It might seem that a horse that bolts is the same as a runaway, but actually they are not exhibiting the same problem at all.

Bolting is an extreme reaction to some type of incident.  Here are some examples of bolting:

• A horse hears a sound in the bushes and immediately transitions from a walk to a gallop, taking off at a dead run.  This is a type of spooking.
• A horse with a broken tooth bolts forward in response to a signal from the bit that causes sudden pain.
• A green horse is frightened by the rider’s foot slipping in the stirrup while mounting, gouging the horse in the side.  He panics and takes off at a gallop.
• An inexperienced rider keeps a death grip on the reins, making a sensitive horse nervous while on a trail ride.  The horse flips a 180 degree turn and takes off for the security of the barn.

All of these examples are different from a horse that is a runaway.  Bolting can turn into a runaway, but in general bolting is self-limiting based on how long the horse’s discomfort or fear lasts.  Just as rearing and bucking can be the “go to” response for a horse when faced with fear, pain, or confusion, bolting can be a favorite response as well.  And just as bucking or rearing can turn into a habitual behavior, so can bolting.  Like these other problem behaviors, the horse does not bolt because it is pleasant or easy for him.  If the stimulus for bolting is removed, and/or as the horse becomes more secure and accustomed to their training or environment, the behavior will lessen and disappear.

A runaway is different.  Essentially, a runaway is unresponsive to cues to slow down or stop for some reason.  Sometimes a perceived runaway simply does not understand the cues being given by a different rider.  Often, a runaway is too excited or overjoyed by a situation they have been underexposed to.  For example, if you take three fit horses out to a beach and allow them to gallop, it may be that one or all of the horses will become competitive with the others and will not wish to slow down or stop when the rider asks in the usual way.  Sometimes a runaway will not be going at a fast gait.  A horse can keep trotting or walking while not responding to cues, and although in most cases the rider will be safer than if the horse was galloping, the rider is still powerless to stop the horse.

There can be many reasons for a runaway.  Sometimes after spooking, a horse will feel it is best to continue on toward home where the horse feels safe.  It can happen that a horse is always ridden by riders that have a secure seat and use their body to push the horse forward into a balanced stop.   With a weaker rider or one that only pulls on the reins, the horse may perceive that the rider is only asking for a half halt, so will collect some and continue on in the same gait.  A horse might not be used to certain tack such as a new bit, and will push through it rather than stopping.  Sometimes a horse will feel the footing is too unstable and that he must rush through instead of gathering himself to stop.  On slippery ground, dropping to a lower gait can cause a horse to lose his balance.  Horses instinctively know this, and so will avoid collecting or slowing when feeling unsteady.

Sometimes a runaway will keep accelerating speed, but occasionally the horse will maintain a steady gait that is simply faster than the one the rider wants.  There are some horses that keep a “wild card” in their bag of tricks and on occasion take a new rider for a little spin.  I know a horse who has learned to take the bit in his teeth when he wants to gallop on for longer than the rider wishes.  I’ve ridden horses that would slow and stop reliably when cued; except when cantering or galloping alongside another horse that was not slowing or stopping.  In which case the horse would resolutely ignore the cues he normally responded well to and would wait until the other horse showed signs of slowing.   The competition was of vital importance.

If a horse has bolted on more than one occasion, it is extremely important to understand the reason for his reaction and to rectify it.  If there is no obvious cause, then assume there is an undiagnosed pain issue that must be discovered, whether from teeth, tack or musculoskeletal problems.  Otherwise you may end up with a horse with the habit of responding by bolting any time he is overwhelmed or confused.

Runaways need appropriate tack, cueing and riders who can give clear commands that the horse understands.  If an otherwise responsive horse has a runaway episode due to a sudden change in rider or circumstances, just understand that he was “under ridered” (for some reason we say “over horsed,” but true horsemen blame themselves for the issues they cause) or lost his marbles due to over excitement.  Lesson learned for the next time.

The #1 most important thing you should know when faced with a horse that bolts or runs away is that every horse MUST know how to steer.  A horse that steers poorly at the walk will feel like he has a neck made out of rigid steel at the gallop.  However, it is vital to understand that the horse’s ability to bend his neck has nothing to do with his ability to steer.  You will discover this if you are ever on a horse running full tilt while looking you in the eye because someone taught him to “give” his neck but did not teach him the far more important trait of following his head by bending his body and keeping his hindquarters pushing forward through the bend.

Now we come to why steering is more important than stopping:  There will always be a time where a particular horse will not easily be stopped or slowed.  In such a case, your safety depends entirely on whether you can steer the horse to safe footing, or away from the edge of a cliff, or alongside a busy road instead of across it, etc.  Otherwise you are at the mercy of the horse’s judgment, which might be based on a brain that has turned to banana mush with fear.

The #2 most important thing you need to know when faced with a horse that bolts or runs away is how to do a “Pulley Rein” stop.

Notice I did not mention a “One Rein” stop.  A one rein stop is a popular idea, and many trainers say this is effective for stopping a “runaway” horse.  I dislike this training, as it is quite impractical for many situations.  On narrow trails or in areas with poor footing you do not want a horse to disengage the hindquarters off to one side.  If you do, he will most likely slip and fall or wind up in the bushes or off a cliff.  There are also many, many places where you cannot circle a horse to slow him down or stop him, so in all of these cases the pulley stop is much more effective.  It is unlikely you will stop a bolting horse by applying a sharp upward pull as Julie Goodnight demonstrates in the above video link.  Rather, what usually works well is to use the pulley stop with a cue and release method that is repeated a few times with your weight in the stirrups and your core assisting.  Obviously, it is best to teach the horse how to half halt, gather himself and slow in more controlled circumstances so he will understand what this cue means when it is applied in an emergency situation.