Rearing 3yo in hand

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NELSON11

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Hi

Does anyone have any tips on stopping a very exuberant 17hh 3 yo from rearing in hand on his way to the paddock in the mornings, is led in a controller headcollar and long lead rope but suddenly just squeals very quickly and erupts. Once he comes down generally just walks into the paddock. Isn't on anyheating feed. Try and avoid meeting other horses going out at the same time and keeping to a routine but he is so hot and I am never getting a break as don't feel happy for the livery yard staff to handle him as don't want them to get injured.
 
anti rearing bit but please if you havnt used one then get someone who has to show you they are very nasty used in the wrong hands but can sort the problem quickly
 
can you do a bit of in hand work before/during heading to the field?

backing up, sideways, turn on forehand etc.

my 5yro has been quite naughty on the way to and from the field (rearing, leaping etc) and this has worked very well for us.
 
Do lots of ground work. Teach him backup and use this as an exercise when taking him to the field. You can also lead him with a stick in front of his chest to reaffirm backup or back off.
 
Hi. I would definetely try the chifney having had to have one continually on my previous horse to lead/load. The only thing which you would have to be mindful of is if the horse got loose from you - if he were to inadvertently stand on his lead rope the pressure from the chifney would be enough to snap his jaw, I know this is probably the case with most bits, but with a chifney it would cause a very nasty injury. Also if it just so happened that you were not around one day for any reason and someone else had to bring him in i.e staff you would have to make sure they knew not to tie him up using the chifney - again any undue pressure on the jaw from a horse pulling back whilst tied up could result in a broken jaw.

I've got to say that my WB ALWAYS knew when he had his chifney in, and never played up whereas on the very few ocassions that we led/loaded him without it on he would turn his head away and tank off (with three of us clinging onto his rope on one ocassion whilst be pulled around a carpark!). To be fair to him he had leading issues which we later found out were due to pain from wobblers syndrome and it wasn't a behavoiural issue per se.

My advice would be to use a normal headcollar but buy the little side attachments that allow you to convert your headcollar to a bit. Then you have a chifney and headcollar in one and there would be no excuse by anyone to tie the horse up by the chifney.
 
Chifneys can be invaluable with a gregarious youngster however I wouldnt personally have a chifney attached in any way to a headcollar. I always have the chifney on as a separate entity and use 2 lead ropes, one on the chifney and one on the headcollar with the headcollar rope being the one predominantly used. The chifney should be a back up and when used should be short and sharp infrequently, not tugging constantly as could happen if attached to another headpiece. Just MPO.
 
What time is he turned out in the morning and how long is he out for?
is he the first out or are the others out before him? Although you say he's on non-heating feeds, what is he on?

I would take away any opportunity he has to be excited i.e. first in, last out. let him have a run in the school before hand if need be. Make sure he's out every day if he's not already. Also look at his hard feed and hay - horses react different to different cuts and products.

lastly, i would get the staff to lead him once all these things have been looked at, subconciously(sp) you will be waiting for him to rear and this wont be helping.
 
In the wrong hands, a chifney will make the problem worse, not better. Also, I'm not a fan of special headcollars that "fix" problem horses... they are animals, and it's unlikely that their behaviour can be corrected by a particular headcollar (unless it is used very wisely indeed).

Rearing, in general, happens for two reasons. The horse is either 'saying':

1) I want to get over there now!!! (in which case the rearing is fairly clearly directional)

or

2) I'm bigger than you, you can't boss me around

I normally deal with the first one by taking the rearer away from what they want to get to. Every time they rear, they get further away from their desired goal. They eventually learn that they get there quicker if they DON'T rear.

Number 2 is more of a dominance issue, and may show itself in other areas of the rearer's life too. Only you will really know which one it is. Number 2 is solved by using a long heavy cotton line (about 10ft long), attached to a chain through the mouth. Every time the rearer goes up, you use slack in the line and flick it, sending a loop "up" the line (like sending loops along a hose line). The attached end flicks up and pops the rearer gently in the side of the mouth. All of a sudden, they're "not" bigger than you, and they learn that that act of dominance is futile.

If you are unsure of how to deal with it, or are not confident dealing with this, then send it to a professional.
 
i personally wouldnt use a bit as a long term fix...what happens when he learns he can pull you with that?? your buggered
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, when my colt went through his rearing phase i used to make a lot of noise shake the lead rope at him and generally turn quite aggressive, i also had a tendency to walk into it almost, but that did result in me gettin hit a few times so maybe dont do that as your horse is a fair bit bigger than mine (hes only 13hh atm) ground work is so valuble it gets him to respect your space and see you as herd leader...i started doin a lot more with spangle and he doesnt rear anymore (touch wood it wont start again in spring, hehe)
 
Thank you for all your advice, I will digest it all and hopefully things will start to improve, was an excellent lad this morning and kept all 4 feet on the floor going out to the paddock. Feed wise, he has hi fi lite, handful of readigrass and a minute morsal of allen and page Quiet herbal mix. Has been on haylage all his life so decided to try 1/2 hay 1/2 haylage see if that helps. Is first out in the field, however we are on a big big yard and it all starts getting busier at 7am so maybe that adds to the excitement. Once again appreciate all your ideas/suggestions. xx
 
I've had a similar problem with a 2 year old, only on way in from field! A friend recommended using a natural horsemanship type halter, I was very sceptical but bought one and gave it a go! I'm gobsmacked my filly will now walk in on a piece of cotton, the rope on the halter is very thin so works (I believe!) on the fact that the horse doesn't like the pressure. So instead of dragging me in and standing up it only took a few lessons with this halter to turn her into a different horse!
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Rather than stick to your routine, I'd break it totally; it sounds like he's anticipating everything, which is very exciting!

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I agree, I used to think Uno needed routine, but have since realised that routine makes him expectant...and he gets excited with the anticipation. For example, he would rear in the stable when I got his turnout rug out - so now I put it on him some days and leave him to eat his hay for a bit and start mucking out etc before turning out. Then other days, he gets turned out immediately. It has really helped and he's much better behaved when you keep him guessing.
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He's far too clever!
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Here is another vote for a Richard Maxwell halter which I borrowed from a friend when my filly got a bit cocky. It is almost too small for her now but I have used constantly and it has been brilliant for just reminding her to stay back at my shoulder. When she was younger and coming in from the field at teatime when she was hungry she would be very strong, but I felt completely in control.

Now that I am leading her out on the roads I use it on top of her inhand bridle as a safety back up so that if there is any kind of naughtiness I do not have to pull on her mouth.
 
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