How do I deal with a TB rearer??

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siobhanc

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Hi everybody! I'm a new poster with a problem....I need advice on how to handle my rearing horse...he's a 10yr old TB gelding ex-racehorse and he's been off work for about a year because of rider injury and college (He did rear before his break so I don't think the time off is a huge factor). I'm trying to bring him back into work and we're doing roadwork 3-4 times a wk.He's not generally spooky, no probs with cars or tractors or anything, but he can be a bit nappy sometimes and has started rearing and twirling around. He hasn't managed to unseat me yet (its only happened maybe 4 or 5 times) but I think its only a matter of time really. I've been trying to just ride him forward if I feel him slowing and getting ready for a rear but I'd love to know if there's anything else I can do?I don't want him to learn this is a way of getting out of work. Thanks in advance!
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Perhaps going into the school/field and doing abit of schooling to get him off your leg and listening to your aids will prevent himfrom napping in the future as he will learn to go forward and listen to you.
Never be to sympathetic with him, use a firm voice and make him go where you want him to, you cn back up your point with a tap with the crop behind the girth.
when he rears keep your hand low and heels down and sit up lol(as i have expearianced lmao)

he should come, hes only green now, from what i cn make out, so a bit of schooling should do the trick!
make sure he isnt in pain, make sure his tack fits him, the bit isnt to strong, and check he hasnt got any sharp teeth or illnesses!:)
hope i could help xx good luck
 
Well, rearers can be dangerous if they flip over backwards and land on the rider. If you are sure this won't happen, then I have a few ideas.
Firstly - you could long rein him, and drive him strongly forwards when he starts rearing/napping, with no risk to yourself.
Secondly, ride him out in company initially, as if he were a youngster...following at first, then gradually taking the lead, to build confidence before going out alone again.
Thirdly, when you ride him, be alert to the first second he slips behind your leg - and give him a sharp tap with the whip. If he does start to nap/thinks about going up, turn his head and neck to one side, and turn him in a small, uncomfortable circle, periodically offering for him to walk on. If you flex him to one side through his neck, it is much harder for him to rear...so this will prevent it, is easy to do, and acts as a self-inflicted punishment until he decides to go forward again.
Hope this helps you.
S
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Totally agree with Shilasdair - I have a very similar problem with my IDx.
Different horses respond to different things - my friend's mare is nappy and rears but if you even think of touching her with a whip she'll freak out and probably flip on you out of spite! Mine, fortunately responds well to a quick smack to encourage him forwards and if he's being particularly nappy, tight circles, then I drive him forwards with annoying constant nudges and growls! Good luck
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My sister's old horse turned into a really bad rearer, think lack of experience with a nappy horse at the time on our part and lack of confidence in doing some things. he mainly did it if asked to enter an arena to jump or to go away from his mates, the rest of the time he was pretty well behaved but it got too much for us really and my sister went to uni anyway so we sold him. We had tried sending him away to be reschooled and gain confidence which worked for a while but unfortunately his rearing was far too well established.

We sold him telling the purchaser basically he was fine providing he wasn't out under pressure to jump and she was happy with that as she didn't want (she bought him but he was soon sold on but that's another story!). Anyway, a few years ago somebody (I can't think who) gave us a tip to stop a rearing horse and that was to tie the tail to the girth of the horse as it needs it's tail to balance and so, if it can't lift its tail it cannot go up. Now I guess this would only work if you know when and what type of situation your horse is going to rear in. I did suggest a friend try this on a horse he had (a new green one who started rearing) he did it and apparently it did work! I think a lot of rearers do it as they are not confident and then they learn that by rearing they can avoid doing whatever it is they are not sure of so maybe gaining confidence/trust will stop the problem before it gets out of hand but, if already well established I would try any tips possible (wish we'd tried a few more on ours!)
 
Shilasdair is bang on, i had a bit of a rearing episode with my girl and was recommended to flex her neck in an uncomfortable circle, she learnt after about two or three tries that i had a solution to her rearing and now doesn't do it anymore!!
 
Do check he isn't in any kind of leg/back/mouth pain tho. My nappy tb mare started rearing when she came down with arthritis, it was her way of telling me she was having a bad day.
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Whip him hard under his belly, this is the area that a predator would attack and rip his intestines out so whip him there and he may be less inclined to rear and put his most vunerable areas at risk again, predatory reaction apparently. Read it in a book once
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Or you could do the old smash an egg on his head routine lol.
 
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Whip him hard under his belly, this is the area that a predator would attack and rip his intestines out so whip him there and he may be less inclined to rear and put his most vunerable areas at risk again, predatory reaction apparently. Read it in a book once
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Or you could do the old smash an egg on his head routine lol.

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I probably wouldn't recommend whipping him 'hard' under his belly - firstly, unless the OP is a contortionist, or has arms like an orang utan...this could prove physically challenging whilst riding, and secondly, the belly skin is thinner, and more prone to damage, then the skin covering the larger muscle groups on bottom and shoulders, etc (not that I'd smack anywhere to mark a horse).
The 'egg on his head routine' sounds easier than it is - I don't know if you've ever ridden a rearer...but the planning and co-ordination required to carry an unbroken egg, and have the presence of mind to smash it on his poll at exactly the right moment, would elude most of us
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Nice ideas though
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S
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I'm guessing he's an ex flat racer? They have a tendancy to rear and apparently it's due to the starting stalls (or so I've been told)!

It's good to try and pinpoint when he's doing it - my new TB was spinning regularly on hacks, but always when something was unnerving him. I realised that my seat and way of riding was letting him know when I was tensing so when he saw something he wasn't sure of he'd not have the confidence to pass it if I was being a woss!

TB's have an uncanny knack of knowing exactly what's going on in your head so you really need to make sure that you're relaxed (which is difficult if your horse is about to rear) as you'll make matters worse!

Agree with Shils but if you're preempting him rearing you have to make sure you're not tensing when he does....good luck!
 
agree with masterbronze. When you feel him start to lift his feet, disengage his back end by turning his neck. They can't buck or rear if their hind legs are disengaged. remember to free up the opposite rein tho' . Turn the circle which gives him something else to think about and then march on. They soon get the idea that rearing doesn't work any more.
good luck
www.scotnorthexracersclub.co.uk

good website for friendly advice
 
Thanks a million guys.looks like small uncomfortable circles might be the best option for him,I'll keep u informed on our progress!

Oh and I know exactly what Parkranger means, how do TBs know what you're thinking?! Its mentally tiring riding Ted sometimes, I've to be constantly anticipating what he's thinking, he's always trying to be a step ahead of me!
 
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