Stopping a Runaway Horse

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     The first thing most people do when their horse bolts is to frantically try and stop him. They tense up and pull and tug on the reins making themselves more likely to get thrown. The most effective thing you can do when your horse runs away with you is to concentrate on staying on.

Unfortunately many riders panic when their horse bolts and they try various ways to stop the runaway horse. One of these methods is to force the horse into a tight circle, but by doing this you compromise the horse's ability to see where it's going and you risk driving him into an obstacle. Pulling a horse's head to one side when he's bolting will also unbalance the horse which could result in him falling.

Many people try to hold onto the reins with one hand and pull with the other to try and stop the horse by using sheer force. This causes the horse a lot of pain and can result in the horse running even harder in an attempt to escape the intense discomfort you're causing. Holding onto the reins for dear life in this way also causes your body to tense up, causing you to bounce around on your horse's back which makes you susceptible to a fall.

When your horse bolts, you should focus on riding him. If you feel safer holding onto a neck strap or saddle you should do so but make sure you don't hold on too tightly as your body will tense up and you will be thrown around with every movement your horse makes. Keep your horse's head straight so he can see where he's going and try to establish a rhythm with his movement. Try to remain calm and concentrate on staying on the horse. Refrain from leaning forward as this can put you at risk of falling should the horse stumble or change direction suddenly. Establish a rhythm with your horse and breathe deeply.

Begin to squeeze and release the reins with your horse's movement and stride. This technique will gradually bring your horse's attention back to you and he should begin to slow down. Gently lean backwards and continue to squeeze and release the reins until your horse shows signs of slowing down.

Remember that your horse is bolting out of instinct. Horses are prey animals and as such they have a strong fight or flight instinct. When your horse bolts he is in a state of panic and the last thing you should do is to panic as well as your horse will sense your anxiety. The horse isn't intentionally trying to be evil, he is just very scared and it is your job to regain control of the situation as safely and calmly as possible.