How to ride a BOLTING horse!

[@Sully5660]

Thank you so much for this. My rather thick Friesian did this last night on a paved road deep ditch on each side. I knew the one rein stop was not an option but gave it a try. He spooked from a donkey coming at him from it’s pasture. Deep breaths, a bit of WHOA YOU S.O.B, and here comes a busy intersection. I kept picking up on his left rein and trying to slow him down. He did slow when he thought HE was safe, his neck is like iron. When he stopped, just before the intersection, I hopped off adjusted his chin strap (I use an Imus gaited bit with shanks) and got rid of the scissor snaps on the reins. Walked him to the donkey, after he settled, I mounted and worked back and forth by the beast. ERROR, I have NOT practiced cantering and stopping, my horse has a horrible canter, thank you for bringing this up. We will work on canter and woah in the arena.

[@dalenascholl6268]

I have had my mare try to do this. I’ve managed to catch her pretty quickly so far but this was really helpful. Thank you

[@age5520]

I “practiced” an emergency dismount out on the trail... was successful until my heal caught a root propelling me backwards. I fractured my sacrum. Horse went home alone. Now I practice all at home in sandy areas only. My goal is to not come off and love this video on riding thru the bolt. As my new to me gelding during the purchase process the owner ask if I know how to one rein stop ~ clue #1 ha! So I’m definitely practicing with this new guy at home now too.

[@rosemarythompson1540]

Thank you Ivy. I had a situation with a friend where both horses bolted for no obvious reason. It was on a winding narrow path with trees on both sides. I knew the horses would not be taking our knees into account so I settled on doing my very best to not interfere with the horse's balance. The stop was just as sudden and I came off but at least I hadn't lost my kneecaps during the bolt. Funny how we can remain calm and logical during a scary situation.

[@horsehangout]

My theory is that the horse heard your little pep talk about letting him be free to explore, and he said okay giddy up😂 nice video just found your channel and so helpful thank you

[@pjstar2009]

Omg, I've been on a horse like that and I was not calm like you and certainly would not have been able to talk and record! You re amazing! I like both sides, ride it out bec u likely the horse will choose that option with their tendency to conserve energy and I like turns bec thats the beginning of a stop. I like you saying to be ready for both, split second decisions

[@kathywilliams5732]

Thanks for this Ivy. I have a sensitive mare. So I’m always wanting to learn.

[@christineperry7973]

Me too she is also a rescue mare with much baggage 😔

[@jordanwhite1420]

Thanks for your honesty in showing that bad surprises can happen even to very skilled riders. I frankly cringe every time someone tells me they've had 3-6 lessons, and now know how to ride.

[@seneynah]

My horse spook bolts all the time but the minute he does he gets the e brake spin before he can even take off, I feel the surge and nose to knee like auto pilot. I saw your opportunity but you weren’t quick enough and off he went. Maybe because he’s not a reactive horse and you didn’t expect him to take off. It’s just muscle memory reflex for me and my spaz rocket. Even quiet horses have their moments. Since mine is so flamboyant it’s just automatic to disengage him the minute he lunges forward when I did not ask. I’ve never had a runaway with him. Other horses yes, my first horse and friends horses were not trained to one rein stop when asked and I’ve been on a couple runaways this way.

[@Sosha666]

So I got it right then. Every big spook I've been on board for has been a "can't stop now, must slow down first" and steer out of trouble with a constant Verbal sweet talk. With no idea whether the horse knows a one rein stop. Regardless, the terrain was all unsuitable for it anyway. Personal favourite was straight down the side of a hill. Lovely but green horse, naturally really sure footed. Bit of sheep fleace in a fence as we turned a corner. Leapt sideways off the track and went straight down the side of the hill. Just figured stay as balanced as possible, sweet talk her and slow when it levels out a bit. Luck really, no holes. Then find a way back up.

