Bolting

Question
I have been riding (taking lessons, competing in both english and western-and mounted games) since the age of four. At the age of seventeen, I have been fortunate enough to aquire a great deal of experience training and working with difficult horses and ponies.
In November 2007, I bought my 12-year old QH/Morgan mare, Katie. I found her online and her owner described her as "testy" if not ridden often,but "fun" and "spunky." I went out on a limb and bought her. The first time I rode her she was flawless (In a snowstorm nonetheless), but the second time, after about 15 minutes, she bolted violently  without warning or reasoning that I could see. This continued and I decided to shift my focus to ground work and building up trust. However, on the ground she is affectionate, trusting, and docile. I have concluded that she will bolt if I am holding a crop or I move my arms. I'm beginning to think it's a possibility she may have been abused or simply scared and misunderstood by a rider before(she is extremely sensitive) What do you think? What can I do to help her and build trust?
Thanks  a million
Deanna Cote
Haileybury, Ontario

Answer
Hi Deanna, I would try and do more time just sitting on her, not asking anything.  If she is over sensitive with the crop, I would get rid of it and not use, it is a cheat anyway, the horse should be responding to you legs and body, not a crop, but if you feel you must carry it, I would do lots of sacking out with it on the ground.  Hold it while you groom her, rub her with it, let her nuzzle it, chew on it, get used to being in your hand without hitting her or using it on her.

As for bolting, it sounds she like she was abused and is over sensitive, so you have to be softer, ask everything much calmer and tone your body down, relax more, be soft, be calm and if she gets excited, try and do something simple and easy to get her back to trusting you and not fearing you.

It will take lots of time, so the slower and softer you are, the faster it will happen, but if you are running her, racing her, or doing fast work on her, it will take longer to learn, it is ok to be slow and calm.

Hope this helps,

Rick