Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Speed Freak

I find this post very interesting, as I rode a runaway a number of years
ago.  This horse had a way of imagining a horse-eater coming up behind him
and he would tuck his tail between his legs, bolt and flat-out run.  He did
several little ones and I didn't pay as much attention as I should have.
One day, he did this on a wide road on the ridges above our ranch and ran
for 1/2 mile.  I tried to haul him into the bank of the road, as one would
do if a car lost its brakes.  Didn't work.  The road had a high bank on one
side and a drop-off into the canyon on the other.  I knew if he reached a
certain gate, which was hung from a heavy pipe post, I was going to lose my
leg.  We have a nice little trail between the post and a tree, with a
drop-off beyond the tree.  I was scared, but still thinking.  We came to a
large open area on a flat...no banks or drop-offs.....just FEET before the
gate.  I knew I had to stop him there or he would run around that post and
tear my leg right out of the socket.  I had him in a Tom Thumb bit, I
grabbed the rein and hauled him around with all my strength and headed him
for a large Manzainita bush.  He didn't want to crash into that, so he
continued to bend in the direction of my pull, and I got him stopped.  AFTER
it was all over, then I got scared.  He and I never made a team, because we
were both tense.  My husband started riding him and they got along fine ever
after.  However, he would try to bolt a little every once in awhile, but my
husband would catch him up before he got away.

Barbara McCrary



----- Original Message -----
From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 5:37 AM
Subject: [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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