[@PsychicIsaacs]

Back in 2021, I had a serious accident on my horse, broke or fractured 13 bones, punctured my lung and dislocated my hip. I recovered, but didn't ride her for about 2 years. In March of 2023, I began doing groundwork with her again, then progressed to backing her. In May of that year, a friend who was a very experienced racehorse guy began to help me with her. He knew our history, I wanted to ride but was terrified, and he wanted to see this beautiful horse back in work! So he taught me how to ride racehorse style (how they train young, hot racehorses). He taught me to initially keep her on a very short rein, but to maintain light contact on her mouth. However, if she began to act up, I would be able to get her under control instantly! He made me knot the reins at this short rein length, and we rode like this for weeks, three days a week! We initially walked, then trotted at least a mile at a time on a short circuit with tight turns at each end. This kept her thinking and focusing on her work and stopped her from acting up. It also helped to regulate her gait. After this one-mile trot, I'd bring her back to a walk and warm down. Later, we made a cross-country track and I rode her on a mid-length rein, still knotted. After a while, he said I was good to ride on my own, having seen me control spooks from the saddle and even a bolt! This was using the method he taught me (if the horse acts up, bring it back to a very short rein and bring her head right in with high pressure, releasing when she softens). These days, we typically ride once or twice a week, four and a half miles, a mile walk, one mile trot, about 150m or 200m gallop, then back to a trot for another mile, then walking a mile, then a half mile trail ride through bush on my land. This particular horse has never had a canter, she only knows how to walk, trot and gallop, but before my accident, we used to gallop together and that was okay. It has taken courage to gallop her again, but she is such a different horse now, so much more training and having one on one lessons with a Thoroughbred Racehorse Guy with 50 years' experience really helped. When I first began galloping again, I made myself do it, but I knew I was nervous and tense. These days I am a lot more relaxed, I feel light in the saddle, well balanced and in control, no matter how fast she goes or what she does. Also, she knows how to stop from a gallop on light aids and knows that if she doesn't listen, the reins are going short and she's going to be brought in hard! I've heard a lot of people be really critical of anyone who ever rides their horse with hard pressure on the bit, ever, but there is a time and a place for it. Like I said, when everything is normal, I'm really soft with her, but the instant she begins to act up, on goes the pressure, and it stays there until she softens again. Then the instant she softens, so do I! Remember, this horse almost killed me, once upon a time! However, now she's a different creature, and so am I. We're best friends, but I am the lead mare in the herd, in and out of the saddle, and that's how it has to be. God Bless, and thank you for your videos!

[@PsychicIsaacs]

BTW, my horse is half American Curly, 1/4 Thoroughbred and 1/4 Australian Waler. The Thoroughbred in her gives her the "Go Button" and the hot-headedness and from the videos I've seen of Walers, lots of them only seem to know how to walk, trot and gallop. To be fair, they do have four gaits, Walk, Trot, Gallop and FLAT-OUT GALLOP!!! My mare has never flat-out galloped with me because we don't have the space for that, but it would be in teresting to see what she would do if I asked for that, wouldn't it? And BTW, this is a film clip, showing several dozen Walers doing their stuff! Walers are Australia's national War Horse and mostly they only have three gaits, walk, trot and gallop, as you can see in this clip... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHbZamxvgJp_qJI There are some horses cantering in the background, but mostly, yep, they go from walk, to trot, to gallop.

[@0fficial_4sh]

Thank you so much for this. I’m working with an ottb with a bolting problem. And when he goes.. he goes full speed. He raced until 7 years old then wasn’t ridden for 10. He acts 4 and has the energy of a 4 year old. He’s a lot to handle but if I know how to ride, and stop, his bolts then it becomes a lot safer.

