How to teach a yearling not to bolt on a leadline

Question
I have a 15mo. yearling gelding who has pretty good ground manners and has been handled since birth by the previous owner.  He leads on the lead line but if he gets spooked you cannot hold him back. (hence the rope burns on my hand)  How can I teach him to stop when at the end of the rope?  I've had  horses all my life, (older ones never a yearling) and have never had a problem with their respect to not pull me around.  Any help would be appreciated.  
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Deb!

Teach him how to roll over his hind quarters!  Good horsemanship is never an issue until you have a horse that can't fill in for you.  Then the horse shows you how much of his education is missing!  YIKES!  Your yearling just showed you that he really does not know how to lead, give to pressure or follow a feel.  Here is what to do:

Start by teaching him how to roll over his hind quarters and to yield his hind quarters.  Then when he spooks, you simply lift on you lead and kick the hind quarters out of gear.  If you don't teach him how to follow a feel, you will be in real trouble.  You have already taught him how to get an angle on you and pull away from you...ooops!  I know you didn't mean to, but that is how things have worked out.  

Go back to the beginning and start teaching your gelding all of the basics of good ground work.  How to follow a soft feel, hind quarters and front quarters, hooking on, working with a flag/tarp/slicker, exposing him to a lass rope, getting control of each and every footfall.  When this is done, no matter what happens, you will be a leader he can trust and you will know how to shape up your body and his to stay in control and to offer your horse direction and support.

Go to my website and look at the resource list on the training Q&A page.  Start with the "Ground Work" information by Buck Brannaman.  It is very clear and is just what you and your horse are both needing.  How this horse is on the ground is how he will be under saddle.  When you have had a chance to learn and see how this ground work is done, give me a shout and we can talk more about your specific issues.  

Remember, with good handling and teaching, this could be the best horse of your life!

Smiles, Denise!