Dealing with rearing in hand

[[118739]]

As title really - I know the triggers and so can avoid an explosion for the most part but when they do happen I haven’t been great at getting her back in line - having avoided anything that goes up on 2 legs in the past!

Problem is she doesn’t just go up she circles around as part of her prep to go up so its hard to use a circle positively to keep her moving and avoid the rear - eventually she’ll turn sharp on the forehand to be facing you and go up (quite high, not vertical & legs flailing). First time she did it this year my lead rope wasn’t long enough for my liking so I let go & caught again once stood calm and she didn’t go up again. Second time I slipped in mud while circling her back to hard standing and she got away - caught and walked back to the stable no issues. I couldn’t do much the 2nd time as I was flat on my arse but I am annoyed now as that’s 2 consecutive incidents (2-3 months apart) where she’s ended up away from me (she can’t get anywhere).

So what I’m currently doing obviously isn’t working! Current method = firm grip as close to head as possible, elbow in her neck to keep head tilted towards me and down out of giraffe mode & then march on but she has a tendency to leap forwards past you and then around and will just go around you on the end of the rope until she thinks she has a chance to go up. Lunge line will be employed when I spot the wild eye look on her from now on ?‍ But are there any further tips?

 

[Mule]

Lead her in a chifney until it breaks the habit

 

[blitznbobs]

Lunge line so that you can get out of the way and I just tend to ignore up they go and then we carry on as normal ... never had one that this didn’t work for tbh

 

[[118739]]

Lead her in a chifney until it breaks the habit

So there seems to be a split when I’ve looked into chifneys as to whether they fix or make the problem worse? Interested on opinions on them? Also in general she’s a dope there are pretty specific conditions that seem to set her off (exclusively winter time, late being brought in and windy) - but if she thinks she can shake me off each time the specific conditions are going to become a lot less specific!

 

[[118739]]

Lunge line so that you can get out of the way and I just tend to ignore up they go and then we carry on as normal ... never had one that this didn’t work for tbh

Lunge line definitely employed from now on! But id prefer to stop her in her tracks if I can.

 

[Mule]

So there seems to be a split when I’ve looked into chifneys as to whether they fix or make the problem worse? Interested on opinions on them? Also in general she’s a dope there are pretty specific conditions that seem to set her off (exclusively winter time, late being brought in and windy) - but if she thinks she can shake me off each time the specific conditions are going to become a lot less specific!

I've only used one once, at the vets, so I haven't much experience with them. I doubt they'd be used specifically as anti rearing bits though if they made the problem worse.

 

[ihatework]

It’s difficult to know,

What I don’t like is that she is turning to face you and leg waving. Not on!!

One of my yearlings tried that little trick, with a go at cow kicking and fecking off in landing. A big athletic yearling. I lost her that first time - and I can promise you that the second time she tried it (the very next day) I was prepared and she regretted it. She hasn’t gone up again since and took her bollocking very well and is now happily working with me now she knows acceptable boundaries.

My dressage mare however I couldn’t ever have taken that approach. Every now and again she would get her knickers in a twist when leading and go right up. The difference being she didn’t aim any legs at my head. With her I’d just stand there, let her come back down and then carry on as normal!

Given your horse sounds like she is becoming dangerous I’d be inclined to go for a tough approach

 

[Xmasha]

one of mine would get a little excited when bringing in, and reared/bronced etc . You can tell when shes going to do it, as we get a bit of head swishing at the gate. So i popped a monty roberts head collar on her, with a lunge line. It worked a treat. She doesnt do it anymore, but if i get any signs that its likely, on goes the headcollar.

 

[[118739]]

It’s difficult to know,

What I don’t like is that she is turning to face you and leg waving. Not on!!

One of my yearlings tried that little trick, with a go at cow kicking and fecking off in landing. A big athletic yearling. I lost her that first time - and I can promise you that the second time she tried it (the very next day) I was prepared and she regretted it. She hasn’t gone up again since and took her bollocking very well and is now happily working with me now she knows acceptable boundaries.

