Bolting from the gate.

**Orchid** · 08-14-2007, 10:03 PM

Not good, not good at all.

Miss Bailey has turned into a very large yearling, and has discovered that she can indeed rip the lead rope from my hands and gallop off into the sunset when she takes it into her head to do so. The only time she does take it into her head to do so is when the rest of the herd is nowhere in sight and she is being brought back into the pasture.

Obviously, this is not safe and needs to be stopped immediately. I've never dealt with this before so any and all friendly suggestions and helpful techniques will be appreciated!

Touche · 08-14-2007, 10:09 PM

My SH 3 year old has started this stuff.

He has gotten away from me twice.

I only use a rope halter on him now, since he has caught me off guard.

Work her on her ground manners, she needs to learn how to control her emotions.

Teach her how to move her shoulders and hips over.

**beth55051** · 08-14-2007, 10:14 PM

Yep, Like Touche said. Get a well fitting rope halter and start teaching her how to disengage her hindquarters, move her shoulders over and bend. That way when she does try to take off you can bend her head around, disengage her hindquarters and make her do an about face while she stands there trying to figure out just how that happened.

At least she's only a yearling. I had the displeasure of working with a 16 hand Egyptian gelding who was terrified of doorways and knew just how big and strong he was.

**Orchid** · 08-14-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beth55051

Yep, Like Touche said. Get a well fitting rope halter and start teaching her how to disengage her hindquarters, move her shoulders over and bend. That way when she does try to take off you can bend her head around, disengage her hindquarters and make her do an about face while she stands there trying to figure out just how that happened.

At the risk of being poked fun at (

), can you explain how you would teach her to do those things? Disengaging the hindquarters I can teach her, but I'm not sure how to go about the shoulders and bending.

For those who don't know or haven't read between the lines, this is my first completely untrained horse, so bear with me please.

oveywon · 08-14-2007, 10:42 PM

.....

**Orchid** · 08-14-2007, 10:45 PM

Gloves will definitely be requisite horse-wear from now on.

Ouch.

**beth55051** · 08-14-2007, 10:46 PM

To get her to move the shoulders over we usually start by moving the whole front end. Try putting the lead rope against her neck about halfway between ears and withers and applying gentle pressure just like neckreining. Sometimes to get the idea across at first you might need to actually put pressure in her throatlatch area (there's a pressure point in there) about the same place as you would check her glands on the side. Or at the very worst if she's really defiant smack her on the jowl with the heel of your hand. I highly doubt you would have to get that rough with her. There's a difference between ignorance and defiance.

Usually just the "neckreining" will be enough. Ideally you would want her to step the leg nearest you over the outside leg and move the whole front end around but usually they start by just moving the head until they figure out it's attached to their neck, shoulder, then legs and eventually they figure out that they can pivot right around.

Bending is just the opposite (kind of). Take the lead rope and apply gentle pressure while resting your hand on her withers. Standing at her midsection/barrel. Idealy at first she would bend around you without moving her feet.

I might have a video around here somewheres you could borrow.

**Orchid** · 08-14-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beth55051

To get her to move the shoulders over we usually start by moving the whole front end. Try putting the lead rope against her neck about halfway between ears and withers and applying gentle pressure just like neckreining. Sometimes to get the idea across at first you might need to actually put pressure in her throatlatch area (there's a pressure point in there) about the same place as you would check her glands on the side. Or at the very worst if she's really defiant smack her on the jowl with the heel of your hand. I highly doubt you would have to get that rough with her. There's a difference between ignorance and defiance.

Usually just the "neckreining" will be enough. Ideally you would want her to step the leg nearest you over the outside leg and move the whole front end around but usually they start by just moving the head until they figure out it's attached to their neck, shoulder, then legs and eventually they figure out that they can pivot right around.

Bending is just the opposite (kind of). Take the lead rope and apply gentle pressure while resting your hand on her withers. Standing at her midsection/barrel. Idealy at first she would bend around you without moving her feet.

I might have a video around here somewheres you could borrow.

Oh, that kind of bending. Yep, I can do that.

This should be fun and interesting for both of us! Thanks!

oveywon · 08-14-2007, 10:58 PM

.....

luvemall · 08-14-2007, 10:59 PM

First off I would recommend getting either a Clinton Anderson or Parelli halter, they have stratigically placed knots and trust me the horses notice the difference. CA's is cheaper.
Does she walk ahead of you and pull when leading? How much of her ground manners do you have under control? How long is your lead?
Sorry about all the questions, but I need to figure out where your at before I can help.
I have (had) a very pushy gelding that would rear when I first got him, now....he is a gentlemen and loves to be trained.....He will put his head in the halter if I just hold it in place!

