Hi

As you say, there may be no 'apparent' reason, but there is always a reason, horses do not 'just do things' :-) I think the first step is to do an in-depth analysis of how/when/why this happens. First though, I notice he is a new horse; did you buy him privately or from a dealer? Has he had this habit from day 1, if so did they tell you about it? A bolting horse is very dangerous to you and you would be entitled to a refund based on him being missold to you if he already had this issue and they didn't tell you.

However, assuming you want to keep him, have an honest discussion with previous owner and see if you can establish how this started. If it started since your ownership, break down exactly what the trigger points are; some questions to consider are

Does it happen in the same place every time?
Does it happen if you lead him in that area rather than ride him?
Do you 'anticipate' it/know when its going to happen?
Can you think of anything at all in the past that started this?
Where and what specifically sets him off?

Finally, I must strongly recommend that you stop riding him! As I said, bolting horses are dangerous and you should not, in my opinion, be up on him when he is bolting.

Good luck

I would also like to hear about horses with bolting tendencies. As I work at a horse santuary I've got plenty of problems to work with...you'll probably see me posting my novel length questions a lot! ;-) One such problem is a horse called Danny who bolts when being lead to and from the field etc. He is led in a dually and long line and is a big strong boy. The lady working with him has used join up and proceeded with the dually halter, which has worked wonders but he still has the tendency to just go, some days he is great, others not so good. He is around 24 years old and is due to be vet checked next week to make sure his eye sight is all that it should be. There seems to be no obvious triggers. He was also rescued from the back of a meat lorry, previous history unknown other than he doesn't like his offside being touched, needs sedated for the farrier and is head shy. Already miles better in each department but we are stuck at the bolting thing. I feel he doesn't trust his handler enough otherwise he would stay with her wouldn't he? could it just take time? He has only been here for 3 months (arrived with Beauty who is mentioned in another post) and has only really been properly worked with for the last 5 weeks. The thing is I think he scares his handler now and no doubt he'll pick up on that fear (but she wouldn't admit to that!) Any advice I can give her would be welcomed. Bless him, he's a lovely boy really, he's just been let down by us humans.

Thanks so much for your comments.
Yes, I have stopped riding him, especially as we can only hack on country roads (with tractors lurking round corners etc.)

And what a coincidence he, too is called Danny.

We don't know much about his history.

He was owned by an "old" man who used to ride and drive him, but he was too fast for driving and was exchanged by a dealer.
However, Danny might have bolted with him or tried to, but we were never told about it.

Danny was kept in an old coal pit and the area is known for a group of lads who round up horses, fling any kind of bridle on them, jump up and see how long they can stay on, they are said to be rather cruel and would do anything to make a horse go faster.

So, there's definitely a history, but we don't know all the details.

Danny is hard to catch, but he will come up to the gate to be caught by me. (But he's got to see that his compagnion is leaving the field, too)

The lady who runs the yard (where I keep my other horse) bought him last October, he was very nervous and tucked up and didn't want anyone to touch him.

He seemed ok first, being ridden, very unschooled, head up in the air and very nervous and jumpy.

Getting on was quite an issue, you had to be pretty fast to get on and then he would jog out off the yard. (We used a milk crate as a movable mounting block, someone was holding on to Danny and then quick foot in stirrup and up.. not nice)

However, when I put my foot down and said, I want him to learn to just stand next to the mointing block, we used a very reliable pony to just stand next to Danny, so he didn't move his back away from the mounting block and hey presto, after 5 days, he stood still.

I didn't put my foot into the stirrup to get up but just slip gently into the saddle and this works.

Since my last comment, I've had the "backman" out who had a thorough examination of Danny and said, he had a very sore neck, back and end, basically he is sore all over, he might have had an accident and he's probably been ridden by someone who's quite heavy.

So, that mught have been one reason.

Then, we worked out, that Danny hates anything touching his back and sides (but he loves grooming), any tack, that is.

So, we now think that on those occasions, the hem of my jacket probably touched his back and just sent him off.

I was thinking autum, stormy days and leaves.....

So, I am trying to desensitize him, I can touch him with a stick all over but with a plastic bag, no way, he just exploded into the air. I haven't got a Dually, yet, but used his bridle.

He was sort of ok for a bit, but then could take no more, he pulled the lounging line right through my hand (ouch, silly me wasn't wearing any gloves that day), while rearing up and away and trying to run off.

He was easily settled and willing to come back to me, I still had the end of the line in my hand.

But there was no way I could get near him with the plastic bag, so I gave up and went back to touching him all over with the stick, just to end on a good note.

I wonder if a Dually would be "stronger"?

I've had another look at Kadina and the plastic bag, take her at her worst moments and you get a glimpse of Danny, no not sure how to proceed, as I don't want either of us getting hurt.