Help: Rearing Horse

[odgy89]

hi guys,

i am new to this forum and already i need help.

i own a 15.2 bay standardbred and have had him for the last year and a bit. he was turned out for about 6 months due to work committments but now i am trying to get back on him. I am a tad scared though because he rears up quiet alot, which he never used to and i dont know how to stop it.

I must mention that before he was turned out he started rearing at an event so i dont think it is entirely because he is fresh. I have just purchased a wintec 2000 and had it fitted to him so im hoping that will make a difference.

I would just like some ideas as to why he is rearing, and how i can try to fix it...

Regards

Odgy89

 

[jumpthemoon]

Hi, there could be lots of reasons why he is rearing. He could have backpain, his teeth could be hurting, he cold have pain somewhere else whci is exacerbated when you sit on him. What's he like on the lunge? Have you trotted him up to see if he is sound? Is there something in particular that causes him to rear (ie when you put your leg on, when you pickup a contact, when you initially get on etc)

I would get all the checks done (back & teeth - you've done saddle )and do a bit of work in hand maybe to get your confidence back up. Maybe try long reining for a few days? If you are scared that won't be helping and may be making him worse. Good luck

 

[flyingfeet]

Get teeth, saddle and if necessary a check over by the vet (I don't entirely believe in back people, but some are better than others)

Then if its just something to fix, the easiest method is to use lateral flexion of the neck to bring their head to your foot. A horse cannot rear from here, then keep the feet moving and send them forward (thinking forward is best method to get out of the backwards habit)

However if you are at all not confident you are liable to make things worse, so consult a more experienced horseperson.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Get off, stay off - and get help! With anything that rears, there's a reason for it, and yes, get all the checks, i.e. back, tack, teeth etc done, BUT if you haven't got the experience OR sheer grit to deal with this, its far better to get experienced help at an early stage IME.

It might be you have to go back and concentrate on groundwork, for now, rather than ridden work; it might be that there is a physical reason for this or possibly the horse has had a bad experience somewhere.

Whatever, it's a dangerous thing to happen and if not nipped in the bud at an early stage is only going to get worse.

Personally I'd consult a "Michael Peace" or IH type expert - as with mine (who only rears at places like shows where his ASBO side really possesses him!!), it took a great deal of understanding of WHY he was doing it before we could deal with HOW to deal with it.