My dressage mare however I couldn’t ever have taken that approach. Every now and again she would get her knickers in a twist when leading and go right up. The difference being she didn’t aim any legs at my head. With her I’d just stand there, let her come back down and then carry on as normal!

Given your horse sounds like she is becoming dangerous I’d be inclined to go for a tough approach

Yes the swinging around to face me is exactly what I want to stop - the way she does it makes me think it’s not a new idea and was probably employed on previous owners. She did it once last year got a bollocking and hasn’t done it again until the weather turned this year but obviously I’ve royally messed up this year and she’s got away twice in a row. It’s a “I’ve got too much energy, the wind up my tail and I don’t want to go where YOURE telling me” kind of thing - because ultimately she DOES want to go where I’m telling her ... to bed where her nice haynet is, I’m just not going fast enough & ive been late and need to be told ? it’s happened 3 times now in over* 2 years so I’m not inclined to say it’s recurring behaviour or increasing but when it does happen I DONT like it.

If she were broncing I’d just carry a whip and give her a thump on the bum but it seems to be less straightforward when she’s going up? I don’t want her to launch forwards into orbit ?‍

 

[[118739]]

one of mine would get a little excited when bringing in, and reared/bronced etc . You can tell when shes going to do it, as we get a bit of head swishing at the gate. So i popped a monty roberts head collar on her, with a lunge line. It worked a treat. She doesnt do it anymore, but if i get any signs that its likely, on goes the headcollar.

How does the monty roberts head collar work? I’m not really tempted to spend £50 on a new head collar for a field ornament but if I could employ the principle maybe. I’d does look like putting her on the lunge and just ignoring the tantrum might be the best port of call at the moment.

 

[dorsetladette]

Please wear a hat if she's waving her feet in your direction.

Not everyone's way of doing things but I'd be inclined to lead her out with a lunge line and a bridle and carry a schooling whip. A well timed whack across the knee/upper leg to shock her into not going up.

If your not confident with her another option might be to contact a behaviourist type person and get some coping strategy's in place.

 

[ihatework]

Did it happen around the same time last year? Only asking because some mares can go a bit la la when their cycle shuts down. If it’s a similar time of year might be worth a bit of regumate.

Otherwise. Hat, gloves, long line, grippy shoes. Get yourself out of the way. Chiffney is an option. I used a stallion ring on the yearling as didn’t want anything in her mouth.

 

[[118739]]

Did it happen around the same time last year? Only asking because some mares can go a bit la la when their cycle shuts down. If it’s a similar time of year might be worth a bit of regumate.

Otherwise. Hat, gloves, long line, grippy shoes. Get yourself out of the way. Chiffney is an option. I used a stallion ring on the yearling as didn’t want anything in her mouth.

Yep it’s definitely a change of season thing plus this year she’s got the added explosive of restricted turn out after being on box rest so I can’t blame her for the extra exuberance I just don’t like the way it’s being expressed!! It’s only ever happened when the wind is up as well - she’s always a bit on pins when it’s windy. Generally a laid back labrador & not a spooky type ?

 

[TPO]

I had a mare that would rear and take off when turning out and I just couldnt hold her 100% of the times. She was very sharp in general although there was no malice.

It was slightly different as ultimately had to work on waiting at the gate to get halter off etc

However we got work on groundwork. At that point in time it was Richard Maxwell methods that I used. Basically getting control of limbs and being able to move her, especially hind end. She was a clever mare and after one session doing circle work, rather than lunging, it made a world of difference. She was also a nightmare to catch (I bought her knowing this) but the groundwork helped there too as I could point and move her around me loose in the field and get her to face me so catching became 95% reliable.

I had a gelding who was full of malice initially and he would rear at me (anyone!) and strike out. He actually fractured my arm cow kicking up at me when I was leading him ?

