Rearing - How would you deal with it??

i can see your point and i agree, trust and trying to turn them and make them move their feet also works in alot of cases.
unfortunately, a friend of mine has a rearer who is just unreal. it rears vertical, falls over, spins and broncs and its all so violent you end up flying off. So none of these methods work. The friend bought the horse, knowing it had a problem, from a dealer but then found out that he had had 7 previous owners and the only way the dealer could ride was to cling on and then beat the crap out of him. This horse is 17.3hh 5yr old warmblood.
so now the horse is only doing ground work to gain some trust, but the owner will not get back on as it is too much and he isnt experienced enough...sad really. i dont know what they are going to do, no one we know will get on it, just do ground work - he is a real diamond on the ground.
but if someone in the beginning had got on top of it by using one of the methods mentioned then it might have been a different story for the horse.

(he has had all medical/back/teeth checks)
 
Thanks for all the replies, its interesting to see how people deal with such problems, i myself prefer a bronco than a rearer but have found myself with a lovely horse who has confidence issues and napps when she feels insecure.
Although i can understand the theory behind the egg lol id end up squishing it even before get the horse out of the field!! :D

so if anyone else has a tried and tested technique id be really interested to hear :)
 
I use the same technique for rearing as for bucking. Sit the initial incident then as soon as hooves on the ground kick on into three or four sharp spins in one direction, followed by the same in the other, then back in the initial direction several times. Then just ask the horse to walk/trot on as if nothing happened. The 'bad' behaviour then has not so nice consequences for the horse, and the incidence of that unwanted behaviour reduces. Same method is working now for the new 'running backwards' trick, modified slightly.
 
I do think it all depends on the reason for rearing. My mare used to rear, both in hand and under saddle, and it stemmed from several things - youth, lack of manners, and excess energy.

Finally, it happened one too many times - I had her in hand, she went up, fell over backwards and before I could react and just let go, dragged me into her flailing forelegs.

That was 8 months ago. Broke a bunch of bones in my face and left me with sinus issues that will require an operation to sort out.

Rearing is a serious and dangerous vice. On the advice of a friend who is a trainer who specializes in OTTB's (which is what I have), I went right back to basics. Nothing but lots of intensive groundwork, with the goal of building both respect and trust. I have only just begun riding her again within the last couple of months and the difference is incredible. She now listens, responds and in the past 6 months has not once offered to lift a front foot off the ground. Not even close.

As I said, I think a lot depends on the horse and why they're rearing but that's what worked for me.
 
Hmm I've been keeping an eye on this thread as the girls pony, which she's had for 3 yrs, rears - but only at the gymkhana/xc start line or in a sj line up. Not always just sometimes & it always seems to be in anticipation to get blasting round! Daughter would much rather deal with this than if he bucked/bronced (sp?) - she had a few that did that- had him checked out & is not in pain, it seems to be excitement. She trusts him & knows how to handle what he does & when he's going to do it, so for her she tries to just keep him moving around. We knew about this when we bought him & it didn't put us off, but I would think differently about one that rears due to napping.

Fwiw, I know quite a few that have used the egg solution with great success!!! xx
 
PC Steele said:
Well im speaking from experience actually!!! I have used the newspaper and the egg method and have had success with both. These methods were taught to me by a person who used to sort out napping/rearing horses. The egg method is good as it completely shocks them but doesnt hurt them. Also the newspaper makes them think they have hit their head without hurting them if they hit their head everytime they rear they will stop.I will say eggs takes a certain amount of skill:D Please dont poo poo things until you have tried them!!!!
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Well, Kali has a VERY nasty scar on his poll right behind his right ear - apparently he went up in the box on the ferry over from Poland . . . he was still rearing when we bought him so I guess hitting his head didn't work . . . what we have found works is to ride him forwards so that he can't go up . . . he hasn't worn the martingale or draw reins he came with since we bought him and his rearing has almost completely stopped. Patience and persistence are better than any gadgets.

