Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Bailing off a runaway horse

The important thing with a runaway is not to panic. If he's already panicked,
your panicking will only make the problem worse. Unless there is immediate
danger, e.g. a cliff, big low hanging limbs, etc. that cannot be avoided
then there is really no need to be in hurry. If there is a big open area
with good footing then a circle will work nicely, but don't try it in very
confined quarters or in bad footing or you could cause him to fall and roll
on you. 

A runaway is not going to go that far.  If they are a true runaway they are
not going aerobic and in a mile or two they will start to run out of gas.
You can also use a racing cross and use his body against himself and eventually
he will break stride and slow down. If he will do lead changes, keep doing
them. He will eventually disengage and start to slow down. The best thing
to do on a runaway is unless you absolutely have to bail off is to keep you
eyes focused ahead to watch for potential problems, to look for places to
circle etc.,  get up in the stirrups, relaxed using you legs to absorbe the
motion keeping you weight centered just like you would do riding a galloping
horse - you are riding a galloping horse, keep you brain working and keep
working on the horse to slowly bring him back into control. My experience
with runaways is they will eventually come back to you and if you keep your
wits about you, the likelihood of an injury are much less than if you panic
and bail. But if you have to bail, don't panic, pick the best spot and push
yourself clear of the horse and tuck - legs in, arms in, head tucked and
hope for the best. 

Truman



Jerry & Susan Milam wrote:

A few years back in my infancy as a trail rider, my trusted steed and I were out on Eglin AFB's reservation in FL panhandle (thousands of miles of trails) doing our LSD training. We had gone a good ways and were doing a nice working canter, nice and aerobic. Well, I had my sponge clipped onto my saddle and suddenly began accelerating for no known reason with great intensity. I really started to panic because he wasn't responding to my hand control. Once I looked around a little I saw my sponge flying in the breeze out to my side and realized what had happened. Sabian saw the green sponge bugger trying to catch him floating in our air speed in his peripheral vision. It's amazing how quickly thoughts of what your options are in a case like this come flooding through you mind and I was tempted to bail off his back into a large sand burm, but quickly passed it by realizing I would have a long road to walk home and I would have to find my horse as well. The thought of my getting hurt if I bailed never crossed my mind, because I am pretty good at coming off horses when I least expect it, having done hundreds of spills + the sand I would be landing in would be cushy landing.  Once I grabbed the sponge and secured it to the saddle, he started to come back to my hands and all was well again.

 

That's the closest I've ever been to a runaway situation and it was scary while I was going through scenarios to deal with it.

 

Happy Tails,

 

Susan & Fly Bye - who's tried to runaway in nose controlled tack during races, but was yanked from the fray before disaster could happen. BITS REIGN!