Comments on: Surviving the Dreaded Spook-and-Bolt http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/ Documenting the experiences and commentary of a fledgling reiner in her quest to train a performance horse Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:42:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: MJ http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-448 MJ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:17:43 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-448 I tooootally knew what you meant Amanda. He's still being a butt. I'm going to switch the bit out for awhile and put him back in that old Billy Allen I was using before until he remembers his manners. Jeez. I feel like I need to ride him 5 days a week instead of 3. He's so ornery lately! I wonder if his saddle is uncomfortable... I tooootally knew what you meant Amanda.

He’s still being a butt. I’m going to switch the bit out for awhile and put him back in that old Billy Allen I was using before until he remembers his manners. Jeez. I feel like I need to ride him 5 days a week instead of 3. He’s so ornery lately! I wonder if his saddle is uncomfortable…

]]> By: Amanda http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-446 Amanda Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:30:56 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-446 I kinda worded that wrong. I guess I get to the rein immediately. I don't pull their head all the way around if they are in a flat out gallop, or fast canter, I pull some, then spiral them down to a stop. I kinda worded that wrong. I guess I get to the rein immediately. I don’t pull their head all the way around if they are in a flat out gallop, or fast canter, I pull some, then spiral them down to a stop.

]]> By: Al http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-440 Al Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:54:36 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-440 I didn't mean to say the one rein stop is bad. I use it also. Most colts I get on the first time I "cheek" em....grab the bridle and get the head around while getting up. And always keep one rein short the first few rides in case they decide to show their athletic abilities all at once. I just think it shouldn't be taught to make it sound simple. Horse actually has to have some training to even know what a one rein stop is. And just pulling the rein in panic sometimes makes things worse. You don't really want to jerk their head around but give them enough cue to get them to bring it around. They gotta have an idea what's happening too. Best thing though, if it is safe and you can do it, is ride it out until THEY want to stop. Tired horses are easy to train. I didn’t mean to say the one rein stop is bad. I use it also. Most colts I get on the first time I “cheek” em….grab the bridle and get the head around while getting up. And always keep one rein short the first few rides in case they decide to show their athletic abilities all at once.

I just think it shouldn’t be taught to make it sound simple. Horse actually has to have some training to even know what a one rein stop is. And just pulling the rein in panic sometimes makes things worse. You don’t really want to jerk their head around but give them enough cue to get them to bring it around. They gotta have an idea what’s happening too.

Best thing though, if it is safe and you can do it, is ride it out until THEY want to stop. Tired horses are easy to train.

]]> By: MJ http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-439 MJ Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:23:17 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-439 I'm a big believer in the one rein stop for most situations, or just using it to take their head away from them so they can't buck or take off. But I can only use it when I can see it coming. The whole spooking in the arena thing really got me wondering what the heck are you supposed to do. It's true, you can totally flip a horse if it's going that fast and you jerk it's head over (isn't that how they do it when someone get shot in those western movies?), so you really need that wide open space to one rein spiral them down to a stop. Maybe Al has it right. You just hang on and scream until they stop. I've never hated Leo. I've loved his angry, willful ways from the beginning. He keeps me honest and on my toes. I hope we both blossom into a great team someday. I guess this is all part of working it out. I feel pretty good about the outcome. We both got through it unharmed. I think it may have even been a confidence booster for both of us. Thanks for all the comments you guys! I'm obviously not the only one who's survived the dreaded spook-n-bolt. I’m a big believer in the one rein stop for most situations, or just using it to take their head away from them so they can’t buck or take off. But I can only use it when I can see it coming. The whole spooking in the arena thing really got me wondering what the heck are you supposed to do. It’s true, you can totally flip a horse if it’s going that fast and you jerk it’s head over (isn’t that how they do it when someone get shot in those western movies?), so you really need that wide open space to one rein spiral them down to a stop.

Maybe Al has it right. You just hang on and scream until they stop.

I’ve never hated Leo. I’ve loved his angry, willful ways from the beginning. He keeps me honest and on my toes. I hope we both blossom into a great team someday. I guess this is all part of working it out. I feel pretty good about the outcome. We both got through it unharmed. I think it may have even been a confidence booster for both of us.