P
 
PolarSkye said:
Well, Kali has a VERY nasty scar on his poll right behind his right ear - apparently he went up in the box on the ferry over from Poland . . . he was still rearing when we bought him so I guess hitting his head didn't work . . . what we have found works is to ride him forwards so that he can't go up . . . he hasn't worn the martingale or draw reins he came with since we bought him and his rearing has almost completely stopped. Patience and persistence are better than any gadgets.

P
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I have to agree with this, bashing horses on the head with eggs or whatever is really not the way to go.
 
It always makes me laugh when people say, 'Hit him between the ears with an egg!'
When a horse is trotting along the road, suddenly stops and goes up and by up I mean near vertical, the last thing I would be thinking about it getting an egg out of my pocket and smashing it on their poll.
It takes a great deal of athletic ability to stay with your arm wrapped around the horse's neck and smash it on the poll, without pulling it over.

A confirmed rearer is safer to ride than one that suddenly reacts for some reason. The experienced horse knows how high to go although I have ridden some that will throw themselves down agains a bank but have never (thankfully) met one that flips over backwards for the joy of it. They only go over if they go to high and over balance or the rider pulls them over.

If I have a horse that rears then I will sit them out. They can go up. I will not let them spin and if they do I will turn them back on the way they spun to. I will let them go up without doing a thing other than leaning forward. When they stop I will still sit or I will encourage them to continue rearing. They are expending more energy then I am and will soon get tired. Once stood for a while I will ask them to go forward on my terms.

Like a lot of things a horse that rears is trying to frighten the rider, when it doesn't work they will give up (mostly)

http://www.youtube.com/user/endospink?blend=7&ob=5#p/u/10/cBcQsVdxEA8

http://www.youtube.com/user/endospink?blend=7&ob=5#p/u/6/gsLt-j0N5tw
 
Foxhunter49 said:
It always makes me laugh when people say, 'Hit him between the ears with an egg!'
When a horse is trotting along the road, suddenly stops and goes up and by up I mean near vertical, the last thing I would be thinking about it getting an egg out of my pocket and smashing it on their poll.
It takes a great deal of athletic ability to stay with your arm wrapped around the horse's neck and smash it on the poll, without pulling it over.

A confirmed rearer is safer to ride than one that suddenly reacts for some reason. The experienced horse knows how high to go although I have ridden some that will throw themselves down agains a bank but have never (thankfully) met one that flips over backwards for the joy of it. They only go over if they go to high and over balance or the rider pulls them over.

If I have a horse that rears then I will sit them out. They can go up. I will not let them spin and if they do I will turn them back on the way they spun to. I will let them go up without doing a thing other than leaning forward. When they stop I will still sit or I will encourage them to continue rearing. They are expending more energy then I am and will soon get tired. Once stood for a while I will ask them to go forward on my terms.

Like a lot of things a horse that rears is trying to frighten the rider, when it doesn't work they will give up (mostly)

http://www.youtube.com/user/endospink?blend=7&ob=5#p/u/10/cBcQsVdxEA8

http://www.youtube.com/user/endospink?blend=7&ob=5#p/u/6/gsLt-j0N5tw
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Ditto this, has worked for me for the last few years!
 
That second video is excellent, you rarely actually see what happens like that, it's normally over so fast, nice to see an excellent emergency dismount, very impressive.
 
Kadastorm said:
i can see your point and i agree, trust and trying to turn them and make them move their feet also works in alot of cases.
unfortunately, a friend of mine has a rearer who is just unreal. it rears vertical, falls over, spins and broncs and its all so violent you end up flying off. So none of these methods work. The friend bought the horse, knowing it had a problem, from a dealer but then found out that he had had 7 previous owners and the only way the dealer could ride was to cling on and then beat the crap out of him. This horse is 17.3hh 5yr old warmblood.
so now the horse is only doing ground work to gain some trust, but the owner will not get back on as it is too much and he isnt experienced enough...sad really. i dont know what they are going to do, no one we know will get on it, just do ground work - he is a real diamond on the ground.
but if someone in the beginning had got on top of it by using one of the methods mentioned then it might have been a different story for the horse.

