rearing horse going right over?!?!

[mazziek]

Just recieved a text from my friend who was riding her warm blood and apparently he reared and went right over on top of her, thankfully she is ok. He did this a few years ago but then chilled but now it seems he starting again. his back teeth etc are fine, any ideas? she asking me for advice and i think she should get rid of him cos i think he has a screw loose, he bolts the second the gate opens into the field and generally is very spooky. she has him on majic and that was making a difference but i think she got a real fright again this time. last time she would not ride for months then built up slowly lunging etc. What does the lovely forum people think?

 

[Penny Less]

I had a horse that reared right up with me, but was fairly regular, so ceased riding him.This seems a rare thing so probably physical prob somewhere or poss overfeeding and underexercising? Difficult as understand not wanting to ride !

 

[Lauraoscardillon]

I agree that you shouldnt put yourself at risk and this horse sounds like he is dangerous. you say its not his teeth, could it be his back or ill fitting tack? or perhaps he's picked up bad habits

Iv heard, but never tried, and seen it work, that if a horse rears and has a tendency to flip you have to pull very sharply on one rein. I understand this is not normal practice, but the sharp pull over balances the horse and makes him fall back forwards rather than flipping. yes both are dangerous, but id rather he fell forwards then flipped over.


is there any professional help she could try? it really depends how much she likes this horse, as if shes not keen maybe its time for a clean break

x

 

[Shilasdair]

I think that a horse that rears with either no regard for his own safety, or no sense of balance, is a danger to himself and his riders.
Either investigate him fully to find out if he has any reason for this behaviour, or retire him.
S

 

[Silverspring]

Personally I would sell it or shoot it, horse's are supposed to be fun not dangerous.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Very glad your friend is ok.
All I can say is the idea 'getting rid of him' hopefully is not going to involve trying to sell him as a ridden horse, with this problem prevailing.
I would also suggest she definately had an EDT look at his teeth again, analyse the bit in his mouth, never be afraid of second (or third) opinions. I would also suggest a back specialist sees him asap and his saddle is thoroughly checked and re fitted. Poor horse. In cases like this I would doubt that a supplement is going to get near addressing the root cause.
PS a horse bolting when the gate opens into the field is very commonplace, and so often these things are just bad habits that say more about the owner than the horse.
Hope this gg gets the help he needs.

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
I think that a horse that rears with either no regard for his own safety, or no sense of balance, is a danger to himself and his riders.
Either investigate him fully to find out if he has any reason for this behaviour, or retire him.
S

[/ QUOTE ]

Totally agree with this, having been in hospital myself as a result of such a horse...

 

[emma69]

If a horse has already gone over, and keeps on doing it, he has no regard for his own safety, and IMO, is not for an average horse owner. Some go up high, and can be quite scary, but they usually have the self preservation gene intact - if the horse doesn't then he is a danger to himself and others.

First course of action is vet - they can hurt themselves in all kinds of ways if they go over - muscles, bones, tendons etc. A scan might be in order too - the last horse I knew who reared over repetedly had a brain tumour (not discovered until he was PTS, but a scan can detect them so at least you will know why, even if there is nothing you can do). A physio might be needed depending on what the vet says. He will also need his back checking again, and the saddle if he went over as it can break the tree. Then, if there was no physical reason, I would have to determine the right course of action for me and the horse - if I was going to be too scared to ride him, and couldn't afford to / find someone to reschool him (someone very experienced) then I would PTS - I could not in clear conscience sell him on, even with disclosure.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

i had a mare (the cause of my loss of confidence) who used to rear. i swear to god she deliberately went over backwards onto me. i broke ribs, but they've mended. however, i'll never get back the confidence she took from me.

tell your friend to get rid. it's not worth the pain/fear etc. i firmly believe that rearing is bad enough, but one that will allow itself to go over backwards shouldn't be ridden - esp if it has happened more than once.

my mare was a quick learner, and was prepared to risk herself in order to get me off her back. she knew that doing that stopped me from getting back on that day.

your poor friend. i hope she's ok. xxx

 

[0ldmare]

I think I would carry out a full investigation to try to find out what caused it - vet, teeth etc. Only after thats been done can you really decide the horses future. That said I can certainly understand your friends reticence in getting back on - it would have scared the hell out of me!

