Dangerous 5 year old

Personally I wouldn't send him to Jason Webb. Perfectly valid reasons but not going to publicise them. Definitely agree with comments about sending him to a pro though. I had a rearer :( hers was pain though and it didn't end well.
 
Many years ago I had a horse that did this. I ended up not wanting to ride it (I was much younger then and not a novice as I show jumped up to Grade A level!) and I woke up one morning and decided that riding was my pleasure and I was getting no pleasure from this horse. Took the horse that day to a local trainer/dealer who had always loved him. Horse ran under tree, reared etc etc with him. Got sold and broke next owner's leg and the arm of a subsequent owner. Trainer/dealer told me he had thought I was a bit wet and all he would have to do was kick it and how wrong he was. My advice is 'your life is too precious - you only have one' Get rid of horse (how is up to you)and find something more suited to you.
 
agree with everyone else who say it could be pain - horses do not "try it on" there is always a reason that makes sense to them. you said he doesn't like to work on the right rein? Something to think about. I would recommend True Horsemanship Through Feel by Bill Dorrance, eye opening.
 
It's a lot of effort for a horse to rear vertically rather than just a half rear or halfrearandspin, so I wonder if there's a pain issue there too.
 
I would do as much as I possibly could to make sure it isn't a pain issue. I'd stop riding him, you're coming off too much and it's dangerous. Then I'd see if I could get professional help. I might well consider Jason Webb if he's in your area, he's not as expensive as you might expect. He got some very bad publicity last year after taking part in a competition. I was there. If you click on the link in my signature you'll see I tried to give a balanced view, spreading over 3 blogs. He was accused of kicking a horse - I was watching at the time, he didn't. He had the long rope caught up around his foot and kicked it off. (Photos can be misleading.) There are people on here who have sent horses to him who would say that he is pretty no-nonsense, but didn't harm their horses.
If not in his area, maybe one of the Intelligent Horsemanship recommended associates?
I'd say go to someone who is happy to have you visit and see how they work. Then you can decide for yourself.
 
I would consider sending to a well researched professional who specialises in difficult horses and has a sympathetic manner. I wouldn't get on him again until you do. You only have one life it's really not worth the risk. You have had a few nasty scares so your probably not the right person in the right frame of mind to sort. I would only get back on once you have been assessed by the professional that has hopefully dealt with the issue. If they feel he is not the horse for you then listen. Fingers crossed it all can be sorted .
 
BeingKate said:
I am with those that say there is probably a physical issue causing this. One suggestion I do have is thermal imaging

Having someone out with thermal imaging equipment to do an all over scan of his body may pick up a "hot spot" - in other words a potential problem area - which might be causing him pain. You can then get a vet to scan or xray this area, without having the vet scan/xray every inch of his body which will be very expensive for you, and could potentially be stressful for him as this will usually involve travelling and leaving him somewhere overnight.

We had this done to our TB who showed up white along his spine (meaning very, very hot) when we had problems with him and we were then able to consult with the vet who investigated that particular place.

Of course, thermal imaging won't help if there is a problem "inside" but it could be a good place to start.

Also get liver and kidneys checked - these if hurting can cause issues under saddle as the pressure from the saddle can really exacerbate pain. A simple blood test should be able to pick problems up fairly easily.

Hope this helps and hope you get to the bottom of his problems, I really feel for you as he was so perfect before!
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Thermal imaging is great and I use it with any signs of an issues, its always been right and I would def give him a full body scan if he was mine
 
Honestly please do not over look thermal imaging, iv tried for months to get my friend to do it on a horse who wasn't right, she's spent a fortune at the vets but within 5 mins of thermal she had the area to look at/x ray etc and it was spot on. Honestly it really is under used
 
My five year old cob had a personality change in the summer. He had been started a year, I had just started riding him, I had been up for a couple of months and we were going great guns, he was still being ridden by his professional riding. He was going so well I asked her to work on my other horse who had been unwell and needed to be ridden by a lighter rider. I was having a lesson when the house next door decided to have a pool party at C. My little horse had a mental moment and my instructor called an end to the lesson, so I took him out for a hack We Worked through that and started to make progress, but from then on he started to throw in wicked spooks. He would without warning shoot forward for the minimum of three strides, sometimes lapping the school. It was scary because they occurred so fast and with no warning. It culminated in one half hour ride,where he bombed off five times. I didn't get off I rode through it all and kept him going until he walked around the whole school without spooking. At this point I was so fed up I called his rider to have a go and he did it with her as well, shocked the hell out of her. She insisted it was pain. I had him checked and he had a strained back, he even kicked the Chiro vet during acupuncture!!! (Hangs head in shame) since treatment he has not done it again. He returned to his usual self. He is currently in his Kevin stage..........he took off with his rider in the field, it was nothing like his spook, he telegraphed his intention for at least six or seven strides ! He is being naughty BUT it is completely different. A horse rearing vertically does not read as naughty it reads as pain.
 
ok so this is a list of everything he has had done:
Teeth
gastroscope
all over examination by vet
all over examination by physiotherapist
examination by farrier
saddle fitter has checked his saddle
 
jag04 said:
ok so this is a list of everything he has had done:
Teeth
gastroscope
all over examination by vet
all over examination by physiotherapist
examination by farrier
saddle fitter has checked his saddle
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And what did all over examination by vet consist of?

Xrays? Flexion tests? Nerve blocks? Or just vet poking and prodding at him?>
 
Ok in this instance if it was my horse, I would be getting a thermal imaging person out to start with, and seeing what they pick up first. They can also check saddle fit, and shows up if any dentistry problems.
 
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