New young horse rearing

Mansifamily

New User
Joined
3 March 2013
Messages
5
Location
Bournemouth
Visit site
Hi
I have just brought a horse from a friend have ridden her many times b4 she has been an angel, she is 4 in may she is a 15hh welsh d x gypsy cob. Took her for hack today with two other horses absolutely fine but when coming out of field to x main road, stood for apps 20 secs to let car go past friends horses at her side just about to wait for next car to slow down she put in an almighty rear, came back down pushed her forward and as good as gold. Obviously I do not want her making a habit of this and don't really understand why she did it, just had saddle professionally fitted, teeth rasped, nothing physically wrong, I'm thinking she might have just felt a bit vulnerable but I need to stop her from doing it, I know all about the eggs, hitting under stomach, turning, pushing them forward etc etc, but this was on a main road, couldn't have pushed her forward into it!!!!! Any professional unbiased advised would b great fully received please!!! :-)
 
Meh, she's a baby, she probably just had a 'moment' with being in a stressful situation. You didn't make a big deal of it and just asked her to go forward so doubt it will become a habit.
 
Things happen with young horses you just need to be consistent and try to work out why it happened without dwelling on it unduly.
 
I wouldn't be too worried sounds like a baby being a baby mine has a different moment everyday. Yesterday she jumped out of her field because another filly snorted at her today everything had to go in her mouth can't wait to see what tomorrows test will be. Sounds like you did the right thing though.
 
Yep, discount it for the moment. Once is babyish, twice is a concern, thrice is for further work to find a cause.
 
I wouldn't worry at this point. I certainly wouldn't be attempting eggs or stomach with it though. That's a great way of producing far worse habits/extreme reactions in a baby unsure of the situation.

As far as this time goes, she had a moment while being asked to
1. wait
2. while cars are going past

you still carried on anyway and her world didn't implode.
 
Sorry; what is "eggs"? To address your question: probably just a new rider, new hands on the reins and a new situation.
 
Cortez, I suspect OP meant the practice of smashing eggs of the poll of a rearing horse to simulate hitting their head and causing an injury. Both dangerous and messy, also doesn't work!!
 
"eggs" is the suggestion that if you break an egg on a rearing horse's head they stop doing it...

OP she's young, take things slowly and expect the unexpected!
 
Sometimes they just don't like standing still for long. Be very aware now you know what she's capable of, it's a very dangerous thing so I hope it is a one off. If you do have to wait at a junction talk to her, be nice to her, stroke her wither, practice building up the length of time she stands still, 20 seconds may not sound like much but to a youngster who's had quite a lot of new stuff to take on, it is quite a long time!
 
Ah, understand the eggy thing now: very stupid and old fashioned advice. Doesn't work, silly idea and much better addressed with giving hands and proper schooling.
 
Best horse i've ever owned did this as a baby. When really scary stuff came toward us out hacking she'd go up and box out at it. She still does whatever it takes to keep me safe but has toned it down a bit! That little horse would jump the grand canyon if she thought I needed her to! I wouldn't worry for now.
 
we were having the same problem with my young mare same age as your youngster and it turned out to be a combination of stress eager to move forward and not really understanding what we were asking. she is still very young not quite 4 yrs yet what we have done is took it a step back and did some more ground work long reining and getting her to understanding halting and moving forward etc and i have to say it has worked a treat standing all day long then moves of your leg when asked etc. wee just need to take it slowly with them and remember they are baby's and get a better understanding of them and there needs no matter how frustrating it can be to us
 
What were you doing at the time she reared? I realise you were trying to avoid riding into the traffic, but what you were actually doing at the time must have had some bearing on the situation.

Young horses don't always do stopping and waiting very well. It is sometimes a good idea, rather than attempting to 'hold' them against any movement, to keep them moving, perhaps turning in a circle, until it is safe to proceed.
 
Top