**gbarmranch** · 08-15-2007, 05:14 AM

You can also teach her to yield her hip with a little lunge work if you get a longer lead, which means if she runs, you can use the end of it to work her in a circle instead of letting her go.. (gloves here are an excellent suggestion

)

I have had two year olds that started that, and did also use a stud chain if the rope halter didn't work - we would walk in and out of the gate many many times - quietly - to practise... then maybe tie up for a while. This way they don't ever know if they will be released or not.

I also put a lead over their neck and make them face me when being released.. they are not allowed to move until that neck rope is removed...

Ah, the joy of training a yearling mind...

dreamcleaner · 08-15-2007, 07:08 AM

Do your best to not let go. If she can't get away and she is punished it for she'll stop.

Riley reared up on my (frightened) while I had one hand on gate and only one on lead. He got away. Figured he could to it twice. Nope. He was punished. Made to stop and go, and not allowed to leave me side even without lead attached until I said so. Knock on wood hasn't done it again. I got yanked around a bit. The second time was basically for the same reasons you are mentioning.

Like others just go back to walking around with her. Bring her up to the gate, keep it closed. Walk away again and back. Maybe she won't charge if sees the gate is closed?

Touche · 08-15-2007, 08:08 AM

Oh yes, do not forget the gloves.

**Orchid** · 08-15-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvemall

First off I would recommend getting either a Clinton Anderson or Parelli halter, they have stratigically placed knots and trust me the horses notice the difference. CA's is cheaper. I have a knotted rope halter on order as we speak.

Does she walk ahead of you and pull when leading? She occasionally tries, at which point we do one of two things: Pull her head around toward me until she stops and readjusts her brain (if it's for no particular reason), or do an about-face and head off in the other direction (if it is when we are heading back to the pasture).How much of her ground manners do you have under control? That's kind of a loaded question.

She (normally) leads well, accepts fly spray and the clippers, ties (sometimes patiently, sometimes not) and is good with having her feet handled and trimmed. How long is your lead? 8 feet.
Sorry about all the questions, but I need to figure out where your at before I can help.
I have (had) a very pushy gelding that would rear when I first got him, now....he is a gentlemen and loves to be trained.....He will put his head in the halter if I just hold it in place! Bailey will come right up and stick her head in the halter as well - it's not as though she loathes being led around, but in this particular instance she loses her head and wants to run off to see her friends.

dreamcleaner, I'll do my best not to let go but if it's between letting go and getting dragged through the pasture, over rock and under brush, I'm opting for letting go.

gbarmranch, I always, ALWAYS have my horses turn and face the closed gate before they are released. I'll definitely do the in and out, in and out thing, and hopefully the lesson will stick with her when her buddies are not around.

I really need to get that round pen built...

MustangKatie · 08-15-2007, 08:47 AM

I second the stud chain, espically if the rope halter does not work. they are like heaven (if you put them on the right way)

saved my butt at work a couple times... we have a stud there that is a big chicken i mean HUGE, he normally jumps at one thing or another while leading him to and from his paddock, but one time (of course while the boss was over there) he decided that the tractor was literally going to eat him, and then the tractor driver being unwise to horsie problems started it up

needless to say the stud was determined to get to freedom in the big field... silly thing forgot there was a chain on him

he only got about 5ft... then STOP!

saved my arm from being pulled out of the socket many times also! gotta love stud chains...

NHIceGSD · 08-15-2007, 08:53 AM

I'm kind of afraid of the response that I get from this one... but here I go. I agree that going back to basics is the way to go, but in the meantime... have you ever used a shank on her? Do you think she would respect you more with this? I've rarely ever had to actually use one... it seems that just the added weight on their nose makes them a bit more behaved.

The only problem I see with this is that few things scare me more than a loose horse with a shank over their nose. I saw one get loose... the shank went under their jaw, he stepped on it and fractured his jaw. Not a good scene....

The other thing that I can think of was with an older horse with a similar problem. I substituted a longe line for a lead line... and when he tried to bolt... he got a half hour longe lesson instead! It only took about a week of that before he got it into his head that he was just going to stand there while I took his halter off and slowly meander up the hill!