 

[LauraWinter]

I think that rearing is one of the most 'incurable' problems, particularly when they go over backwards which suggests little sense of self-preservation which is ultimately very dangerous. Your friends life is the most important thing of all- I learnt the hard way that perseverance has its place and dangerous horses are not it

 

[Booboos]

Rearing and going over backwards is very extreme behaviour and seriously dangerous for the rider.

I would investigate physical causes further or retire or PTS. I would not sell this horse on as he is dangerous.

 

[emma69]

If you pull sharply on the rein you have as much chance of going backwards as you do forwards. Most horses don't rear to verticle, although it seems like it on their back some days. If they are at the point where you could go over, the safest thing to do is bale out side door (as if you have safety stirrups they will dislodge at this angle anyway). If you are up but not at that point, a fore arm across the neck pushing your weight on to it will often bring them back down to earth.

 

[BBH]

Ditto.

 

[welshied]

I would advise her not to ride this horse and the same as what over people have said either retire him or PTS as rearing is bad enough without him going over backwards and i would say your friend is very lucky to have managed to unhurt the two times he has already done it.

 

[mazziek]

i have told her before she needs t do something with him, he was sent to highly sought after proffesional who sent him back after a week! he was from a dressage yard originally and these are things i keep reminding her off, but she feels he has hope cos he has a famoud daddy and can jump! but having been on a hack with him and him going sideways so much so he put me and my highland in the ditch! ive also had his head on my knee when out hacking! its like a fuse goes off in his head and he cant think right! ive told her time and time again he is dangerous but she says 90% of time he ok. He has had teeth, back, saddle etc all checked all came back fine. i dont want to see her seriously hurt but she only 16 and maybe a bit niaeve

 

[Lauraoscardillon]

after hearing all this and everyone elses comments, i think perhaps its better in the long run to stop riding him, and not sell him on as a riding horse. I'm only 17, but i guess its never going to be easy to have someone tell you to stop riding your horse.

i don''t know what could be done..but if she gets seriously injured because of him she will regret it, perhaps you could explain this to her?

 

[Bowen4Horses]

[ QUOTE ]
i dont want to see her seriously hurt but she only 16 and maybe a bit niaeve

[/ QUOTE ]


she is only SIXTEEN??? oh my. get rid of him. tell her parents he is endangering her life and they need to address the issue. poor girl.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Hmmmmm. She needs a vet to look at him firstly to see what the latest rear did damage wise, and secondly to investigate this behaviour. He was sent to a pro who sent him back after a week?Because they thought there was nothing wrong or because they wouldnt go near him? Being safe 90% of the time is 10% short. She mustnt even think of getting on him but, I query PTS at this stage, poss more than meets the eye here.

 

[0ldmare]

Hmm, I think I am amending my view to 'Please dont let her ride him'

 

[mazziek]

The professional sent him back as he was too much work and would not settle. prob is this proffessional is known for taking difficult horses and being able to help. i agree with many of you that rearing is dangerous problem is she goes away soon for 3 weeks and wants me to ride him, haha not a chance!! ill give him to vets when she away! i sat on him once, never again! he is a 17h monster! i like my 15h highland! i think he panics a lot, he cant travel with anyone or with a partition he panics and kicks trailer to bits! i think checking everything is def an option, she is meant to be jumping him this weekend at a show, im going to spend tomo tryin to convince her not too. the YO thinks he far too dangerous and feels her parents should get her something else. thanks for all ur replies im glad im not the only one who feels he dangerous, i dont mind looking after him when she away but riding no way, problem is leaving him for 3 weeks not a good idea either.

 

[Quadro]

could always try remedial schooling i take horse for schooling and if your near edinburgh im in east lothian

 

[MontyandZoom]

Definately get the vet. There could be existing problems or he could have injured himself by going over.

