Correct position to maintain while horse rears?

R

RussianGirl

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 October 2008
Messages
343
Location
Тy, Siberia, Russian Federation
Visit site
This afternoon I have been putting together a progress video for the owner of a horse we have for schooling, including video of our first evaluation session. In this session, the horse was quite literally rearing with every stride (Health fine, but very backwards thinking), and I noticed thatthough I stay secure, I have no idea how I am supposed to be sitting?!
In some I am inadvertantly gripping with my calves, which I assume only makes things worse, and when I try to stop doing so, my position slips, and I don't think a flapping rider can do much good either.

The horse is now doing great, after deciding that it was the best option to go right back to groundwork, and re-back; he is now being ridden in a snaffle, and hasn't reared for over a month.

How should a rider sit while a horse is rearing?
 
I think I grip with my lower legs, lean forwards from the waist and push my arms forward almost right round the horse's neck. Don't know if that's right though!
blush.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I usually opt for get off its back and lean forwards while turning my whip over and belting it between the ears... If im honest..

Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]

I normally give a tap between the ears if its a horse that I know is doing it out of naughtyness, rather than a poor upbringing and not being taught properly.

Horsky tends to just turn and look at me like I'm an idiot, but to be fair, he does that quie often!
 
My horse constently rears while out hacking but it is the same as in the school becasue its still rearing. what you should do is lean forward dont pull back on the reins and give him/her a good kick because it will make the horse go forward and pack it in if you releas your leg pressure the horse will carry on doing it so lean forward and give him/her a bloody good kick
hope this helps you it works for me
smile.gif

hope all goes well
xxx
 
My horse is a rearer and my instinctive reaction these days is to lean forwards and put my arms around her neck, and as soon as she lands give her a boot

like this

DSC_0635.jpg
 
As far away as possible on the ground
grin.gif


When Fleur used to go up, she would give several warnings first so was not what I would call a dangerous rearer, I would lean forward from the waist but keep my feet and legs in a riding position so felt fairly secure. I would put my arms round her neck if she went vertical so to avoid any weight going back.

If she decided she was staying up, I would take feet out the stirrups and still learning forward, slide down over her backside and land on my feet and move to the side and then apply Mr Sticky to her backside hard.

Please note, though she was a rearer, she never ever kicked out, so I could do this relatively safely as landing behind a kicker would not be a clever thing to do.

I learned to sit correctly on an exmoor that would stand on his back legs on command - mother had taught him tricks. He never reared unless given the signal and voice command and it was as safe a way as possible of learning to sit to a rear - stood me in very good stead later with Fleur or Vertical Limit as she was known as.
 
yep, i lean forward exactly the same, and put arms around neck. i think rider's weight can help to push them down. if you sit up and pull reins inadvertently (i've seen this) they can go up more and over backwards...
i would NEVER try to hit one over the head, that might make them go over backwards too, and i don't want a dead horse or a smashed pelvis...
richard maxwell leans forward and wacks them across the exposed tummy with a long soft plaited rope, fwiw. i have seen this. it seemed to work amazingly well - made the horse think about exposing his most vulnerable part.
 
[ QUOTE ]

richard maxwell leans forward and wacks them across the exposed tummy with a long soft plaited rope, fwiw. i have seen this. it seemed to work amazingly well - made the horse think about exposing his most vulnerable part.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have heard of this, aswell as smashing an egg over the horses head; but how on earth do you co-ordinate riding while holding an egg, and stay on which breaking the egg, or smacking the belly?
confused.gif
then again, my reaction times are slower than my grandmothers, an she's half deaf, half blind!
tongue.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
My horse is a rearer and my instinctive reaction these days is to lean forwards and put my arms around her neck, and as soon as she lands give her a boot

like this

DSC_0635.jpg


[/ QUOTE ]


That is a fantastic photo!

I love the horses expression - he looks as if he is looking at you out of the corner of his eye and saying 'are you still there?'
grin.gif
 
Quote.That is a fantastic photo!