I realize that these aren't first choice scenario solutions... but whatever you do, I would nip it in the bud now. She may be strong now... but think of how much more difficult this would be as an adult!

**Orchid** · 08-15-2007, 09:05 AM

She's practically the size of an adult now; last time I taped her she weighed close to 700 pounds, and that was three months ago.

I think the lunge line idea is a good one too; I'd hesitate to lunge a young horse for more than 10 minutes or so but that might be enough to get the point across.

**gbarmranch** · 08-15-2007, 09:07 AM

It won't hurt her to do it the way, and for the reason, you are doing it.. but she has to start respecting you better then she does - think teenage mind here..

You know how they work..

I can't believe she is so big already - she is going to be huge as an adult..

**Orchid** · 08-15-2007, 09:11 AM

I wish I could send her to the G Bar M Ranch Boot Camp for Recalcitrant Juvenile Deliquent Equines.

Guess I'll just have to have my own boot camp instead.

**Range** · 08-15-2007, 09:33 AM

You can also do a lot of different exercises while leading her up to the gate to keep her mind focused on you. Serpentines, circles, stopping, backing up. I agree, by the way, if it's a choice between letting go and being drug - let go. I've been drug through the pasture several times and it sure isn't fun!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Dixie's first rollback and gate	ThorArb	Horse Stories	3	12-19-2006 03:44 PM
Bolting PLEASE HELP!!	DixieHorseChick18	Training	10	11-27-2005 08:14 PM
Rearing and Bolting - what can be done?	astablehand	Training	11	10-14-2005 11:35 PM
Bolting	Smosley38	Training	6	09-01-2005 11:56 AM

08-14-2007, 10:03 PM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,077	Bolting from the gate. Not good, not good at all. Miss Bailey has turned into a very large yearling, and has discovered that she can indeed rip the lead rope from my hands and gallop off into the sunset when she takes it into her head to do so. The only time she does take it into her head to do so is when the rest of the herd is nowhere in sight and she is being brought back into the pasture. Obviously, this is not safe and needs to be stopped immediately. I've never dealt with this before so any and all friendly suggestions and helpful techniques will be appreciated! __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

08-14-2007, 10:09 PM
Touche Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,902	My SH 3 year old has started this stuff. He has gotten away from me twice. I only use a rope halter on him now, since he has caught me off guard. Work her on her ground manners, she needs to learn how to control her emotions. Teach her how to move her shoulders and hips over. __________________ Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. W.C.Fields

08-14-2007, 10:14 PM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	Yep, Like Touche said. Get a well fitting rope halter and start teaching her how to disengage her hindquarters, move her shoulders over and bend. That way when she does try to take off you can bend her head around, disengage her hindquarters and make her do an about face while she stands there trying to figure out just how that happened. At least she's only a yearling. I had the displeasure of working with a 16 hand Egyptian gelding who was terrified of doorways and knew just how big and strong he was. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.

08-14-2007, 10:42 PM
oveywon Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,164	..... Last edited by oveywon : 01-02-2008 at 11:53 AM.

08-14-2007, 10:45 PM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,077	Gloves will definitely be requisite horse-wear from now on. Ouch. __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

08-14-2007, 10:46 PM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	To get her to move the shoulders over we usually start by moving the whole front end. Try putting the lead rope against her neck about halfway between ears and withers and applying gentle pressure just like neckreining. Sometimes to get the idea across at first you might need to actually put pressure in her throatlatch area (there's a pressure point in there) about the same place as you would check her glands on the side. Or at the very worst if she's really defiant smack her on the jowl with the heel of your hand. I highly doubt you would have to get that rough with her. There's a difference between ignorance and defiance. Usually just the "neckreining" will be enough. Ideally you would want her to step the leg nearest you over the outside leg and move the whole front end around but usually they start by just moving the head until they figure out it's attached to their neck, shoulder, then legs and eventually they figure out that they can pivot right around. Bending is just the opposite (kind of). Take the lead rope and apply gentle pressure while resting your hand on her withers. Standing at her midsection/barrel. Idealy at first she would bend around you without moving her feet. I might have a video around here somewheres you could borrow. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.

08-14-2007, 10:58 PM
oveywon Started Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,164	..... Last edited by oveywon : 01-02-2008 at 11:53 AM.