[@zamzar2]

yes my icelandic spooked and bolted on long grass/weed with hidden rocks underneath -i let loose the reins , held her mane tightly and was prepared to jump off.. she stopped

[@Saria_89]

A friend and I leased two horses years ago, the older girls who owned them were becoming uninterested so we would ride them on the weekend. We always went from the agistment property through some bushland and then a big oval to get to where we wanted to go and EVERYTIME we got to the start of the oval she would bolt, like I mean full blown galloping bolt and nothing I did would stop her. She would finally come to a stop once she got to the end of the oval almost 1km away. I learned some skills in my time riding her that's for sure, like how to hold on very well lol, but one day I was riding bareback as she had girth galls, and I stupidly took her through the same trail without even really thinking. I held on well for quite a while but then she suddenly changed direction and I started slipping to the side... I ended up grabbing hold of her neck somehow and hanging from her neck like a necklace while lifting my legs in the air for about 10 seconds, until my arms gave out and I went right underneath her. I was VERY lucky that day, amazingly it seems none of her hooves actually trampled me, I only came away with many small and a big bruise on my upper arm and was a bit sore from hitting the ground but I was very lucky to have not been badly injured. Had I known what I do now I would have worked with her on it but I was an unexperienced 14yo kid, a tad naive and I guess I just learned to go with it, as silly as that may sound. I believe she just loved to run and when she saw such a big open oval without any obstacles she just got very excited and unleashed the beast 😅 She was a great horse other than the bolting. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us ❤

[@ladylamb1328]

Thank you for the video Ivy. I’d love it if you could look into what I think is a “pulley rein” stop used on the racetrack for a runaway horse. Of course, with your whits about you, you lean forward and take the right rein only and yank it straight up into the air. The article says it usually takes no more than two times and the horse will stop. This was a small paragraph in an EQUIS magazine years ago. Thanks!

[@jv-ib5rc]

I was riding my horse, Cooper on trails last Sunday. I was supposed to be with a friend, but her horse wouldn't cooperate (after sitting in a field for month and month, duh!), so she was riding in the arena. When we came out of the woods and I headed towards a pond, Cooper, my horse had a different idea. He wanted to be by his friend, who was in the arena. I pointed him away from the arena and next thing I know he bolted. I leaned back and pulled on the reins asking him to stop. His head was all the way down, I thought he was going to start bucking, but he just kept running towards the arena. I didn't try a one rein stop because I was in a grassy area and downhill, I pictured us rolling down hill, not a pretty sight. So, finally he stopped, I turned him around calmly and walked away from his friend. Now, I am thinking, I should have taken him into the arena and ridden a few circles around his friend, make him work a little harder than we had been working up until then. We were just taking a nice leisurely walk through the woods. Well, as leisurely as it goes with gaited horses. LOL Any suggestions?

[@juliehumphreys173]

Maybe someone has already asked but I was taught you have to do a one rein stop in the first couple of strides or you won’t be able to stop the horse anyway. Also at a fast gallop won’t you risk the horse falling no matter what the footing?

[@seneynah]

This is true, you have to shut it down before the get speed. Most of my runaways I asked the horse to canter and they refused to slow or stop, that is a bit harder. You have to train them to give before you get to speed work. As a teen I lacked the patience so I just ran my horse until she was tired and wanted to stop. Bad horsemanship lol but it was fun.

[@horsegirlforlife5263]

This helped me so much!Thank you

[@happypatriot]

I think he slightly tripped, front hooves, it surprised him, his go to is to "go". It's what it sounded like to me just before he did his little "spook". I 've been on that ride many times. My horse is not well trained nor am I so it's been essential I can stay in the saddle. Glad you emphasized having a good seat. Thank you. Love your videos and advise. Enjoyed seeing you at a horse shoe in Lake St. Louis years ago.

[@jessicahouseman7313]

My horse spooked when we suddenly came across a huge hunting blind unexpectedly. He took off on a very narrow trail and I just rode it out until we got to a very big hill about a quarter mile away that I knew would slow him down.

[@allisonashmore8117]

I JUST bought a show quality 2 year old colt. Know I have at least a year of ground work. I'm totally new to gaited horses. My history is western/hunter/jumpers with various breeds. 35 years experience. Very willing to take advice from others. My colt is a Tennessee Walker. I'm somewhat dismayed watching your vids. Learning that I have to teach GO BOY FOALS OF COLOR these gaits. I'm a stick to it gal and and really into the gaited horses. I'm in Argyle, TX.

