How to Ride a Spook When Your Horse Tries to BOLT

Riding a horse when they spook can be nerve-wracking enough... even when all the do is shudder in place. But when they try to take off and run away from whatever they're afraid of, it can be down-right terrifying to ride!

Fortunately, there are some tools we have available to us when we're in the saddle and this scary situation happens!

Let's talk about it!

STEP ONE

Pay attention to your horse's energy and attitude. Horses rarely bolt when they're relaxed and focused.

Riding through a spooky bolt starts looonnnggg before the spook and bolt even happens.

Things to notice:

• How is he acting in the cross ties as you're tacking him up?

• How settled (or unsettled) is he as you're leading him to the mounting block and swinging into the saddle?

• How does he feel as you begin your ride?

Is he "looky" and reactive? Is he moving around and more "figet-y" than usual?

Once you're in the saddle, if your horse feels nervous or tense, ride big circles and figure 8s to help him bend his body and think about where he'd putting his feet.

STEP TWO

Check in with yourself. Try to communicate relaxed energy to your horse by demonstrating it yourself!

Breathe full, relaxed breaths that fill up your chest. Aim to take big full breaths that fill up your chest down "low" - all the way to the bottom of your chest

Relax your seat and thigh muscles. Let your heels sink down into the arena dirt underneath you.

STEP THREE

If your horse spooks and tries to bolt, turn him on a bending like, like a circle!

Bend his neck and body. Turn him on a circle small enough to regain control. If he doesn't come back quickly, wind the circle in smaller and smaller until he begins to relax and slow down.

When he slows down, release and relax. Pat him, if you can safely, and tell him, "Good boy!"

And BREATHE!

You've got this!

If you need more help with your horse dealing with situations like this, shoot me a message! I'd love to help you and your horse!

Have you ever dealt with a horse that spooked and tried to run away?

Tell me in the comments!