08-14-2007, 10:59 PM
luvemall Newborn Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 46	First off I would recommend getting either a Clinton Anderson or Parelli halter, they have stratigically placed knots and trust me the horses notice the difference. CA's is cheaper. Does she walk ahead of you and pull when leading? How much of her ground manners do you have under control? How long is your lead? Sorry about all the questions, but I need to figure out where your at before I can help. I have (had) a very pushy gelding that would rear when I first got him, now....he is a gentlemen and loves to be trained.....He will put his head in the halter if I just hold it in place!

08-15-2007, 05:14 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,575	You can also teach her to yield her hip with a little lunge work if you get a longer lead, which means if she runs, you can use the end of it to work her in a circle instead of letting her go.. (gloves here are an excellent suggestion ) I have had two year olds that started that, and did also use a stud chain if the rope halter didn't work - we would walk in and out of the gate many many times - quietly - to practise... then maybe tie up for a while. This way they don't ever know if they will be released or not. I also put a lead over their neck and make them face me when being released.. they are not allowed to move until that neck rope is removed... Ah, the joy of training a yearling mind... __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

08-15-2007, 07:08 AM
dreamcleaner Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ontario Posts: 2,359	Do your best to not let go. If she can't get away and she is punished it for she'll stop. Riley reared up on my (frightened) while I had one hand on gate and only one on lead. He got away. Figured he could to it twice. Nope. He was punished. Made to stop and go, and not allowed to leave me side even without lead attached until I said so. Knock on wood hasn't done it again. I got yanked around a bit. The second time was basically for the same reasons you are mentioning. Like others just go back to walking around with her. Bring her up to the gate, keep it closed. Walk away again and back. Maybe she won't charge if sees the gate is closed?

08-15-2007, 08:08 AM
Touche Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,902	Oh yes, do not forget the gloves. __________________ Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. W.C.Fields

08-15-2007, 08:47 AM
MustangKatie Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern WI Posts: 429	I second the stud chain, espically if the rope halter does not work. they are like heaven (if you put them on the right way) saved my butt at work a couple times... we have a stud there that is a big chicken i mean HUGE, he normally jumps at one thing or another while leading him to and from his paddock, but one time (of course while the boss was over there) he decided that the tractor was literally going to eat him, and then the tractor driver being unwise to horsie problems started it up needless to say the stud was determined to get to freedom in the big field... silly thing forgot there was a chain on him he only got about 5ft... then STOP! saved my arm from being pulled out of the socket many times also! gotta love stud chains... __________________ - My horse is my hero, because she has saved me from many evils in the world. - "Those who do can't explain, those who don't will never understand" ~from my FFA shirt

08-15-2007, 08:53 AM
NHIceGSD Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 819	I'm kind of afraid of the response that I get from this one... but here I go. I agree that going back to basics is the way to go, but in the meantime... have you ever used a shank on her? Do you think she would respect you more with this? I've rarely ever had to actually use one... it seems that just the added weight on their nose makes them a bit more behaved. The only problem I see with this is that few things scare me more than a loose horse with a shank over their nose. I saw one get loose... the shank went under their jaw, he stepped on it and fractured his jaw. Not a good scene.... The other thing that I can think of was with an older horse with a similar problem. I substituted a longe line for a lead line... and when he tried to bolt... he got a half hour longe lesson instead! It only took about a week of that before he got it into his head that he was just going to stand there while I took his halter off and slowly meander up the hill! I realize that these aren't first choice scenario solutions... but whatever you do, I would nip it in the bud now. She may be strong now... but think of how much more difficult this would be as an adult! __________________ Be Something You Love and Understand~ Lynard Skynard

08-15-2007, 09:05 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,077	She's practically the size of an adult now; last time I taped her she weighed close to 700 pounds, and that was three months ago. I think the lunge line idea is a good one too; I'd hesitate to lunge a young horse for more than 10 minutes or so but that might be enough to get the point across. __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

08-15-2007, 09:07 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 29,575	It won't hurt her to do it the way, and for the reason, you are doing it.. but she has to start respecting you better then she does - think teenage mind here.. You know how they work.. I can't believe she is so big already - she is going to be huge as an adult.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

08-15-2007, 09:11 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,077	I wish I could send her to the G Bar M Ranch Boot Camp for Recalcitrant Juvenile Deliquent Equines. Guess I'll just have to have my own boot camp instead. __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

08-15-2007, 09:33 AM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,897	You can also do a lot of different exercises while leading her up to the gate to keep her mind focused on you. Serpentines, circles, stopping, backing up. I agree, by the way, if it's a choice between letting go and being drug - let go. I've been drug through the pasture several times and it sure isn't fun! __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.