Horse rearing - advice please?

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Claiired

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I have an 18 year old arab cross which from the day I have bought him he has reared when I don't let him get his own way. This is becoming more frequent as he's pulling me to go more often and when I don't let him he dances around and rears.

I've got a running martingale on him and does absolutely nothing! He can rear as high as he wants with it on and can still shove his head up high too :(, someone on the yard suggested instead of buying a standing martingale just to attach the rings to his noseband (it would be a hassle changing martingales when ever I want to jump as I prefer just tack up and go).

Would this be safe?
Would you do this to your horse?

Just to add, Spook isn't in pain. He just doesn't like being told what he can and can't do! :D.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Claire :D
 
If you are an experienced rider with a truly independent seat, Richard Maxwell has a method that he advises is a winner. As the horse begins the rear, lean down to one side and slap the horse under its belly with a crop. The horse is so shocked that a reprimand has come from underneath him that RM states he will immediately stop the rear and start thinking. He might do it once more in case the belly smack was just a one off but if you repeat it, he won't try it again. I would stress, you need to know what you're doing and you need balance, limpet-like stickability in the saddle and determination. Bear in mind though that if you successfully stop the rearing, the horse may well search for another evasion. The real success lies in schooling so that the horse understands what is expected of him. Good luck.
 
Hi

i know what your going through!! :rolleyes:

If spook goes in an outline when you are asking him to do something ask him to go in an outlineit will make it harder for him to go up and can make him off balenced forcing him to stop rearing!

If he doesn't try using a bungie for a few weeks, sometimes if a horse has more to think about aswell as doing something else he will forget about rearing!

:)
 
I tried the tapping him on the belly with a crop today, thats going to take some practice lol :P

I've also tried the bungies today they calmed him down but he was walking sooo slow it was too slow for the roads so scrapped that idea.

Thanks for the suggestions :D
 
He actually used a giddy up type rope rather than a crop (easy enough to make, cut the clip off a lead rope, fold in half and tie a handle), much easier to handle.
Maybe get some help to be your eyes on the ground to see what he does, or video it so you can watch for yourself, it can be very enlightening.
 
i have heard of some very weird methods... getting a bloodied rag and smakking over head and even smashing a bottle!! how awful!! :mad:
i was lucky as i didnt whip my horse that often and when he started to rear..(out hunting) i would whack him the moment he started until he stopped just kept going... he never did it again!!
if not.. just kick foward until your cantering, then stop and walk off calmly,
these all depends on the nature of your horse... good luck
 
Very interesting to read how people tackle this issues. My horse is exactly the same, very light off his front feet when he does not want to co-operate. Sometimes it is a little bounce other times full on rear. The problem with disciplining at the time is he will them take hold and run off, then I cant stop. Like Claiired the horse this is not pain, it is shear over excitment and often rudeness whoch results in a full on disagreement :(

I did know someone who use to take an egg and smash it on the ponies head when it reared, not too harsh just a bit messy :s
 
My horse started rearing in spring not through anything other than a major attitude problem it is now rarely an issue (hope it doesn't kick in again come spring) he had just turned 6 having teenage phase. His was nappy reluctance to go forward but in your case you say he wants to go and when you hold him back he goes up so I would try keeping him going even if it is in circles or pealting around even. Also a preventative smack on the shoulder helps as does head to knee, best thing I have found is turning whip upside down and smack from one shoulder to the other over the neck (they fly off forwards) obviously sometimes the only thing you can do is sit it out.

I wouldn't put a standing martingale on as you may find the restriction will make him worse or even loose his balance. My instructor said not to have any martingale only breastplate.

Good luck
 
Putting the rings through the breast plate is fine, it's better than buying a standing martingale too, it does the same job. Might need to make it a little longer.

As for hanging off and smacking him on the belly, talk about having to be super flexi. lol :D
 
coen said:
My horse started rearing in spring not through anything other than a major attitude problem it is now rarely an issue (hope it doesn't kick in again come spring) he had just turned 6 having teenage phase. His was nappy reluctance to go forward but in your case you say he wants to go and when you hold him back he goes up so I would try keeping him going even if it is in circles or pealting around even. Also a preventative smack on the shoulder helps as does head to knee, best thing I have found is turning whip upside down and smack from one shoulder to the other over the neck (they fly off forwards) obviously sometimes the only thing you can do is sit it out.

I wouldn't put a standing martingale on as you may find the restriction will make him worse or even loose his balance. My instructor said not to have any martingale only breastplate.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Sorry if this is a silly question but I have never used a breast plate only a martin gale, how would the breast plate help?
 
It wouldn't but it wouldn't restrict and make things worse. The point is you have something to grab hold of and it also prevents the saddle slipping back.
As mentioned earlier martingales do not stop the horse rearing.
 
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