Rearing horse

[miatapony]

i was just wondering if anyone has any ideas about what to do if your horse rears. She is a 4 year old Quater horse that is in the process of being broke to ride but she likes to rear. im just looking for any ideas . thanks everyone

[Cat]

Rearing can be caused by various things and each reason would have a different way of handling it. Could you give us details on when she rears? What are you asking her to do? Does she do it frequently or only on occassion? Is this a new thing, or has she done this a lot in the past?

[mare]

I have to suggest that since you need to ask what to do, you may want to consider getting a trainer to find the cause and to get her through this. There are many solutions, but your response has to be based on what is causing the rearing. I hope you can find a trainer.

I am generally all in favor of a horse owner addressing behaviors, but not with rearing. If that's your girl in your avatar, she's very pretty. Good luck.

[miatapony]

well she is my moms mare and well she has done this sice birth we started her right before i left to go to japan with hubby (military). then she was not messed with for the time i was gone . now im in las vegas and my stepdad was just asking her to move foward and she reared and this time she went all the way over and the horn hit him in the leg so now mom wants to get rid of her she is Montana doc breed and Heza red scoripion. She is a beautiful bay filly i would love to try to be able to see if i can help get her to stop but mom dont think its a good idea she is out of one of my fav. mares ill see if i have a pic of her to put up here. The horse in my avatar is my now 9 year old gelding with navicular.

[Cat]

Rearing should have been corrected when this horse was a foal and smaller and easier to deal with. Its now gone on way too long and its habbit and the horse knows it can get away with it. I agree with Mare - this is a situation where a professional trainer would be the best bet.

[lacyloo]

What about trying a tie down?

[luckydoublesranch]

I am so sorry to hear of the problems you are having...especially if she is one of your favorite mares. :( The trouble with rearing is it's so hard to predict, correct and to find the underlying cause after it starts. Unless you find an obvious problem with teeth or pain of some sort.
I have to admit, that I won't even take a horse in for training that seriously rears. I'm not saying that it can't be fixed, but I just don't care to deal with it. I've had em' go over on me and It's not worth the risks to me. I say time and time again that rearing is soooo much more dangerous than any bucking a horse can throw at you.
My only online suggestion would be to restart her all over again from the ground up and see what progresses. It sounds like from what you posted that she was started and then sat and then ridden again after a long while...is that right? I would say if you really want to continue her training send her to someone reputable to do it. Rearing is such a case by case problem and you need that hands on evaluation to work with her on it. Sorry, I wish I could be of more help. :(

Just stay safe and never put the potential of a great riding horse before your well being. Good Luck!!!

[miatapony]

well before i left she was never riden she was ground work done and she did it then . but like mom said its not something she wants to deal with so she wants to sell her because she says shes getting to old for that. so she will go down the road if someone wants to buy her i guess. i was just hoping to get some ideas. I cant find my pics of this mare so ill have to wait till mom can send them again . but i do have some new ones up in my photos if anyone wants to look.

[cowpuncher]

My solution is the same as the others.....send her to someone that knows what he's doing, and can do it. Or, send her to me. I'll keep her and giver her a good home for you, LOL......She's a good-lookin' girl, and I bet some big circles working cattle would make her enjoy life.......

[miatapony]

UMM not gonna give her away LOL she is a very beautiful bay filly. This is her momma http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/make+a+wish+montana (http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/make+a+wish+montana) and this is her
daddy http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/heza+red+scorpion
so you can see her breeding . She is very well breed so if my mom dont sell her she will make a very nice broodmare.

[miatapony]

The horse in the avatar is my 9 year old gelding Runner.

[prissy18]

Umm u can try cracking an egg on her head when she rears. It will make her think she is bleeding witch will make her rethink it

[gaited07]

Umm u can try cracking an egg on her head when she rears. It will make her think she is bleeding witch will make her rethink it

Good luck in figuring this one out on the timing, not to mention keeping the egg in your pocket from breaking before hand:eek:.
These types of training never worked for me. I would have to go back to the basics and gain more respect and control from the ground and work my way into the saddle.

Again, start from the beginning on the ground and yes, I would ride her with a tie down (type) to teach that her head can only go so far.
If you feel that she is about to rear, move her feet, right, left but move them. Do some circles (sometimes tight circles)
As you know, rearing horses are extremely dangerous and should not be handled by the meek (not saying you are meek) but handle with extreme caution and be ready to bail if needed.

[ImaBronsonBear]

While i do agree with everything Gaited said, it would be very advantageous to your safety and for the horse's well-being to send this horse to a trainer. Please.

[AppyLover]

My friend probably should have stated her and her family have quite the experience with training horses and that this issue is not something they do not know how to handle, but this is more of a question on what other ways are out there to handle a rearing horse.

