Ridecamp: [RC] Speed Freak

Elaine Parker elainep@xxxxxxx
I don't usually post and very seldom would I feel the need to speak out on any subject but this one does urge me to comment.  I do agree that training is the necessary route to the end result of a horse who doesn't run away.  If the question, though, is "what do I do if he does run away?" then my answer has to be STOP HIM.  All the natural horsemanship, gentle hands and good intentions in the world will not keep a person from being killed by a runaway.  Sore subject, as a friend of mine was recently killed from a spook and bolt during a pleasure ride we were on.  If a horse bolts with me I STOP HIM and I don't give a damn about being gentle.  I'll saw his mouth and shake his head to break up the rythmn of his gait until I can break up the run, and as soon as he's going slow enough not to fall I'll pull his head completely to my knee.  NO horse that I've ever met could really run away in that position.  I'm not talking about bending him, I want him kissing my knee.  Then I go back to a fairly loose rein and give him the chance to behave.

My current horse had a reaction of bolting to adverse situations.  I started him so I know he wasn't abused it was just the way he reacted to fear.  The horse who killed my fried was the same way.  Absolutely no meanness or intention to hurt.  He got scared and bolted away from that stimulus.  She came off.  Not 100 yards away he stopped and turned to face the scary thing.  You need to know how to stop one when he runs, no matter why he's running.

Elaine


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