I love the horses expression - he looks as if he is looking at you out of the corner of his eye and saying 'are you still there?'Quote

I thought that! he really is looking as if to say "Are you still there"! is that a rosette you have in your hand? did you win something? Fab Pic!
ooo.gif
 
lol at the photo.

I sort of throw my weight forward and grip with my calves too. I do, however hold with one rein as the horse comes back down so I can spin a circle & then kick on. Spinning in circles gets them off balance so they cannot rear again.
tongue.gif
 
Have to say I do whatever I think at the time it happens! I honestly don't actually think do this or that I just try to stay safe!!!! I do kick, kick, kick tho once we're back on terra-firma - last time my lad reared in a tantrum because I'd asked him to stand nicely he did an hours long hack in about 20 mins cos we trotted or cantered almost all the way round, he was knackered when we got back but when I asked him to stand nicely he did...funnily enough! Little sh*t!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would normally adopt the 'fling myself off' position........
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

PMSL,, that would be my favoured position too
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I usually opt for get off its back and lean forwards while turning my whip over and belting it between the ears... If im honest..

Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto. pony has no excuse of pain or upbringing, and is ridden by children occasionally so is totally unacceptable to me. Works too. when i fanny about she will carry on doing it - one swift whack on the bridle when shes up and she packs it up - its the sound more than anything i think.

I remember my first rearer, was about 15hands and i was about 5ft as only young, i leant forwards but she'd gone up so straight i slid right off the back and landed standing on my feet - i didnt get back on it !!
 
is it bad then that I am 21yo and have never ridden a rearer?!
iv had some horses that hop on their backlegs, but never truly stop and go upwards!
confused.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
is it bad then that I am 21yo and have never ridden a rearer?!
iv had some horses that hop on their backlegs, but never truly stop and go upwards!
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
Lol why would that ever be a bad thing, you must be lucky!
grin.gif
 
Its taken about 2 and a half years for that position to become instinctive :P

Telling her off makes her worse so the best thing is avoiding the situations which cause problems. Here the tension from the competition (photo is from the lineup at a champs) got to her (she knew it was bigger than normal) and then I couldn't keep her walking around as it was the presentation so being forced to stand still meant she went up.

I did think the photo (combined with the 2 we got of her sailing over fences :P) helped show a good all round side of her personality xD
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ahrena, i LOVE the grin in that picture.... and the fact you even kept hold of your rossette!!!
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
lmao I think its more of a grimace actually but :P
 
[ QUOTE ]
Its taken about 2 and a half years for that position to become instinctive :P

Telling her off makes her worse so the best thing is avoiding the situations which cause problems.

[/ QUOTE ]

exactly its so instinctive with my mare i dont even know what i do, but mine doesnt just rear shes quite a gymnast and works in all kinds of funkiness, rear buck bronc rear leap off hind legs bronc rear...

if she thinks shes done something wrong it prompts this behaviour so i try to avoid problem situations, i think shes been beaten up when shes made mistakes and her instinct is to get the rider first b4 she gets a whoopin'

im her third owner and ive traced her to her first and shed ended up in a sale, no doubt because of the rearing
 
I have had several rearers. Firstly, avoidance is preferable. Secondly, forget tapping between the ears or hitting the underbelly, serious rearers rear because it is their 'default' mechanism and they have about as much control over it as we do. The riders position is generally instinctive. Go with the movement and give with the hands. The primary objective is to make the horse go forwards. Most horses will not want to 'go over' so will take great pains to avoid it. They will side step at the height of the rear which will freak most riders out! The flip over type have usually got some sort of neurological problem and to be honest there is very little hope in this case. All in all, drive forwards, kick, growl and wave whip around if you have to!
 
I rode a 13.3 rearer (that apparntly didn't rear) and I just remember throwing my arms around his neck and growling in his ear, he was very well balanced and I know he wouldn't go over if he could help it. He got a massive kick up the bum and sent straight into a circle and he couldn't do it anymore
I was standing by a crowd of people when he did it once and i just hear "ooooo...well sat!" and my friends helpful advice of "ooo stay on!"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top