Anyone ride a rearer?

I think if I were in your shoes, and wanted to be out doing pony club etc, I would hand it back to the owner.

Theres too many nice, well behaved horses out there to be putting up with one that rears.
No point putting yourself at risk, horse riding is dangerous enough as it is.
 
Fleur was/is a rearer. With her it was an evasion mainly to taking a contact (blatantly broken far too quickly with heavy draw rein use in Holland :angry: ) but also to things she wasn't certain about she would go up both ridden and in hand.

With her I could pre-empt her going to rear so I would spin her and still occasionally do now (her nose to my leg) so she couldn't physically go up. She learnt she couldn't use rearing as an evasion and started to trust me. Took months till she really started to stop and work correctly but you couldn't give her a split second and you still can't as she will take any opportunity. Thankfully now that split second is purely used to spook at the invisible monsters but you still need to be awake as she is so athletic and can be halfway across the school in that time.

Hitting a rearer on the head is an iffy one as is hitting them on the belly in my opinion. Neither were viable options with Fleur. When Dan has on the rare occasion been a pr*t hacking yes schooling whip across his ears has done the job but he is by no means a serial rearer (think bunny hops rather than rears to start anyway!).

I would be wary of the anti rear device as can see horse getting its legs caught up if it tries to go up which could be very dangerous. Spinning really was the key to success with fleur and although a rearer is always a rearer if put in the wrong/right situation I have trust in her mainly as I know how to pre-empt her and stop her from actually going up. If she ever got sold though a new rider would have to be careful to ensure they knew which buttons to/not to press!!
 
I bred a chestnut mare that 7/8 TB - certainly wouldn't buy one! However, she has been the best horse ever, but over the last six months she became more and more unpredictable, rearing when being led, rearing when being ridden, refusing to jump X poles (she used to jump BJSJA Newcomers), very very touchy. We got everything checked and them got the vet out - she's now recovering after having a tumour on her ovary removed - and she's back to being our friend! Might be worth getting her ovaries scanned?
 
Apparently, if you smack a rearer on the belly when they go up, thats supposed to help. Its something to do with them protecting their most vulnerable bits.
However, dont shoot me down.. i read it, so im not saying its something you should do haha
x
 
I find it odd that people who are normally (from what i've seen on the forum) level headed in their problem solving with horses are calmly recommending quick fixes which, if they don't result in injury, will almost certainly make your horse headshy.
 
I ride a chestnut who will rear (thankfully not with me on top (yet!)) and for him it is definitely a fear response, especially when he feels trapped. If he cant go left/right/back/forward he tries to 'escape' the scary situation upwards!

With him being allowed/made to move forward or circle does def work & he releases a lot of tension that way. He is nervy about certain things (dubious past) but as soon as he knows that being tied up/whatever isn't going to lead to anything horrid and that he isn't being trapped he is fine.

He did break his nose on the roof of his stable rearing in the past so can't say that the egg thing, or even real blood in this case (eek!), works for all.

I think it defintely takes a bit of 'being the grown up' with fear-driven behaviour. Ignoring things, showing them nothing is that big a deal, giving heaps of praise when they do something that is a big deal for them (the first few times, it should become 'normal' later). They have to have confidence & trust in you being in charge. Which can be quite draining for you.

If back/teeth/other pain/overfeeding aren't casuing this and fear is an instructor who can give both you and horsey confidence might be worth investigating. But do remember that there is only one you and there are lots of horses out there you could be riding!
 
Hi there,
My horse is certainly not a rearer, but has reared twice since I've had her - both times she went up as a result for getting a smack (read - tap) for bucking, but subsequently it's transpired she has a fear of whipping we'd previously underestimated.

The yard I'm at breaks youngsters and the rearers normally have either fairly minor physical issues that don't show through lamenesses OR mental issues which require a different management approach. They have also had a rearer down for reschooling who didn't put a hoof out of line in the time he was down so maybe your lifestyle isn't hard work enough/challenging enough for her mentally?

So basically in essence, you can't solve the rearing until you address the underlying needs.
Are there any changes in management you've made?

