Dd's horse bolted with her. Wwyd?

[Mercison]

Dd has had her horse for almost 4 years. He's a big competition horse but very polite and easy. Can get strong and boisterous occasionally but nothing bad. Dd has started eventing him and he's been great. She hacked him out last night as normal. She cantered along a bridle path and he got stronger and stronger faster and faster. She couldn't stop him and he ran through a line of bollards onto a road (bridleway has been unceremoniously divided by a new road ) , a car had to swerve to avoid them. She eventually managed to turn him into a closed gate and jump off. She rang me and I drove to where she was and led him home. She was completely petrified, had a panic attack. Horse is fine apart from a split mouth which MAY have been the cause (new bit). Also dh bought the wrong chaff with alfalfa in a few weeks ago which we thought he might be sensitive to, but fed it anyway.

She's supposed to be competing this weekend. Dh wants to get rid of horse!

Wwyd?

To clarify, I didn't suggest hacking in a headcollar. I would ride a horse with a sore mouth in the school in a headcollar. Wouldn't contemplate hacking anywhere until the mouth was healed, feed back to basics and behaviour in the school was back to normal.

To be fair on the OP, in her very first post, she suggested that the bit and the damage to his mouth may well have been the cause of the issue.

It sounds like you're doing everything sensibly to me - change the bit, strip back the feed to basics and get your instructor's assistance and input. I'm a big fan of cheltenham gags, and if he's generally responsive in one, you might be able to find a mouthpiece which he is less fussy in for xc/ fast work? Obviously the priority is safety and having brakes, but it's a fine line, if you feel he's over-bitted in it.

It certainly sounds like something really bothered him - whether that's feeling to well, the bit, or something environmental - but hopefully by trying to sort things as you are, you'll make sure it's just a one off.

Did I see turmeric mentioned? I have known it send a rock steady happy hacker absolutely LOOPY! Different horses react differently to different feed-stuffs but I would treat turmeric warily!

It's supposedly a very effective, if mild, anti inflammatory. I wonder if they go dolally, or just feel really good and pain free! My horse is on it and he certainly seems bright.

OP I wouldn't take him for a gallop. IME it can just light them up more. I use to look after police horses. When they got wound up (yes, it does happen) we use to take them out and trot them for an hour. It really works them out, without lighting them up.

I think you need some professional help regarding bits. You have chosen bits that work in the opposite ways. One lowers the head, the other raises it. You need to decide what action you require then look at bits in that group. Have you tried putting a back strap on the universal to give a bit more control?

A quick update for those who are interested!

Immediately took him off all hard feed and supplements except the chaff he'd been on previously.

Hacked out yesterday in a nathe snaffle and was as good as gold! Like a totally different horse and very much back to his old self. It must have been something he was eating.

He also absolutely loves the nathe. Won't be enough for fast work and jumping but perfect for flatwork and plodding round the lanes.

Have no understanding of the complexities of horses but so pleased he's "better"!

The best horse I ever had had been deemed "unsafe" as a showjumper, and was sold off cheaply to the person I bought him from. He was unstoppable out hunting in the gag he came with, but switched to a snaffle and then a Kimblewick with double rains and never had any more issues. I only found out about the "dangerous" moniker when the (very famous at the time) original owner saw me at a meet and was shocked that a "lady" could control such a dangerous beast

It's good you've got him sorted, OP - both bitting and feeding are horribly susceptible to fashion, but what sorts one horse doesn't always agree with another. Hope your DD gets her confidence in him back soon

I'm.so glad he is back to his normal self.

Thank you! So are we because he really is the most lovely horse

Watch his diet in future!

yes definitely. Need to experiment carefully in case he starts to drop weight when competing. I think he's ok on topspec cool conditioning cubes so might try those if we need to

That's great news. I find micronised linseed good for putting on weight without sending them bonkers.