[@IvyS]

I'm not far from Argyle, Texas. Let me know if you want me to come give you lessons when you are ready. Good ground work will help. Train him to be soft and relaxed.

[@shifrah3951]

Very true I had a horse bolt and I turned his head too fast and we went down

[@Fireschild0506]

Lots of horses also freak out when they meet Minis for the first time. Maybe they think Minis and Icies were once full sized and were shrunk as punishment? Lol. Thankfully, my boy loves pretty much everyone he meets, regardless of species or size.

[@charmainemckinney4064]

Close your eyes, hold on, forward and onward, screaming in terror. !!

[@heathercollins4432]

There was a "tell" - the horse was nervously snatching at the grass, as opposed to quietly taking a bite and then chewing....that would have been a dead give-away that something was coming...

[@MikaKotikoski]

Would you consider your pulling a "Pulley Rein"?

[@IvyS]

I'm not sure what that is?

[@MikaKotikoski]

@@IvyS Quote: "If your horse is running away with you, a pulley rein-where you brace one hand in his crest and pull back strongly with the other-is THE emergency stopping aid to stop a horse from bolting. But if you reserve the pulley rein for emergencies, you’re missing out on one of the most effective riding tools for slowing (also known as “rating”) or turning on course. It’s not necessarily a rein aid you’re going to use very often, but when your horse gets too strong and fast in jumpers, a well-timed pulley rein is far more effective and less “combative” than hanging or seesawing. In fact, a pulley rein, done subtly, can even be a handy aid in hunters. I’ve certainly used it on a too-fresh hunter when I’ve come off a line and thought, “Wow! I have to slow down,” but I don’t want to lean back or pull left and right, which doesn’t work anyway."

[@Debra-w5i]

I think he bolted because he wanted to keep eating and you stopped him? Thanks for this video.

[@IvyS]

I had been riding him like this for weeks, letting him eat when he did well and then walking on. There were no issues any of the other rides.

[@micheledimichael5515]

Would the macgregor releasing bit work for training a non gaited horse the same as a gaited horse?

[@IvyS]

It very much would!

[@Meowskiii]

what about tge dog? did he forget the dog was there? ahe bolted after turning & seeing the dog Who trued to keep up. 😆 I love dogs!

[@lizsteeds6697]

Coming from New Zealand where English riding is prevalent I am from a dressage background and I find it really bizarre that cantering is a gait rarely, if ever, ridden and schooled in. The world of gaiting is so foreign to my idea of training for rhythm and impulsion, flexibility and gait purity in all gaits that is the focus of dressage. However I love that you understand about engagement from the hindquarters, needing rounded soft backs to allow muscle play and to get elevation through the forehand with neck long and low to maintain soft contact. Your methods are similar but your end goals are just so different. Any gaiting just looks wrong ! The disgusting American show practises such as TWH Big Lick classes where the riders sit so far back they are almost on the horses loins, the curb shanks are so long and used to haul and overbend the head and neck and the shocking way the horses are shod to create such artificial movement has, unfortunately, coloured my judgement. Your videos have demonstrated for me the subtle variations of gaits that you train for so thank you. Still find it all a bit clunky looking but I understand why the gaits were developed for the riders comfort ... but I do think maybe not for the overall optimal gymnastic development of the horse and what is best perhaps. Your disclosure that no-one rides/trains at canter blew me away. How much enjoyment is the horse missing being able to just stretch and go while ridden?

[@jordanwhite5470]

Having done both English (Saddleseat & Hunter) and Western riding, am here to say that Canter is a lot easier to manage in a controlled area; i.e., the arena. Many Western riders ride exclusively on trails, with little need to canter. Also, my experience with Gaited horses has been that they can have beautiful walking and gaiting moves, but horrible canters. In addition, many (mine) gait swiftly enough to keep up with a non-gaited canter, so no reason/need to do it.