Firstly, I'd put her in a nathe bit (http://divoza.co.uk/product917.aspx - expensive but give amazing feel and are incredibly soft and very much more durable than happy mouths) so she's not afraid of the contact.

I'd also stop trying to halt her conventionally. I'd slow her to a stop using my seat, and work towards stopping by asking for a one rein stop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmpDSbXPtzU

I feel like a broken record as I offer similar advice to a lot of problem threads but really I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't think it would help or if it wasn't something I'd tried myself.

I wouldn't give up if I were you and be aware that professional yards don't always give a sympathetic approach so there is a bit of an irony in people slating 'harsh' methods and then advocating being sent away for professional schooling. Sometimes a short sharp shock IS the solution, but it's up to you to know your horse and decide what you think would suit.

One thing I would say - buy yourself a new hat with a very high saftey standard (e.g. gatehouse H.S.I.) and a good BP (I think the WW Exo BP is the only one which protects from rotational type falls - e.g. horse's body weight - and I know that MrsM's daughter rides in one & finds it comfy, and I will be investing at some point so will let you know the verdict)

Just good luck & persevere. The groundwork advice is really excellent; work on trust & develop your bond. Let us know how you get on?
 
Hi, i know it's not down to you, but it vexes me that someone bred from 2 rearers in the first place!

I hope you find a solution, it's a horrible vice, and a dangerous one at that.
In the olden days the egg trick was used, but i can't ever remember it curing the problem!

Hugs to you and don't get to a point where it knocks your confidence xx
 
The egg thing is an old wives' tale. Richard Maxwell advocates leaning forward and down as the horse comes up and giving it a sharp slap with the crop UNDER its belly. He says the horse will be shocked to have an attack from underneath while it's busy going up. The horse will probably try it again a couple of times to see if the same thing happens and then it's sorted. He did add that, of course, you have to be a pretty damn superb rider with an independent seat and nerves of steel to do this!
 
My 2 cents worth....

I have never ridden a confirmed rearer and I never would, they are just too dangerous. But I have worked with some who used it to get out of work.

If you have any doubt in your ability confidence to deal with it get professional/ experienced help as you have to be 100% commited to any action you take.
Also DON'T hesitate to bail out if you have ANY concerns about her going over. I always kick my feet out of the stirrups the minute a horse starts to go up, and if needs be do a flying PC vault off so that you are well clear (long reins help here so that you dont lose control.

If the problem is only when you halt, could you teach her on the ground to halt to voice comands i.e. wow or Sssssh (said in a low clam voice). I have found it easiest to teach them on the lunge and stick the whip in front of her as a 'brake', you need a round yard though really. Then work on stopping entierly by voice and seat as other suggested. Also make sure you are not unconsiously hanging onto her mouth.

If she does go up:
I have found going forward, reaching as far up her neck as you can and the pinching down hard on either side of the neck, really digging your fingers in round the bone HARD tends to make them go back down pretty quickly.
The action is equivalent to a stallion biting on the neck, and if you can convince her that you are strong enough, a potentially debilitating injury (watch a lion go for a zebra). The easiest escape route is for a horse to put their head between their knees fast. You may find she tries to buck so get back in the saddle fast and be prepared to start a circle.

The whole hitting them on the head thing can work, but don't try it on a horse that is at all nervous/flighty or you will make them headshy and worse. Used to do it to a stubborn, pig headed, lazy gelding. I never actually hit the horse with anything, just use a flat hand to box their ears acompanied by a really angry growl/string of swear words (what ever makes you feel best). The surprise of being hit seems to put them off.

Again if you have ANY doubts let some one else deal with it she is not your horse. As some one else said you need a firm seat and nerves of steel, or just no common sense...

Good luck!
 
yep - no common sense! bought mine cheap coz she's a mantalist
wink.gif
although has seriously thought her life thru and realises she's stuck with me whatever she does. my mare is a whole lot worse in the winter and its an impatience/nerves thing before she goes in the ring, she dosnt go right up any more gone are the days were my rides consisted of hanging in the air for hours before actually going anywhere i tried everything, water, egg, beating, waiting, long reining u name it but just playing the waiting game was best for her, hitting her resulted in throwing her self on the ground ( she was a 5 yrold tho!)
 
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