Handling issue

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traceyann

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Iv had my new horse about four months now i posted a while ago he likes to rear and box at my head and he bolts 0-60 three seconds flat. He has improved greatly and it dosent happen everyday now. I have him in a be-nice.But on windy days will be a nightmare to bring in and start rearing again i have thought of a chifney for his rearing but because he bolts as well a bit worried about his mouth. This horse has had huge amount of ground work done on him and is well behave in it he just gets a bee in his bonnet. You cant shout or smack this horse as he explodes. I only want to use the chifney on windy days for my saftey and another problem if he panics he runs straight at you.
 
Have you tried using a stallion chain or buying a headcollar with built in chain (Eskadron)? They give the pressure and control when needed (ie so he can't bolt) but for the main the headcollar is just a normal heacollar. I don't know whether it would worsen the rearing though or not. Not had any experience of leading in a chifney but how would this stop the horse rearing?
 
Sounds as though you might need to get another horse: I often handle my youngster in a bridle and lunge rein because he used to jump in towards me when he was spooked, and knows he can drag me when in a normal headcollar.
His handling is getting better, he has no nasty character, just reacts before thinking, he has had a lot of grid work, which asks him to think and watch his balance.
Make sure you do your training in a pressure halter, and carry a long dressage whip to direct his body. Do not allow him to box you, this is dangerous. Use two handler or three if need be, feed forage only and magnesium calmer.
Always handle with a hard hat a stick/whip and leather gloves. Was he like this when you bought him?
 
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ladyt25 said:
Have you tried using a stallion chain or buying a headcollar with built in chain (Eskadron)? They give the pressure and control when needed (ie so he can't bolt) but for the main the headcollar is just a normal heacollar. I don't know whether it would worsen the rearing though or not. Not had any experience of leading in a chifney but how would this stop the horse rearing?
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A chiffney is a ring bit, it is fitted high in the mouth, and the top of the ring hits the roof of the mouth when jabbed, can be used to remind rearing horses that this is not acceptable.
 
My old boy who was 17.2 reared and boxed down he would also try and bolt. It is a dangerous vice, I was shown by someone very experanced how to use a chiffney and it worked. I used to be very against them but it came to the point that it was either a chiffney or he would be pts cause he was a serious risk of killing someone. If used correctly it won't do any damage to his mouth or make it harder like any bit it's only as hard as the hand on the end of it.
 
Sadly he came to like this he been badly abused but the stud he came from he had put two people in hospital with head injuries. I knew he was naughty and he is getting so much better than he was he is only fed chaff calmer do not work for him not even acp he runs on fear thats why i always have hat gloves body protecter cant have a whip as he would go into orbit i was more worried about the chifney cutting his mouth
 
a chiffney actually puts pressure on the tongue when a horse goes up, if your horse is bolting your safety should be paramount!! use one, if he bolts and it jabs his mouth it might teach him a lesson! how about doing leading practise in the school maybe? to make him gain more respect? hope you sort it out soon... rearing is no fun :(
x
 
Please be very careful using a chifney on a horse that runs off. If you are going to use one, you must NOT let go of the lead rope under any circumstances. If you don't let go, you will teach him an effective lesson, as I would put money on him only running off because he thinks it is acceptable behaviour. Another reason for not using a chifney incase you let go is that I have seen the most talented and promising horse lose over half of his tongue after a member of yard staff let go of him whilst leading him with a chifney and lunge line as other horses came galloping up.

Try and make leading him in as un stressful as possible by not leading him through fields with other horses in, wear a hat, body protector, gloves and sturdy boots.

My mare used to do the same, but by just leading in a chifney and her trying to go up once, she never did it again. (I still lead in the chifney for safety). I have also heard it is effective to smack a rearer's belly with a leadrope when it goes up. I haven't had a rearer to try this on since I was told this, so you might want to look it up.
 
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