Zoom has actually reared twice over backwards by headshaking. Does he show any sign of headshaking. Consult the vet who will go down all possible avenues, however if it is behavioural I'm afraid it is retire or PTS.

 

[emma69]

If he has just gone over he will be in no fit state to jump this weekend, regardless of any ethical dilemas, he will be bruised and sore, and it is not fair on him.

 

[Flame_]

A 17 hand warmblood is not usually suitable for a sixteen year old. Is it possible he just needs the right home and job?

What he's doing is dangerous and it may well be that he is with any rider, but personally I'd send him to a good professional for assessment with a view to sales livery.

If the pro can't sort it, shoot it. If they can, get them to sell it for the owner to an experienced home. The girl shouldn't ride it again IMO.

 

[Nari]

[ QUOTE ]
I think that a horse that rears with either no regard for his own safety, or no sense of balance, is a danger to himself and his riders.
Either investigate him fully to find out if he has any reason for this behaviour, or retire him.
S

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly what I was going to say.

I don't understand how people can say "sell it". How would you live with yourself if someone got badly hurt or killed? If thorough investigations show nothing & you can't afford to retire it then PTS is the only moral action IMO.

 

[Kenzo]

hmmm there is nothing worse than a rearer and its a tricky one.

Is there any kind of similarities in his work...for example asking for something that he can't mentally cope with?

Did he only go over a few times years ago before he stopped doing it, as in over he went and realised that was a silly thing etc as he was loosing his balance or was he flipping over every single time?

Did he have any ways of avoiding the rider before, say backing up, napping, spinning and figured out that rearing was the only way he could get out of doing something or is doing it when he's spooking?

If he's really on edge (spooky all the time) and is dangerous to handle even from the ground (jumping on people when leading them about) and its more about total change of temperament then perhaps concentrating on ground work for a while to build up his confidence and see if that improves that way, and stop riding him for her own safety.

You can stop a horse from going up vertical but you can't stop a horse from going up and twisting and falling on its side (like a stunt horse) ....still a painful way of landing but if a horse lands on you it can kill you knock you out so she really doesn't want to be riding it without company or supervision, pulling the head round (kissing your iron) should prevent him from going up vertically but it depends if your friend gets any warning as you need to be two steps ahead or its two late.

I've see a horse rear and fall over 3 times with the rider in the space of 20 minutes, unfortunately the rider was not that lucky the 3rd time, she left in an ambulance.

I'd give the horse a chance by finding out what's behind it and dong some ground work etc but certainly wouldn't be riding it, no horse is worth risking your life for.

 

[fornema]

THat sounds so like how my 15.2hh TB ex racer started out when i got her she was mad to say the least and would rear about 20 times in an hour session when this was happening i wa 16, now 18. she couldnt hack full stop. Im a very confident rider and couldnt care less about hitting the turf. So at one point i was riding her minus stirrups as she seemed to go better without and i was having alesson on her she reared vertical and started to go over backwards so i pulled her over to the side (in the school) and she was so shocked at the the fact that id pulled her to the side i stood off as she hit the ground she has never tried to rear/buck etc again she is totally fine and now does dressage

I got her checked over etc and in no way was she hurt to all the people who will disagree with what i did please dont comment on it But if the rider has lost her confidence maybe some work with the horses groundwork and remidial schooling will help. MAybe natural horsmanship may help and you could sign the horse up for Monty Roberts demo and see if he has a solution

 

[mazziek]

apparently he landed on her leg but she is fine, she not wanting to stop riding him, no matter what im saying. he doing it to get away from her, he does go backwards a lot, when jumping he can be all over the place. asked her t get vet t check on him make sure he ok but she said wat he gonna tell me! i really dont want t see her getting hurt, he caught her leg twice wats the 3rd time gonna be! thanks for all your advice

 

[fornema]

IT really does sound like basic ground work and confidence on the ground needs to be built up