Re: Rearers

[Navalgem]

Someone posted on here a while ago about rearers and whether they can be cured.

I bought a horse in early January with 'issues', where if he was scared of something he'd rear, sometimes spin and then try and leg it. I love him to bits and persevered with him with help from a more experienced rider and recently we went to a show and came 4th without one rear all day when he used to rear every time we got to a scary filler and it was in a place he'd only been once before so I cant put it down to him 'knowing' the fillers, he's also given up rearing and spinning on hacks if he's spooked by something. So fingers crossed that it might now only happen on rare occassions.

 

[jumpthemoon]

It was me!!

Thank you for your words of encouragement

How did you do it? I've come to the conclusion with mine that sitting quietly and asking him to go forwards, but not too harshly, is the key i think. If i dont let him turn around he will eventually carry on without too much of a fuss

Well done for your achievements anyway - must have been really proud at the show

 

[Navalgem]

I was almost in tears at the show, bet ppl thought I was a saddo crying over a 4th but it was more that i'd got through 2 clear rounds and a class (1st round and jump off) with no scary antics.

Not sure about your horses history but mine has a decent jump and some greedy git (thinking jump ig class = mega-bucks) stuffed it straight in a foxhunter class when he was 5 (last year) and he jumped 7 fences before he threw in the towel. It's seriously upset him and he's obviously taken a few beatings because once he's reared he panics.

The scenario was:
scary filler, spooky bag (on hack) etc, spin, I'd hold him in he'd rear small realise he's done something wrong, expects a beating, goes bit higher, I'm still there so goes higher still, scares himself and quits but when feet hit floor he goes into full panic flight mode and became a quivering wreck when I eventually managed to stop him.

We just persevered, never smacked him, tried to just reassure him and calm him down and eventually he'd actually be able to pass the scary thing at 100mph with a 15ft radius or at least not be in such a state that we could jump another jump before leaving the arena after his rearing episodes. These got less and less and he got more confident, I also tried predicting things that would scare him and try to ride more forward and positively with leg and seat but keeping him more in my hand too if that makes sense but in a "this really isn't so scary" way rather than a "I will force you past it" or a "i'm scared too so lets leg it" way. I'd pinched some of those things they use to cordon off areas off roadworks (blue) and asked him to jump them today, he refused 4 times before jumping it but he didn't panic or rear on any occassion so I'm very hopeful. I dont think he's 'cured' and I'm always aware that something mega scary or unexpected may cause him to rear again, but he's improved a thousand fold.

Sorry bit long-winded, hope it helps and Good Luck!

 

[Santa_Claus]

rearers can be 'cured' but you need to get to the route of the rearing first and have lots of patience. But a rearer is always a rearer and if put in a certain situation they will still go up.

Fleur was horrendus as a 4yo and spent a lot of time on her back legs, she has slowly improved and I struggle to remember when she last went up or even threatened to. (think well over a year and now 7). With her it was a confidence and stubborness rather than pain thing. She wasn't sure she wanted to do something so she would blindly refuse and go up if you attempted to make her. As she has gained confidence in me and I took away her oppourtunities to rear (if i could feel her thinking about going up I spun her) she slowly tried less and less until now almost never.

So yes have patience it can be done!

Katie

 

[jumpthemoon]

Navalgem - Well done and thanks for the tips. I dont know my horses history but somew of the things you said struck a chord. He is scared to death of whips, if you shout at him he panics and when he rears he goes into a silly panic and keeps rearing until i can calm him down. once he realises what im asking he normally is fine with it, so i assume he's been pushed too far and beaten at some point. Even in the last couple of weeks he has made a lot of improvemetn though and i dont think he is as bad as your horse sounds.

Its so nice to hear success stories and hopefully ill be able to post one of my own soon! I hope you continue with your progress

katie - I think all horses have ways of dealing with situations they dont like and as you say, this cant be 'cured'. I agree with the confidence and patience approach so thanks for the advice and again, its nice to hear a sucess story!

 

[samp]

My horse wil also rear if she is unsure of things, however we have built up a rel and trust one another that she now stops dead and very rarely rears and if she does it is mini rather than vertical ones

 

[Tempi]

[ QUOTE ]
With her it was a confidence and stubborness rather than pain thing. She wasn't sure she wanted to do something so she would blindly refuse and go up if you attempted to make her. As she has gained confidence in me and I took away her oppourtunities to rear (if i could feel her thinking about going up I spun her) she slowly tried less and less until now almost never.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly the same with Archie, he rears through lack of confidence or shear stubborness when he dosent want to do something. I do the same if i feel him about to go up he either gets a wack (Depending on the situation) or he gets spun in a circle and then made to go forwards straight away.