- Bolting (horse)
Bolting when referring to
equidae , refers to two different equine behaviors.Runaways
Most often, bolting refers to a "runaway" - horses that gallop off with a handler at high speed, whether being ridden under
saddle or driving in harness. There are many causes, most linked to fright that triggers thefight or flight instinct of the horse. In these circumstances, the animal is often running in apanic and may not notice where it is going, creating a dangerous situation for both horse and rider.Less often, bolting is a deliberate disobedience by a horse that wishes to rid itself of a handler or avoid an unpleasant situation. In both cases, bolting horses are usually stopped by being turned in some type of circle, as directly pulling on the
rein s has little impact.Deliberate bolting is also sometimes seen in
horse racing when the horse chooses to ignore itsjockey and run as it wishes, often in a manner that makes it difficult for the rider to maneuver the horse or rate its speed. Bolting race horses often head toward the outer rail of the track and even lose racing speed in an attempt to evade the rider's commands.Horses may also bolt if greatly frightened when loose in a pen or
pasture . In a confined area, this may result in an animal running into or jumping a fence.The phrase "take the bit in his/her teeth" is a
colloquial reference to bolting. However, in reality, a bolting horse cannot really take the bit in its teeth, as the bit rests on the gums in an interdental space where there are no teeth. What a horse actually does is to tighten its jaw in a manner that allows it to ignore bit pressure.Feeding habits
The term "bolting" may also refer to a horse that eats its feed too quickly, particularly
grain or other concentrated feed. This is undesirable as it can, in some cases, lead to choking or colic.Methods to prevent bolting feed involve adding objects such as
hay cubes, chopped straw ("chaff") or medium-sized rocks to a feed container to slow down the horse's eating.ee also
*
Stable vices
*Riding aids
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