I've cured a confirmed runaway. He was an absolute terror to ride. I told him he could run away with me any time he wanted, but he had to do it at a trot. He could trot crazy fast and he loved that out of control feeling.

He was almost unridable because he was strong and people thought that meant he needed more bit. When he came to me he was in a broken mouthpiece with a 7" shank and a curb chain. He was afraid of the bit because it hurt him.

I started schooling him in a snaffle in a controlled area. He softened and the bulging muscle under his neck went away. I started riding him in a halter in small paddocks. I couldn't hurt him and he learned to relax with a rider.

I cured his jigging by turning millions of circles until he would relax on the trail. All these things broke his habit and he stopped running away with people.

What works with spooky bolters is to let them spook without grabbing at the reins and after a few strides just ask for a normal transition or direction change. The spooky bolters will buck you off in a panic to get away from whatever they think will kill them.