I used a chifney on him as a quick fix and it worked but with hindsight I wish I knew then what I know now. I didnt know then how to do the groundwork thing properly but I worked on turns on the forehand in hand, if they cant keep hind feet still/create a base they cant rear up on them. I was very consistent with him and practiced lots of leading just walk half wall type stuff and he ended up with very nice manners. He arrived with other issues (underweight, mud fever, rain scald, sharp teeth/mouth pain, awful feet, ulcer symptoms and muscle pain so he had good reason for being angry at the world) so addressing them also helped with his behaviour.

So basically groundwork. Richard Maxwell worked for me but Warwick Schiller has a lot of videos out there too. My personal favourite after searching a clinic is Joe Midgely and theres also Guy Robertson, Jason Webb and TRT who all offer groundwork programmes

 

[fredflop]

Monty Robert’s head collar, or one of the le meiux chain ones.

you need to do some groundwork in them before hand so the horse understands the concept of pressure and release

 

[[118739]]

Please wear a hat if she's waving her feet in your direction.

Not everyone's way of doing things but I'd be inclined to lead her out with a lunge line and a bridle and carry a schooling whip. A well timed whack across the knee/upper leg to shock her into not going up.

If your not confident with her another option might be to contact a behaviourist type person and get some coping strategy's in place.

Blue pipe will be coming with me and the lunge line next time she’s got her eyes on stalks! I’m quite happy handling her (despite her 2x escape maybe implying differently) just wanted to see what others have done to nip it in the bud.

 

[Courbette]

Would leading her in her normal bridle help? My old loan horse used to get quite frisky at certain times of the year and I had been told could rear in hand (he was entire). I used to pop his normal bridle on with a lunge line instead of a headcollar and that solved the issue.

We had a similar sounding incident where he tried to take off and there was a layer of mud on the drive and I couldn't grip the ground which he took advantage of and then it took a few days and better foot wear to re-establish good behavior. I found keeping eye contact and being very firm verbally the minute he began to step out of line helped. I also carried a whip on occasion to help direct his body / feet in the direction I wanted.

 

[[118739]]

Also side note - she’s not a nutter! It’s hard to start a thread about these incidents of bad behaviour without it sounding like I’ve got a bit of a demon. I often tell people that if I could put her brain in a sound body she’s the best horse brain I’ve ever owned generally brave & calm with energy under saddle when you wanted it ... I don’t want people on the internet to think badly of her ha! No matter how little that means irl ?

 

[[118739]]

Would leading her in her normal bridle help? My old loan horse used to get quite frisky at certain times of the year and I had been told could rear in hand (he was entire). I used to pop his normal bridle on with a lunge line instead of a headcollar and that solved the issue.

We had a similar sounding incident where he tried to take off and there was a layer of mud on the drive and I couldn't grip the ground which he took advantage of and then it took a few days and better foot wear to re-establish good behavior. I found keeping eye contact and being very firm verbally the minute he began to step out of line helped. I also carried a whip on occasion to help direct his body / feet in the direction I wanted.

Yes might employ the bridle & lunge together good idea

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Carry a schooling whip, held in front of the horse to act as a visual barrier to the horse, so that she won't try to circle, if she looks as if she is thinking about lifting her knees, tap them back down with the whip, sharply. You might find it useful to have a 2nd person leading from the other side to keep her straight for a few times until she gets the idea that the behaviour won't be tolerated.

 

[ihatework]

Also side note - she’s not a nutter! It’s hard to start a thread about these incidents of bad behaviour without it sounding like I’ve got a bit of a demon. I often tell people that if I could put her brain in a sound body she’s the best horse brain I’ve ever owned generally brave & calm with energy under saddle when you wanted it ... I don’t want people on the internet to think badly of her ha! No matter how little that means irl ?

Well, said in the nicest possible way, you might just need to be a little more on the ball and proactive about it. If she’s been in box rest then it’s not unusual behaviour, and if she already knows right from wrong then she should respond to a growl / shake of a chain at the earliest sign?

