The Secret to Handling a Spooky or Bolting Horse: Mastering De-escalation

Your Guide to Staying Safe, Calm, and Connected in the Saddle

If you’ve ever found yourself in the saddle with a horse that suddenly spooks or bolts, you know that heart-in-mouth feeling all too well. While it’s a nerve-wracking experience, the secret to handling these moments lies in one powerful approach: de-escalation. Let’s explore how you can turn a tense situation into a learning opportunity for both you and your horse, keeping safety and confidence front and centre.

Understanding Triggers: Reading the Signs Before the Storm

Horses rarely spook or bolt out of nowhere. There’s often a build-up of tension that begins well before the actual reaction. Maybe it’s a plastic bag fluttering on the footpath, an unexpected noise from the stable area, or a sudden movement up ahead. The trick is to recognise the subtle signs:

• Pricked ears and wide eyes

• Braced contact in the bridle or bit

• Tense muscles or shifting weight (including the back dropping away from under the saddle)

• Quickening breath or snorting, or holding their breath

• Shorter or choppier steps

• Loss of focus—your horse starts looking everywhere but at you

The earlier you notice these clues, the easier it is to step in and de-escalate before things get hairy.

The Stress Scoring System: Keeping Tabs on You and Your Horse

One practical tool for managing spooky or bolting horses is the stress scoring system. Here’s how it works:

• Rate both your horse’s and your own stress levels out of 10. Zero means cool as a cucumber; 10 is full-blown panic.

• Add the two scores together. For example, if your horse is at a 9 (eyes rolling, trembling) and you’re at a 7 (white-knuckling the reins), that’s a combined score of 16.

This simple check-in helps you make clear-eyed decisions about whether it’s safe to continue, or whether it’s time to step back and reassess.

When Not to Ride: Safety First

If your combined stress score is over 15, it’s best to pause and avoid riding for now. High stress in both horse and rider creates a perfect storm for accidents and setbacks. Instead, use this moment to:

• Step down and let both of you settle

• Reassess the environment—can you remove or reduce the trigger?

• Focus on groundwork or calm, low-pressure exercises

• Have a friend with that could help?

Remember, there’s no shame in choosing safety. Every professional has hopped off when things felt too risky. It’s all part of good horsemanship.

Training for Regulation: Building Calm Together

De-escalation isn’t just about reacting in the moment—it’s also about training your horse (and yourself) to handle stress better over time. Consistent, calm training sessions teach your horse to trust you and look to you for guidance when things get spooky. Try to:

• Expose your horse to new sights and sounds gradually

• Reward calm behaviour with scratches, soothing words, or a treat

• Practise deep breathing and relaxed posture—horses mirror your mood!

Over time, both you and your horse will become more resilient, able to handle surprises with a steady head.

De-escalation Techniques: Practical Exercises for Spooky Moments

When your horse’s attention is drifting or anxiety is rising, focused tasks can help bring them back into the moment. Here are some tried-and-true exercises:

• Tight Circles: Ask your horse to walk or trot in a small circle. This gives them a job and makes it hard to bolt.

• Figures of Eight: Change direction and keep your horse thinking about where you’ll go next. This encourages focus and relaxation.

• Back Up or Side Pass: Simple movements on the ground or in the saddle can shift their mental gears from flight to following cues.

• Lateral Work: Leg yield, shoulder-in, half-pass, renvers, travers requires the horse to really be in its body to perform these well. You can even combine multiple later movements together to help regulate their nervous system.

• Lots of Transitions: Do lots of transitions one after the other, whether it is up or down a gait, changes between movements (such as those listed in the 'Lateral Work' point above.

• Touch and Sniff: If safe, let your horse investigate the scary object at their own pace, rewarding curiosity over avoidance.

• Neck Flexion (one rein stop): If your horse has had the neck flexion built into them, and they respond to this as a calming methodology, you can use neck flexion to return their nervous system to a more relaxed state.

• Ground Work: It is OK to get off and work with your horse in-hand if you are more comfortable and relaxed doing so.

The aim isn’t to punish or force your horse through fear, but to offer them structure and a sense of control and calmness in their nervous system. You’re helping them re-regulate, not just managing the symptoms.

Additional Tips for Managing Spooky or Bolting Horses

• Stay relaxed—your horse takes cues from your body language and breathing. (I know, easier said than done. Repetitions will help keep you grounded and relaxed in more stressful environments.)

• Keep your voice low and calm; a gentle “good boy/girl” goes a long way.

• Scratch (don't pat) their favorite itchy spot - the wither is awesome as it has been scientifically proven to lower horse's heart rates.

• Work with a trusted mate or trainer if you’re feeling unsure.

• Don’t hesitate to walk or work your horse in-hand before mounting up—groundwork, especially balancing work, builds trust and repetition of relaxed bodies and muscles for the horse.

• Make sure your gear fits comfortably; ill-fitting tack can add to stress.

• Have an exit plan—know when and how to dismount safely if things escalate. [Love a tuck and roll. Seriously practice it so it becomes a natural habit when the need ever arises.]

Conclusion: Prioritise De-escalation and Safety

Every horse—and rider—has their moments of nerves. By focusing on de-escalation, using the stress scoring system, and practising practical calming techniques, you can turn scary situations into building blocks for a stronger partnership. Remember, progress isn’t always linear, and choosing safety is never a sign of weakness. Trust yourself, trust your horse, and keep prioritising calm, connected horsemanship. Here’s to many more enjoyable, drama-free rides!