[QHgin]

I dont know if anyone remembers that when i frist got on tavern she bolted. ever scenc then we have been in the round pen. i have never been able to get her trun or go faster than a walk with out her bolting. I tried a lose ring snaffle today and she would trun and change directions perfectly. but it was hard to hold her back and she would not back up. when i asked her back up she bolted foward. she will backup in a curb bit and she is easier to hold back but she wont trun in a curb. am i doing something worng or do i need to try a new bit? my trainer thinks a should just send her to him for 30 days. but he already has baby and i only have enough money to have one horse at the trainers at a time.

[Rhythm 'n Blues]

Sounds like the horse is in pain to me. Have you checked saddle fit, briddle fit, bit fit?? As well as checked her for any soreness in her back, legs, neck, mouth, teeth etc?? Is it possible she has wolf teeth that are bothering her???

These are all things that should be looked at before decided that is it a "behavioural" thing.

[EquineJessie]

How is she loose in the RP?

[BettyBootsy]

Start on the ground with backing. Back her up inclines. Remember vertical flexion. Pressue she gives you release as reward. Laterially tip her nose into your boot she give you release. You can do it from the ground too. Work her shoulder and hip as well as the rib cage. Lots of times if there stiff it will show up in the bit. From the ground work her hip tip her head to ya and push with your finger in the third pressure point towards where your back chinch would be. Get her to cross her feet over a few good steps and walk out. You can do it on her too. This will teach her to use her rear and how to place her feet better and have better balance. Lots of time young horses don't like to back because of balance and unsureness of how to place there feet. Not just because they are being stuborn. Loose ring snaffle is one of my favorites to start colts with. Remember that when you backing in one you have to tweater your hands back and forth. Good luck!

[QHgin]

she does everything i ask her to do in the round pen. i have tried different saddles and bridles. her wolf teeth haven't came in yet. my trainer thinks it behavior. i have done the sweat test.....with the white saddle pad. my trainer thought that it was pain her in mouth so he told me to switch to a snaffle and that worked great but now she wont back up.

[QHgin]

AHHHHHHHHHHHH thats it~~~~>

Originally Posted by BettyBootsy

Remember that when you backing in one you have to tweater your hands back and forth. Good luck!

i was pulling back with straight even pressure. Thanks ill try that tomorrow.

[BettyBootsy]

Cool! Glad to help!

[Dawn]

Are you using the bits correctly? To go correctly in a curb, the horse must be 100% responsive to seat and leg cues. Doesn't sound like that's the case as she will not respond to them in a snaffle. Curbs are for 'neck' reining (which comes primarily from seat and leg) not direct reining.

[QHgin]

i guess thats why she wouldn't turn in a curb. i don't know anything about her past but i was told that she was a well trained trail horse so thats why i figured she would go in a curb. if i can get her to back tomorrow with the snaffle than i guess that i was just using the wrong cues.

[PoochtheMighty]

Rhythm n Blues, Dawn, and Jess posed very good questions to ask yourself.

How old is the horse?

I will have to disagree with the backing and the vertical flexion things. I think that could really mess you up, in the end.

This is why.

When you try to restrain a horse, or you focus too much on the head and position of the head, or you drill backing into them, it can lead to evasive behavior.

Backing her isn't going to teach her not to bolt. It just won't. Backing is not a bad excercise at all, but if you try to do it to punish bad behavior, it won't work, because it can lead to evasive behavior- I.E, rearing.
This is very hard to overcome, and if you have a rearer AND a bucker, it is extremely difficult to correct both issues at once.

If the horse is not physically uncomfortable, then I think it may be that she is unbalanced or nervous. This is not terribly hard to fix- but do not think that a new bit or physical restraint will do the job. A horse is too big to 'hold back'. You just won't be able to do it.

Check your riding. How are you stopping her? Don't rely heavily on the reins- if the horse is nervous or unbalanced, this will only make matters worse because she will brace against your reins, or she'll learn to suck back and avoid bit contact completely. (That is no fun)

Make sure you are not anticipating her bolting. Make sure you are balanced on her back. Make sure you are breathing normally and not sending her nervous signals.

Okay! Now when she bolts, does she just trot faster and faster or break into the next gait? OR does she literally take off galloping?

Whatever it is, start on an easy level. Don't make yourself work too hard. Start at a walk. Let her walk on a loose rein (if she will do it) for about 10-15 minutes at the start of each ride. If she gets too forward on a loose rein, take up the contact to where you are comfortable. This will encourage relaxation and help her get her thoughts together. Relaxation is SO important. Take the time to talk to her and observe her.

Then, begin working on downward transitions to a halt. Contract your stomach muscles, hold your hands still (don't follow her bobbing head), brace your whole body against her movement for ONE second and one second only. At the same time, use your upper thighs and close your leg on her from her knee up. This will stop the movement in her back. Only squeeze for one second, then let go.

It is important that this only lasts for a second. This is called a half halt. It will prepare her to stop.

She will probably hesitate like "what the heck was that?" Reward her and then do it again. And again. And again. Then stop her completely.

Then repeat this until she begins to slow down considerably to the half halt. Praise her ALOT for this. Everytime she stops, you can offer her a sugar cube. Praise works SO well for horses,and punishment does not.

End your ride on a good note, even if all you did is walk for 20 minutes.

As you progress to trot, concentrate on your posting. The slower you post, the slower she has to trot. She CANNOT trot faster than you are posting, it will throw her off balance. So grab onto the saddle and post as slowly as possible if she starts to get fast- catch it early, before she starts to really go.

Use your half halts here to bring her to the walk and PRAISE HER when she does.

Use lots of 20 meter circles (try not to just pull her head around, you want her to be straight in her body on the circle so she doesn't carry her weight on her inside foreleg) and figure eights to help her develop balance and keep her attention.

Do not move onto the next gait until she is fully responsive to the slower one.

Sorry so longwinded.
Good luck and stay safe.