be her breeding. Both have extreme reactions, both had a completely clean bill of health from the vets. Asking questions on forums like these are a good way of expanding your knowledge and thinking outside the box and long may it continue
 
Who Jumped down the ops throat ? ,I guess you need to go back and look at what was written. maybe the OP over reacted a little not hearing what they wanted too.
I merely said in my experience and I stand by it, a nine yo ( by no means a youngster ) and especially a gelding will not be something that is easily fixed or indeed may never be! My concern was for others safety not to start an argument. Maybe the next thread on here will be rider killed trying to sort out unrideable 9yo. As I stated earlier a horse that is a true' bolter ' will always do it when the correct stimulant is there and in my opinion can never be trusted!!!!
Frankly if the OP was as experienced as they say they would not be running down others opinions so readily.
 
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popsdosh said:
I sometime despair at people thinking they can sort out what others cant.Invariably its those who are least capable and knowledgeable! Sorry OP but the fact you have to come on here to ask others how to manage it is testament to why I despair!
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popsdosh said:
I think your deluding yourself !!! LOL The white scars are just as likely to be from a badly fitting rug as a poor fitting saddle and maybe he jumps out of the sand school out of fear. What worries me most you are expecting somebody else to risk their neck!!!! More fool them
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FrankieCob said:
Because the OP wants to ride him and everyone always thinks they can do a better job than the one before them who failed
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popsdosh said:
You onbviously have so much experience to have to ask the question. All the replies so far have been about trying to save yours and anybody elses neck. It is so charming when new posters on here are so sure of themselves and rude.
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popsdosh said:
Personally I think the OP has totally over reacted . As for the percieved nastiness ,I dont see it but each to there own . Perhaps if the op had mentioned their 'huge experience ' I would have just left it alone. However I assumed if they needed to ask this sort of question they would like the honest answer. Why is it riders have this inbuilt feeling they can cure something that others most likely a lot more experienced can not.

am afraid some people are only happy to accept the fluffy bunny answers and not be realist and complain if they dont get the answers they want. That is why a lot of very experienced people are no longer posting on here as its not worth their time and effort. You get left with the muppets!or a flock of sheep.
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You can't see how you were rude? Really?

No one would have had an issue with your 'advice', but your TOV was totally snobbish.

OP, does the horse let you mount bareback? I'd do lots and lots of desensitisation work in the school if I were you, once you've ruled out any actual pain.
 
popsdosh said:
Who Jumped down the ops throat ? ,I guess you need to go back and look at what was written. maybe the OP over reacted a little not hearing what they wanted too.
I merely said in my experience and I stand by it, a nine yo ( by no means a youngster ) and especially a gelding will not be something that is easily fixed or indeed may never be! My concern was for others safety not to start an argument. Maybe the next thread on here will be rider killed trying to sort out unrideable 9yo. As I stated earlier a horse that is a true' bolter ' will always do it when the correct stimulant is there and in my opinion can never be trusted!!!!
Frankly if the OP was as experienced as they say they would not be running down others opinions so readily.
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I think if you re read some of your posts you will see what I mean. I didn't read this as the OP running down opinions but asking for ideas.
 
Crabbypink said:
We've recently taken on a project horse - 9 years old, and cannot be ridden (yet). Had vet check him out - he appears to have no health problems. Some white scarring on withers says he may have had a bad saddle. He is polite and kind on the ground, and learns quickly. We've taught him to lunge and he goes for walks around the village. He's not frightened by much. But ... we can't mount him. He's been lunged with properly fitting tack, and appears to have no problem with that. We put sand-stuffed jods on his back, and he got used to that. But trying to mount him is like trying to mount a runaway train. He bolts! My yard manager leaned over his saddle today, and he bolted, then got his feet all tangled up. I sincerely believe he's had a bad experience, and not been ridden since. But can anyone give me some good advice on how to go about gaining this boy's confidence? He's just so beautiful and capable - it would be such a waste to never ride this lovely horse!
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I think you need to take him right back to square one and just get him used to the mounting block. Sounds to me that he has been injured or frightened and you need some outside professional help. Forget actual leaning over him just get him used to other things, just standing by mounting block feed him there too etc have one person each side holding him soothing him etc. Sounds like you need someone like Chris Haywood or Richard max well two very different aspects

Maybe actual have the mounting block to the side of him and him facing a mirror, like a school mirrors - so he cannot run forward but he can see see you mean no harm
 
Please provide updates I enjoy working with challenging horses - schoolmaster bore me. Im 100% self taught and well my country is a bit more DIY, I love learning new stuff and as soon as you think you know everything is the time you should give up.

My last horse threw everything at me and there were days where I questioned what I was doing with her. She taught me an incredible amount and I recently did a Cowboy challenge which reinforced just how far we had come and achieved. If you always keep your safety at the front of the mind and are good at reading horses you can work out stuff yourself along with input from others, clinics, online readings etc etc.

Best just skim over the unhelpful posts and store away anything that may be handy at some point. :)

Good luck.
 
I bought a five year old that did that very cheaply. I had a stable without an overhang and a ring on the wall. I tied him up to it with a haynet for a while, removed the haynet and got the mounting block. Spent half an hour or so standing on it , waving my arms, feeding him nuts, waving my arms some more, banging him all over with my hands etc etc. i then mounted him thirty or forty times, sliding straight off to start with. Then progressed to mounting the other side. This all took about four or five hours. the next day we repeated the process at the main gate, it took only a minute or so to mount and the problem was solved. He had bolted a round a yard with someone who had their foot jammed in the stirrup which is what seemed to have frightened him. I did this the day after he was delivered to me by a local dealer who refused to sell him to a client, he rang me as this horse also jumped out over six foot hedges etc and we came to a no come backs deal over him. Smashing horse won area dressage, eventing and show jumped to 1.30m but no illusions it could all have gone badly wrong and I would have had to make a nasty decision if he was still dangerous. Oh and I traffic proofed him too, he spun and bolted over a six foot hedge at the dealer's yard, towed him off my Grade A until he shut up. He became safe enough for kids to ride eventually ( well five years later!!) and was an absolute gem to look after, shoe etc.
 
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