[kayrae]

Hi I have on ongoing issue with my 9 year old Quarter horse gelding named Bud. I rescued Bud as an unbroke 3 year old have worked with him on and off the past few years but not consistantly due to laminitis, back issues with him and just being busy. He lunges, long lines and is under saddle. Can Walk/trot/canter, leg yields, TOF, TOH,etc...currently we are working on collection but my issue is at the canter. He will canter both on the lunge and under saddle but about 1 in 10 times he bolts both on the lunge and under saddle. Back issues are resolved he has had the chiro work him, massages, vet checked, both saddles used fit him and his teeth have been done. I think this is behavioral/tantrum as I did notice issues this year and last when asked to really use his body he would throw his head at the trot but only when asked to collect, he is now almost completly out of this but does it ocassionaly at the beginning of the ride then stops. But the canter bolting is driving me nuts. On the lunge he does it when he is really fresh will pin his ears and just take off sometimes almost falling. He does the same at the canter we can get a really nice canter depart then I'll ask again a little later and the ears pin and he just takes off. He does it in both directions, he does not do it every time I ride or lunge..he is a little unbalanced at the canter still...Any suggestions? I want to ride through the bolt and make him learn he has to keep cantering and work even harder when he does this but he gets so on the forehand I seriously fear he will fall both on the lunge and under saddle...since I've pulled him up in the past I fear he has figured out if he bolts he gets to quit....any suggestions?

[meljean]

You said both saddles used on him fit, was this with you in the saddle? And does the saddle fit you well. It could be that with your weight added, it does hurt him, or is pinching him somewhere. Or that your saddle is moving forward on shoulder blades?

Is he wearing the saddle in the round pen when he goes faster and almost falls down, or do you see this when he is "naked."

It also could be that he feels fairly okay, but the motion of the canter is hurting him, as you say he has past issues with things.

Or is saddle hitting him in areas when cantering that it doesn't at walk/trot?

Can you get pictures of him with saddle on, and some also of you mounted for us to look at. And video if can of him cantering, with and without you if possible.

It could also be, the only way he knows to "canter" is just to run like a demon, and that will be retraining issue.

[Showrider]

I once had a horse who used to do this, and I understand how frustrating the problem is as you don't want to risk injuring both your horse and yourself by riding through it. If you're sure its a behavioral problem, canter on as usual, but when he bolts off force him back to the trot. Get him going nicely at the trot again, then ask for canter and proceed. Horses are smart, he'll get the picture after a few times. This was something my instructor got me to do (one of the many things) to try and stop the habit, and it was the one that worked for my horse and I. Let him know that bolting is not an option. Good luck!

[meljean]

Didn't ask before but you are giving and taking, or seesawing bit, when he bolts, rather than setting hands against him.

There is something you can do, an old horseman's trick taught to me by my dad, and it does work with a few caveats.

You need to make sure this is a attitude issue. Not from pain, and never from fear.

You need to make sure you have the room to do this, not in a paddock. I have done it in field, and in large arena, and it works.

If the answer to both is yes, then when he bolts, ask him to slow down, if he refuses, then urge him on. This will make him think the whole idea is yours, and you want him to work even more. Then he won't want to anymore.

You can also, when he bolts, gradually tighten one rein, remembering to push other hand forwards, keep the tightening hand low to knee level, and make him start circling, not small circles, just circling, and increase pressure, until he slows down.

This also works, as have done it when "run away with" as used to call it.

He also should be giving you some clues, he feels lighter under you just before he takes off, his head rises, ears going back and forth, one at time, when a horse does that, he is thinking, and generally is not thinking about business, whereas mules touch their eartips together. If you feel the lightness, go ahead and circle him, that may get his mind off of taking off.

[MissHopesMom]

My trainer has been having me stop, back the horse up a few steps, pause, then continue on. It's her way of giving discipline and telling the horse that no, what they did wasn't asked for.

[kayrae]

Thank you so much for your replies. Both saddles were checked by vet and they fit cinched/girthed up and with me in them. He bolts both with the saddle on while ridden, saddle on while lunging and while lunging witout a saddle and he had is back checked so I'm fairly certain it is not a pain/saddle fit issue. I'm not concerned about the bolt itself he usually comes right back down to a trot or even halt if I ask within a few strides what I am trying to do is break the habit in the first place, I'd like to ask for a canter and have him pick it up every time without bolting...he doesn't really give a warning I'll ask for canter and imediately it is either a bolt or a few trot strides into the canter, never know what I'm gonna get...So for all of you that brought your horses back down to either a trot or halt and then asked them to canter again did you find that worked the best? I've been bringing him back down to a trot getting a nice trot then back to canter but he still does it...haven't tried the halt and backing so I may try that for a while and see.

[MissHopesMom]

We transition down to the trot when it's something that's been my fault - like throwing her a little off balance so she's picked up the wrong lead going into the canter. We go back down to the trot, and try again.

For something that the horse shouldn't be doing, they get stopped, backed up, then continue on. This seems to work - it's usually accompanied by a growl or a sharp "Quit!". I find that this gives them a clear understanding that what they did wasn't acceptable - and since it only happens when the horse bolts (in your case) there would be no confusion about what exactly is the problem. Transitions up and down are happening all of the time for my horse, so it wouldn't display a clear message to her that what she's done is BAD.

[IIIBarsV]

Is he bolting and bucking? Aside from running through the bit, is he running "stupid", or just running?

If he is not bucking, have you ever let him continue galloping? Or do you immediately try to slam the brakes on?

1) He's got to keep going, preferably at the same gait. If he's just going back to a trot or walk, he's not learning anything.

2) If he's bucking, and you're sure it's not a pain issue, I would be getting his face out of the dirt and pushing him forward. Some horses never "grow up"- especially if he's had intermittent training time and has been allowed to loaf around a lot.

3) He may very well have got your number. Take him to a trainer for a day or so (lesson, etc, where the trainer may choose to get on him), and see what they suggest.

[CaughtMeDreamin]

i would suggest pulling him into a circle when he bolts and have him canter in a circle a couple times then go back on the rail and canter