Thanks for all the comments you guys! I’m obviously not the only one who’s survived the dreaded spook-n-bolt.

]]> By: mtn mollie http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-438 mtn mollie Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:26:08 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-438 MJ glad you lived to tell about it. OMG. I've been there and done that. These days I like to stop wrecks before they happen if possible. One rein stop can cause a fall like Al says. One rein stop lovers say practice it lots before you need it to prevent falls. At our Pat Wyse clinic we learned to ride a large circle to smaller circle for a stop in a snaffle bit. That might work if ther is not a lot of junk in the arena. Happy Trails. One day Leo will blossom. I hated crazy Boone untill I fell in love with him after lots of good training. It took about 3 mounths to put about 2 weeks of education in that hard minded, stubborn, willfull, flighty colt. The tough ones teach us the most. MJ glad you lived to tell about it. OMG. I’ve been there and done that. These days I like to stop wrecks before they happen if possible. One rein stop can cause a fall like Al says. One rein stop lovers say practice it lots before you need it to prevent falls. At our Pat Wyse clinic we learned to ride a large circle to smaller circle for a stop in a snaffle bit. That might work if ther is not a lot of junk in the arena.

Happy Trails. One day Leo will blossom. I hated crazy Boone untill I fell in love with him after lots of good training. It took about 3 mounths to put about 2 weeks of education in that hard minded, stubborn, willfull, flighty colt.

The tough ones teach us the most.

]]> By: Al http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-433 Al Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:49:59 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-433 The difference between a pro and an amateur: an amateur does something til they get it right...a pro does until they can't do it wrong. What you did was solid proof that you're "gettin it". You did things that you couldn't do wrong, no matter the situation. See how easy this is? I'm not a big fan of one rein stops in tense situations. Too easy to tumble a horse. I'd rather clinicians would teach "seesawing" the bit when things start to get too western. My emergency technique: Grab any thing that looks like it isn't moving more violently than your body. Enjoy the thought I was right for not wasting money on health food to make you live longer. Tell horse you love them dearly. Hope the hell nobody is watching. If someone is watching hopefully only one so you can dispute any claims they make. If there are more than one hope none of them know what YouTube is. Scream like a schoolgirl. The difference between a pro and an amateur: an amateur does something til they get it right…a pro does until they can’t do it wrong.

What you did was solid proof that you’re “gettin it”. You did things that you couldn’t do wrong, no matter the situation. See how easy this is?

I’m not a big fan of one rein stops in tense situations. Too easy to tumble a horse. I’d rather clinicians would teach “seesawing” the bit when things start to get too western.

My emergency technique: Grab any thing that looks like it isn’t moving more violently than your body. Enjoy the thought I was right for not wasting money on health food to make you live longer. Tell horse you love them dearly. Hope the hell nobody is watching. If someone is watching hopefully only one so you can dispute any claims they make. If there are more than one hope none of them know what YouTube is. Scream like a schoolgirl.

]]> By: Amanda http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-432 Amanda Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:39:21 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/bolting/109/#comment-432 Oh, man I wish I had a dime for every time the mare I use to have bolted/shyed/freaked out/whatever!, seriously. At first I'd bite it every time, but when you have a horse that does it alot (my mare, not Leo) you actually get good at staying on after a while! My way to stop them is a one-rein stop immediately! Actually the one-rein stop works best with a snaffle because its direct pressure, BUT they have to know how to do it good before you get in the emergency situation, otherwise they'd probably fight you, not knowing what you're asking for. You can use it with a curb, but I think it's a little awkward, for them & us. Oh, man I wish I had a dime for every time the mare I use to have bolted/shyed/freaked out/whatever!, seriously. At first I’d bite it every time, but when you have a horse that does it alot (my mare, not Leo) you actually get good at staying on after a while! My way to stop them is a one-rein stop immediately! Actually the one-rein stop works best with a snaffle because its direct pressure, BUT they have to know how to do it good before you get in the emergency situation, otherwise they’d probably fight you, not knowing what you’re asking for. You can use it with a curb, but I think it’s a little awkward, for them & us.

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