| The bolting horse may be the most frightening thing a | | | | You can build on that foundation with several other |
| rider can experience. It's a very dangerous situation | | | | exercises, doing them with the intent of having your |
| when a horse blacks out and runs for his life, he may | | | | horse pay attention to you at all times. One is simple |
| run into traffic, lose his footing at high speed, run over a | | | | leading, walking your horse around and throwing in |
| cliff or run you into a tree. The unfortunate truth is that | | | | stops and leading from different positions (including |
| horses become runaways for natural reasons. They're | | | | driving - to reinforce dominance). Lunging a horse is |
| prey animals and in the wild they escape to survive. | | | | also an excellent training exercise - if done properly. |
| They can't take chances either. While a human might | | | | Do not use lunging to wear down a horse that you |
| want to evaluate a situation before deciding to flee, a | | | | think is "hot". That's ridiculous. Use lunging to teach |
| prey animal can't wait to get attacked by a mountain | | | | communication and get the horse listening to you. He |
| lion to find out if the threat was real or not. In the wild, | | | | needs to listen to your commands while lunging, this |
| the choice to flee or stay is made by the alpha of the | | | | reinforces the foundation established in the round pen |
| herd. The problem with riding, is that this instinct exists | | | | and will carry over to riding. Stopping and slowing |
| but there can be situations when the "herd" is you and | | | | down need to be as much a part of your lunging |
| your horse and something scares him enough for the | | | | training as is trotting and cantering around in circles. |
| escape survival instinct to take over, and in an instant | | | | Spend some time riding in a training mode instead of |
| he's a runaway. | | | | just going out to ride. That is make up some exercises |
| There is one practical technique we can use when the | | | | that require the horse to pay attention. |
| situation occurs, but the best thing to do is minimize the | | | | Two more exercises that have a practical aspect |
| chances of it happening in the first place. Let's talk | | | | other than establishing leadership are dropping the |
| about that first. You can't prevent a horse from bolting, | | | | head and flexing. Dropping the head is important for |
| but you can take steps to minimize the risk. Now that | | | | promoting submission and relaxation. Flexing teaches |
| you understand why horses bolt in the wild and the | | | | the horse the one rein emergency stop. Flexing should |
| role of the alpha horse, it makes sense that a back to | | | | be started on the ground and practiced in the saddle, |
| basics training approach that makes you the clear | | | | every single time you're with your horse. A horse that |
| leader of the herd is essential. We want the rider to | | | | flexes well is far less dangerous because you can |
| assume the role of the alpha in the herd, so that the | | | | crank his head around and usually bring him to a stop. I |
| horse will look for guidance from the rider to determine | | | | know it works because I've used it on the trail. But for |
| whether or not a situation is scary enough to warrant | | | | it to work it has to be automatic, both for you and your |
| escape (of course it rarely is). | | | | horse. That means routine practice. You can also work |
| Train your horse so that he will listen to you and your | | | | on desensitization to make your horse more calm and |
| commands. This begins with a round pen training | | | | confident around uncomfortable stimuli like loud noises. |
| program. Don't just take the horse to the round pen to | | | | All of these exercises and training tips are great but |
| run off steam, do it for communication and to establish | | | | they must be done on a routine basis. Don't "train" your |
| leadership (read my article on horse round pen training | | | | horse once and then stop and expect him to behave |
| for details). Training in the round pen, if done correctly, | | | | well on the trail. Ultimately you can't "prevent" bolting |
| will establish a solid foundation of trust, respect, and | | | | but you can lower the risk and be prepared if it |
| leadership. These are all factors that reduce, but can't | | | | happens. |
| eliminate the risk of bolting. | | | | |