Panic rearing, did I handle it right?

[ycbm]

You use the term lease, which in this country would mean that you are paying the owner for the privilege of reschooling their horse and fixing his health problems. If you are paying I would stop and if the owner objects I would return him.

It's spring where you are and lots of horses go loopy on spring grass, theoretically due to its low magnesium levels. You may find he will be much calmer when the grass is more mature. And as others have said, more magnesium might help meanwhile.

 

[saltpetres]

I was thinking about you while I rode my formally mental horse (difference being I own her and I knew what I was buying) yesterday.

I was thinking that if he is truly a schoolmaster over jumps then just do that with him. If that's what attracted you to him, use his strengths. He's 19, he's not going to be easy to sort out now, so if you really want something to hack, then I would consider returning him and getting something safer (doesn't sound like that would be hard as he sounds so dangerous!).

Lastly some things I've done with my horse and some other thoughts:

Unless its blisteringly warm, ride with an exercise sheet. I think this keeps her calmer.

Feed mag ox.

Feed some unmolassed straw chaff while tacking up, I got this tip from my Physio, my horses have adlib hay all the time however straw chaff is harder to digest so it keeps their stomach working while you are riding, it's also going to help mop up any acid that's potentially sloshing about in a nervous horse as well.

Cut out any hard feed, molassed feed (inc those stupid lickit things) etc

Get some lessons. Everyone needs lessons, you just need to find the right person to help you. My jump coach is a very good horseman and often I will come away from my jumping lesson with lots of things which help day to day too.

thank you so much for this thoughtful response, I really appreciate it. I will absolutely try all these tips. I think I ought to give him a bit more of a chance to show me what he can do in his comfort zone (in an arena!), plus we're still getting used to each other and he's been in poor health/condition and is probably only now feeling like himself again. If he's getting acidic when nervous, I think I might cut out the devil's claw in case it's making it worse too. I didn't think of that.

I'm actually having my first ever lesson on Wednesday! I'm nervous and excited