 

[[118739]]

Well, said in the nicest possible way, you might just need to be a little more on the ball and proactive about it. If she’s been in box rest then it’s not unusual behaviour, and if she already knows right from wrong then she should respond to a growl / shake of a chain at the earliest sign?

With respect that’s exactly what I’m trying to do - find a way to get ahead of her if she had another moment of madness. It’s all very well and good having her behave impeccably when I want her to but I also need to find a way to end stupid behaviour when she’s clearly not thinking with her educated brain. Hence asking for suggestions on what others have done when faced with similar issues in the past. To which I’ve had lots of helpful responses! It’s pretty easy to spot when she’s going to be on one and now I’ve got a few extra ideas on top of what I’d already thought of..

 

[SEL]

My mare can get silly at certain times of the year (now!) and I caught a kick off her 2 years ago which cracked a couple of ribs. Her bridle comes out when she's like that because she just doesn't engage her brain. She's actually quite a smart cookie so once the bridle is on we might have a bit of prancy nonsense but none of the vertical leg waving.

I could never use a lunge rope with this one because if the front end gets any distance away from you then you have the back legs to deal with - and they aren't very nice. So lead rope on the bit and kept nice and tight next to me with lots of Ah, Ah, Ah verbal stuff if she shows any sign of being a donkey.

 

[Baywonder]

I used a chifney on my old boy to load him when he was being a complete d******d. Without it he would have tanked off with me on the end of the lead rope. Even using his bridle didn't work. I only used the chifney a few times; it gave me back control, and he broke the habit really quickly. I know not everyone likes them, but it worked for me.

 

[Hallo2012]

my pony stallion can on the very odd occasion want to have a little rear on the way to the field (pure impatience at going out, he isnt very stalliony at all!)

always preceded by a little head tossing prance and snort, i stop him dead and get in front of him flicking the lead rope side to side in front of him and make him back up quickly out my space 6-8 steps and he instantly stops and that is it for another 3/4 months!

BUT i know he will not go up over my head or barge at me etc, and he is only 13hh-so depends how you feel about facing up to her and whether you think she will back down instantly in the same way.

TBF it also worked on previous much bigger stallion who could have the same infrequent impatient thoughts.

He is only lead in a normal headcollar but again he isnt strong or pushy at all.

 

[Tiddlypom]

She’s now on restricted turnout after box rest?

How much turnout is she currently allowed?

 

[Xmasha]

How does the monty roberts head collar work? I’m not really tempted to spend £50 on a new head collar for a field ornament but if I could employ the principle maybe. I’d does look like putting her on the lunge and just ignoring the tantrum might be the best port of call at the moment.

it works due to pressure and release. You need to watch the DVD that comes with it, and then do some ground work in it. I understand why people are sceptical of it, i would be if i hadnt tried it. But, Ive used on different horses for different reasons, from loading practice to naughty in hand behaviour, it works as long as you get the timings right, which is why you need to practise first.
it sounds like your mare is hungry/angry when shes coming in, just like my mare was. I try and ensure now that if they start looking hungry in the field they get extra hay in the field so they dont become 'hangry'

 

[[118739]]

Thanks these are all handy - she doesn’t kick her back feet about when lead so not toooo worried about that being an issue on the lunge. That’s said it’s something to look out for... she’s an odd bod - bucks under saddle if excited never rears, opposite in hand ?!

Chifney will be purchased if she seems to be making a habit of it/giving her a proper row and using what I’ve got doesn’t have enough of an effect.

 

[[118739]]

She’s now on restricted turnout after box rest?

How much turnout is she currently allowed?

She’s out all day but in a relatively small paddock so by the end of the day she’s really keen to get in and have a fresh haynet, usually just keen. Once our fields and gateways are drier she should be back out in pens steadily increasing in size but who know when that’ll be ?‍