Horse Bolting: Why It Happens And How To Stop It Before It Starts

Bolting has become a much used term in the equine industry.  True bolting refers to the horse running in a completely blind panic.  In most cases, true bolting does not occur and the term is used to describe an unruly horse that is too strong, gets out of control, and runs away.  In either case, the horse is startled, becomes unmanageable, and begins running at a high rate of speed, which can become a quite dangerous scenario.

Reasons Behind Bolting

The number one reason for bolting is simply fright.  Something or someone startles the horse to the extent that the natural fight or flight response is triggered, resulting in the instinct to run and get away from the perceived danger.  In these situations, the horse is often not aware of its surroundings, the rider, or where it is going.  This can be very dangerous and can cause severe injury to the horse, the rider, or both.  A horse may also become frightened when alone in a pasture or corral area.  When this occurs the horse could injure him or herself by running into a gate or fence, or jumping through or over a fence.

In other, less frequent cases, the horse may bolt as a protest, or as a sheer sign of disobedience.  In these situations, the horse wants to rid itself of the rider (often referred to as bucking), or wants to avoid what it considers to be an unpleasant setting.  No matter the reason, the handler can often regain control of the horse by stopping him or her, and turning in a circle since pulling on the reins will not regain control.  This type of bolting is often termed "deliberate bolting" and is more commonly seen in racing horses, when the horse deliberately chooses to ignore the jockey, runs at an extremely high rate of speed, and causes great difficulty in manoeuvring and handling.

What Happens When The Horse Bolts?

When a horse gives in to the natural instinct to bolt, many things happen all at once - both physically and mentally.  The first element is the horse experiences the trigger.  The trigger can be something that frightens the horse, something that causes the horse to become deliberately disobedient, or something that causes the horse pain.

After the trigger is recognised, the horse may initially freeze, but then can rear up and take off at a very high rate of speed.  During this time the horse may be bucking, but most often it will run without direction or taking notice of commands.

The process that goes through the horse's mind is quite simple:  there is something out of the ordinary, something that causes the horse distress, something the horse cannot or will not deal with, and therefore the horse needs to remove itself from the situation.

Training Your Horse Through Bolting

While it can be quite difficult to train a horse to be completely fearless in every situation, you can train your horse to improve overall behaviour, and to become more manageable during bolting incidents.  Sometimes issues such as over feeding, improper training, riding pain, improper riding techniques, or simply over excitement can lead to bolting.  These issues can all be handled and modified easily to prevent injury and future incidents.

To begin, you will need to make sure you are training your horse properly.  He or she needs to be responsive to your commands, therefore you should use plenty of transitions to ensure he or she is listening to you. 

Next, you should improve your own horse handling skills.  If you are fairly new to riding, take some lessons so you can make sure you are riding properly, effectively, and that you possess enough confidence.  A horse can pick up on a lack of confidence, so if you are feeling a bit uncertain ask for help and get plenty of practice.  In the meantime, ask an experienced rider to handle your horse until he or she is behaving better.

Once you have perfected your riding and training methods, take your horse out but avoid repeating the same route on a regular basis.  Switching your riding route will keep your horse from anticipating what is coming next, and will force him or her to utilise different techniques, such as cantering uphill.  This will give you more control over your horse and will keep the horse alert and well exercised.

Always keep the upper hand, and let the horse know you are in control, you are the one with the power.  If for some reason the horse gets away from you, make sure you are in an upright, effective position so you can quickly regain control.  Avoid leaning forward, and bring both reins into one hand, then both reins in both hands.  Place your pinky fingers between the reins so you can give commands on each rein individually if needed.  Issue short tugs, and bring the horse into a large circle to slow him or her down gradually.

If all else fails and you still feel as though you are having a hard time keeping control, try switching to a different type of bit.  Some experts recommend using a three-ring gag bit, however you should always try out new bits in training sessions before taking them out on a ride.

There is no shame in asking for help from a more experienced horseperson.  If you feel as though you just simply are not making good progress, talk to someone.  He or she may have tips or techniques they find work very well and can offer some wonderful advice.  Likewise, if you have found a method that works well and you see someone else struggling, offer your help.  You may just be surprised how much you can learn around the stables.

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