Ideas/help with mare that rears please

T

TequilaMist

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 March 2006
Messages
1,733
Visit site
Anyone any ideas what to do with daughters horse ,6yr old (but greenish) 16hh oldenburg mare had 5/6 months.Has a basically a good nature but when she gets stressed or doesn't want to do something does bunny rears,that was ok daughter just boots her on,mare listened ok to that and they are getting less and less.But other week mare reared enough that daughter came off (daughter tho 15 is very capable confident well balanced rider)obviously this is a concern as don't want daughter seriously hurt even if she can be a pain in the neck!Did suggest to daughter that there will come a time when mare would really try her out so maybe that was it or that she feels more settled now so true habits coming out(if you know what I mean).Someone did suggest putting her on lunge and if she reared pull her over,purpose being to give her a scare but to be honest really don't want to go down that way or maybe I'm niave and it does work(just doesn't feel right risk to horse etc tho have heard of someone doing that).So any suggestions appreciated.Would like to work this out if possable as mare is a babe every other way (so far!!)Thanks in advance.
 
I don't have much experience with rearers, but personally I would go down the back, saddle, teeth check first.

I also wouldn't pull her over on the lunge as this would probably do more harmm than good and could injure the horse and yourself quite badly.

Good luck
 
Have you had teeth, back and saddle checked? She may be in pain and rearing as a result.
What does your instructor say? She could just be testing your daughter but it can become dangerous. Does she do it with other riders?
 
now pulling over in my opinion is a very last gasp measure and shouldn't be used unless nothing else works.

Fleur for a long long time reared mainly as she hated a contact on her mouth to start, got easily confused and just wanted to get out of what she was doing. I was able to feel before she actually did when she was going to threaten to go up I would spin her in a tight circle by putting my hand behind my back and pushing her round with my leg. By turning this tight she was unable to rear and slowly found she couldn't use rearing as form of evasion so stopped. Obviously worked at the same time on the reasons for her rearing in the first place. There is no doubt she will always be 'a rearer' BUT she hasn't taken her feet off the floor for that purposes in possibly a year now although has threatened once or twice but i spin her before she has chance to actually go up.
 
i think there was a post like this quite a while back where alot of people said when they go up smash an egg or wet sponge on their head because they think they have hurt themselves apparently very messy don't know if it works mind never tried it but i would do all the health checks first and i personally wouldn't pull a horse over on the lunge could be bad
 
My mare used to nap and rear if she didn't get her own way. Spinning the horse in a tight circle definately works as they can't get up to rear. I would get her back/teeth/tack checked in case she is in pain and that's what's causing her to rear. If she's ok in that respect you should get an experienced rider who's used to rearers to ride her as then she will realise she can't get the rider off by rearing. I would not pull a horse over on the lunge as it may hurt itself/get tangled up etc. - it just sounds very dangerous and would just distress the horse further.
 
Your daughter need to learn to recognise if the horse is going to rear before she does it. As soon as the mare thinks nap get after her don't wait for her to rear. If she is riding and the mare shortens her neck back towards her and slows a bit that is the best time to give her a kick etc. If you stop it before she has a chance to get to the rear you are dealing with a far less dangerous situation and its a lot easier to cure.
 
Back etc have all been checked and ok(she got teeth done just before we got her actually was there so know its true)She has been working on the bunny rears and this appears to be better(or less incidents)She hasn't seen instructor since the BIG rear but will later this month.She hasn't done it with other riders but then she has on had would say 2 other riders(once each) on her since we got her but then she doesn't do it all the time with my daughter either.
 
Must admit this is my feeling on mares reason for it-evasion(could be wrong) but bunny rears does present itself when she doesn't like something-hates standing still,she sees something not sure of or doesn't want to do something.She is VERY foreward thinking always wants to be on the move tho getting better at standing when on.Daughter has been quite strict with her from day one.
She apparently did bunny rears with old owner but owner used to get off when she did this so wether mare has thought 'well bunny rears don't work lets go higher!!'
I'll talk to daughter bout spinning as sounds logical and sensible esp if it works.
Agree rearing will be her thing.Alway think that each has its own little quirk!She has never even thought about bucking hopefully never will as can't stand the two together-used to know one that would rear then come straight down into a big buck-clever!!
Oh agree with the pulling over as unsure if it may give another issues and TBH wouldn't feel confident enough to do that to a horse esp if there is a more lets say civilised way to do it!!
 
I have heard of this one but have never seen it done.Yes could imagine it would take a lot of co-ordination.
Daughter might manage it on bunny rears and hopefully mare wouldn't pass that height!!
 
I would suggest not keeping her standing waiting, walk in circles and keep her going forward.

When she starts to rear pull her head right to your knee, she wont have the balance to go higher and kick her on out of it.

A lot of horses start this habbit and then can progress to full rears. If a horse is moving forward they cant do it but may learn to fly leap which is'nt as possible to avoid.

I would'nt create a fuss, just turn her head kick her up, stop her from having her head in front. You can feel when they are going to start, they go tense and plant, you feel the hind feet dig in, at this stage, you are loosing, you need to learn to anticipate the feeling and work hard in your riding to prevent it.

I would never pull a horse over or smack it on the top of the head, a horse can panic and go over backwards.

On the lunge a horse generally wont do it, because they are going forward. It can be done to excitement and the horse saying come on mum, lets get going, in this case I would not punish the horse too much, just get on with your riding.

If you feel its because the horse is testing, being nappy then the above mentioned should help. I would never go for brutal methods or make a fuss, it can just make the horse worse.

Alternatively you could get your instructor to access it, and see what their thoughts are. It is very hard to give advice, without knowning the horse and rider and I hope I have been helpful. I am sure lots of advice will come flooding through and its up to you to decide what you think will work for your particular situation.
 
Its a difficult one to crack permenantly - a mare I used to own would very occasionally rear when she was asked to do something she didnt want to do. I agree spinning them is the best, and safest, option. You always know when they are about to do it. They slow down, then the head goes back and then they step under and, as the previous person said, at that point its too late.

I have seen one additional technique work incredibly well ie permenantly, but never had the bottle, or balance, to risk it! Basically I used to know someone who took on problem horses and he used to carry a lead rope when riding a rearer. He waited until they reared and then bought the leadrope down so it curled and hit the horse under the tummy. This of course is a very vulnerable area for a horse and he very rarely had to do it twice, BUT the reaction varied from horse to horse. Some would buck, some would just land and look horrified. I am not sure anyone but a real bronco rider should use this technique, but it certainly worked!
 
Yeah, Id say do the usual checks (saddle, back, teeth etc.). I would never recommend pulling the horse over. Yes, I have heard of people doing this and that it sometimes works (other times doesnt) but I know one who was pulled over, the horse basically did some very serious damage to his back...... So it is NOT worth the risk.

Ive also heard of the technique told by Oldmare. Might be worth a go. Im not sure. I had a rearer once and I tried leaning down and tapping the horse under his stomach as he reared but all it did was upset the horse more.

I have heard cracking an egg between their ears (when your on obviously) can work as the horse thinks he's banged his head and he's bleeding. I didnt want to try that on my horse as I knew he'd freak out!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top