So….How would you handle a rearing horse?

[Palogal]

Rearing is one of those things that while it's happening it's too late. When the horse is actually rearing you have no choice but to wait until the horse comes down and then it's too late to correct.

soooo, having ridden a rearer or two I wait for the clue that the forehand is coming up. It's a pretty obvious shift of weight and then...we're circling...and circling. Then when the focus is reestablished we are on our way. It's physically impossible to rear and circle at the same time. :cool:

[mare]

It completely depends on why the horse is rearing. That's why I hesitated to make suggestions -- no reason was given. Pain from the saddle = different saddle. Poor hands = train the rider. Back out of alignment = chiropractor treatments. Muscle imbalance = focused exercises. Dental problems = dental work. Spoiled and/or dodging work = retraining and anticipation as Palogal stated. And this is only a partial list because I'm sure others will respond.

[Palogal]

Umm u can try cracking an egg on her head when she rears. It will make her think she is bleeding witch will make her rethink it

Although this is hilarious to watch, I don't think it works...at least it didn't on my friends rearer. However, it sure was funny.

[Palogal]

My friend probably should have stated her and her family have quite the experience with training horses and that this issue is not something they do not know how to handle, but this is more of a question on what other ways are out there to handle a rearing horse.

So….How would you handle a rearing horse?

If this is the case I assume they have ruled out any sort of pain issue.....

[AppyLover]

That is correct no pain, just full out temper tantrum.

My friend should be online soon, I am sure she will clearify more.

[TheBadLands]

Rearing is something I get here and there (clients etc)..

I agree.. she needs to be started all over.. ground first, then under saddle. I personally have found that things like tie downs only make them feel frantic and can cause a whole nother bad situation.. A horse who has been started (or re-started) from the ground up, correctly, will trust you and respect you enough to keep these kinds of behaviors in the pasture.

I could agree it could have been stopped a long time ago.. but we're in the now, aren't we?

I would recommend sending her to someone.. cow puncher, walkin fool, palo, myself.. there are a lot of trainers across the map here. Depending on where you are.. I'm sure you could find someone to work with her for you.

[miatapony]

ok i guess i need to state that i was just wondering what other kinds of stuff anyone out there has tried. i have been gone for 3 years so yes she does need to be started over from the ground and if i were in phoenix i would do that . but as time sits im in las vegas. so i really couldnt help out . but thanks i know a tie down is not the way to go. thanks everyone for the info but i think ill just have to get her to vegas and do it myself like i did all my other horses ive had .but again thanks

[gaited07]

I also have had some problem horses that came in for training at my parents stable that I worked with. Some reared, some bucked and some just needed a gentle hand.
When I mention "tie down" I should clarify my definition. Its a tie down that is attached to a halter, either rope or nylon and not cranked down. Just enough reach to let them know the boundaries. Rearing is one of the toughest habits to break. I also would like to mention that I do not use the same method for all horses with same habits. Most of the time, just going back to the drawing boards and starting over is all that it takes and sometimes other measures are necessary.
I would put some other ideas out there but I'm sure I would get a lot of slack on that one and it was only used in extreme measures but I will have to say, they NEVER reared again afterwards. (no harm to either the horse or human but extemely dangerous)

[TheBadLands]

Gaited07: I didn't mean to challenge you or anything. I've just not had good results, personally, with tie downs. But I do see how it could work. I also have an idea of what your extreme measure is and its ok, I've been there, too lol ;) sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do.

[gaited07]

Gaited07: I didn't mean to challenge you or anything. I've just not had good results, personally, with tie downs. But I do see how it could work. I also have an idea of what your extreme measure is and its ok, I've been there, too lol ;) sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do.


Badlands,
No challenge taken:). Everyone has different ideas and what works(ed) for them.
I also understand your side about the tie down. I had horses that would have nothing to do with it and then I had those who needed the reassurance of boundaries.
As for the extreme measures idea, I will not post it in case an inexperienced person reading this tries it. I do not want anyone hurt. Not to mention, those who might think it's too much for the horse and stone me LOL!
I like your quote, "SOMETIMES YOU'VE JUST GOTTA DO WHAT YOU'VE GOTTA DO!";)
Your a "Very" skilled rider/trainer/instructor badlands and I like reading your thoughts and ideas on training. Sometimes someone else may come up with a "different or better way that may work for them.

[Palogal]

Gaited07: I didn't mean to challenge you or anything. I've just not had good results, personally, with tie downs. But I do see how it could work. I also have an idea of what your extreme measure is and its ok, I've been there, too lol ;) sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do.


Me either. I've seen a tie down make a horse rear though....