I wouldn’t be surprised if it was physical or neuro based. The suddenness of it especially after he initially stopped after the spook was just beyond odd. It was like being on a TB shooting out of the ingate level of bolt. He would have barreled through the jump standard initially if it wasn’t for me hauling on my inside rein.
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They are advertising as an import warmblood sport horse that “sails” over jumps but is currently being ridden western. And my sailing over jumps, she means her daughter was doing ground work with him months ago and he popped over a 1ft crossrail in hand.
EDM wouldn’t surprise me a bit based his timeline and your description of the behavior. Lots of other things to rule out first and it doesn’t sound like the owner is going to do that, plus she would rather risk someone getting really injured so she can make a few thousand dollars rather than euth. What a lousy situation and sad for the horse too.
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Would the sight of the jump you had set have brought back baaaad memories? Some people do things to them to get a bigger jump out of them. Baaad things. Anything and everything to get him sold along and, in his case, from multiple dealers.
Just a thought. He might be brain fried. Seen several former big stick jumpers like that, it usually never goes completely away, They will be OK for a bit then get around some jumps and the wheels come off.
Just went back and looked at the video of him (supposedly) jumping. He does look like he builds tension and step as he goes. Under an exceptional rider who can make anything look good for 2 minutes.
Nothing you can really do BUT I sure would not recommend anybody deal with that lying sack of a seller. 
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Holy crap, that’s terrifying! I’m glad that you came away from all of that with “just” those injuries.
There likely isn’t something right with the horse, whether that’s trauma, pain, neuro, and/or just not wired right. I do feel bad for the horse, and this may sound extreme, but it’d probably be best for everyone if he were euthanized. It’d keep people safe, and spare him from whatever issues he has. Unless someone got to the bottom of his issues and was able to offer him a home that accommodates that (pasture pet, for example, but depends on his actual issues).
I really hope that no one else has the same experience (or worse) that you did. If the seller still tries to sell him as perfectly rideable and jumpable, that’s despicable.
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I believe I saw this horse reposted this morning as “having all the buttons English and western.”
At least the misspelling on the ad makes it appear to be a scam, so she isn’t getting many bites on the ad.
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I definitely thought of the brain fried compoent because he seemed uncomfortable at the sight of the jumps in the ring under saddle. I walked him over some poles on the ground when I was hand walking around the arena and he seemed fine, but once I was on him his demeanor completely changed. I hadn’t even started trot warmup when the bolt happened and it was just so odd the way he behind bolted directly towards the fence initially. Normally horses bolt away from them.
I did tell the seller that I think the fences played a role in the issues but she swore up and down that the indoor she had him previously had fences set up at all times and she didn’t have issues being ridden around them At this point I don’t believe anything that has been said to me. I did send her a very long text this morning with some choice but not rude words stating to PLEASE consider what happened and how I’m very concerned that another rider would be hurt worse than I was.
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I think he would be a very nice pasture ornament. He’s super sweet on the ground and personable when he is comfortable in his surroundings (ie her backyard small barn setup). And a “pretty” horse. But I would be extremely concerned if someone else got on his back again. I’m normally the ride anything type of person unless they’re a bronc style bucker or a flipper. And his was probably the most terrifying experiences I’ve had on a horse.
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She has this horse advertised very poorly in a number of locations, so it doesn’t surprise me. I found him completely by accident in a local fb horse group that I normally use for buying farm equipment or occasional good tack buys. After I goggled his name initially trying to find more info, I saw the other ads
She has him under the name “Colestus Ghost” because she changed his name when she found out his breeding.
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IME, that kind of bolting is not going to disappear and could crop up any time the horse is stressed, jumps or not. No cowboy, whisperer, starting all over, kisses, peppermints, communicators et. al. will rewire the fried circuits from lengthy excessive, abusive training history. They get scared of the jumps, convinced they will get hurt by them.
By now this horse will be showing some wear and tear but, IME, that kind of a bolt is not a pain reaction but a blind panic during which they will hurt themselves to get away from the jumps.
Sorry OP ended up in the ER and hope she can put this behind her and it does not shake her confidence for too long. Never trust anything a seller tells you and if you are not sure, don’t get on the horse. Vet the seller before the horse.
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Absolutely agree with you here on the bolting component on all levels.
It’s just so odd because my first ride on this horse was amazing considering his lack of English riding in however many years. He was soft, responsive, had lovely gaits, just overall wow factor the first time. Zero signs of what was to come. All that completely crumbled apart the second ride.
Confidence isn’t shaken, I’m more so concerned about long term pain from how hard I fell. I’m not a spring chicken and it’s going to be a few weeks before I’ll be able to get back in the saddle.
After my “choice words” I had with the seller this morning, she’s still in denial about this whole thing and something just “spooked” him (even though I explained that level of bolting isn’t normal or remotely ok) I just sincerely hope she takes a step back here before someone else gets seriously hurt.
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He could’ve been drugged the first time you rode him, but it could’ve also been the change of venue and jumps. He might be find flatting around someone’s calm backyard barn, or something like that to be just fine. Between the jumps and trailering somewhere, he was probably triggered by whatever negative experiences he’s had (mainly with jumping, but possibly traveling too) and just boiled over completely.
Even then, he’s a horse that I could never really trust. Poor dude.
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What a devastating situation. Now I feel bad for encouraging you to pursue it. I suppose the shitty lesson we are forced to come away with is, always be prepared to pull blood before you first try the horse, however naive and backyardy they sound. I am so sorry this happened to you and I hope you heal up 100% and swiftly. Livid that those people so cavalierly put you in danger.
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I really think it was the combo of being in an actual ring and the fences. He was trailered out to a random park and I rode him in a field the first time. Totally fine trailering and in the field. I physically watched him walk right into the trailer from her farm to the park as well.
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I don’t think any of us could have predicted this, especially considering how well he rode last weekend in an unfamiliar area with a lot of variables, yet handled it like a champ.
It was like a completely different horse stepped off the trailer yesterday.
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You are a remarkably brave and levelheaded individual, that’s all I can say.
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Thank you so much for your kind words 
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What an unexpected update! Did he jump out or just slam into the fence, after you bailed off? This poor animal has clearly had some traumatic experience somewhere. Wow.
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I hope you’re ok. His ads are pretty easy to find with the Colestus Ghost name
The ad is certaintly… creative… given what now appears to be the case about this horse.
OP I hope you’re ok. That was terrifying to read.
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Poor guy. He looks sweet. Probably well earned or physical demons. Glad you are ok.