(he has had all medical/back/teeth checks)
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Would he be any use as a driving horse, some of them really love it, and it might be a long term solution for him.
Inexperienced owner buys a rearer from a dealer, what next!
Even good riders don't want to risk their life with something like this when they could be riding good horses.
 
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Ehmm, re. post above....... re. using as a driving horse, I'm not sure I'd be too happy going behind anything that had ever reared, especially if they twist when landing!!!! But can see your logic, it maybe with some horses that having the feeling of being between the shafts might just provide reassurance.

But personally I'd be very very reluctant to put in harness anything that had ever gone up. I have a friend who drives a lot ....... be interesting to see what she'd think about that (Judy are you on here???).
 
Foxhunter49 said:
It always makes me laugh when people say, 'Hit him between the ears with an egg!'
When a horse is trotting along the road, suddenly stops and goes up and by up I mean near vertical, the last thing I would be thinking about it getting an egg out of my pocket and smashing it on their poll.
It takes a great deal of athletic ability to stay with your arm wrapped around the horse's neck and smash it on the poll, without pulling it over.

A confirmed rearer is safer to ride than one that suddenly reacts for some reason. The experienced horse knows how high to go although I have ridden some that will throw themselves down agains a bank but have never (thankfully) met one that flips over backwards for the joy of it. They only go over if they go to high and over balance or the rider pulls them over.

If I have a horse that rears then I will sit them out. They can go up. I will not let them spin and if they do I will turn them back on the way they spun to. I will let them go up without doing a thing other than leaning forward. When they stop I will still sit or I will encourage them to continue rearing. They are expending more energy then I am and will soon get tired. Once stood for a while I will ask them to go forward on my terms.

Like a lot of things a horse that rears is trying to frighten the rider, when it doesn't work they will give up (mostly)

http://www.youtube.com/user/endospink?blend=7&ob=5#p/u/10/cBcQsVdxEA8

http://www.youtube.com/user/endospink?blend=7&ob=5#p/u/6/gsLt-j0N5tw[/QUOTE

^^^ this !!.
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I agree with nixxy. I am not sure how people manage to carry an egg without it breaking and then smash it at the appropriate time. I also think that hopefully they will stop rearing when they realise it doesn't work.

I have been sold a rearer - and I am trying to resolve it with the help of a NH person. It is a very frustrating problem and I hope we can solve it. I now realise from checking my new horse's history that she has had a rough time in the past and this is her way of showing how unhappy she is. I don't think I am being fluffy in my way of thinking.
 
When i was at uni, i worked at a riding school. The instructor there said that if you feel brave enough, pull them over backwards and they'll never do it again!!! :eek:
Turns out i didn't need to pull my mare over - she went over anyway (excitement on her first ever xc). It was true though - she never did it again! Don't think i'd ever pull one over deliberately, even if i knew it wasn't going to hurt (me or the horse).
 
itsonlyme said:
When i was at uni, i worked at a riding school. The instructor there said that if you feel brave enough, pull them over backwards and they'll never do it again!!! :eek:
Turns out i didn't need to pull my mare over - she went over anyway (excitement on her first ever xc). It was true though - she never did it again! Don't think i'd ever pull one over deliberately, even if i knew it wasn't going to hurt (me or the horse).
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I find it astonishing that any professional would advise any rider on board or off for that matter to pull a horse over, i'd liken that to russian rulette with your life :eek::eek::eek: And the damage you could do to the horse by pulling it over is horrendous.
 
After 9 owners it is not likely that a fix will be found now, he may not rear in shafts, it is only done after loads of ground work anyway, put to a sulkie [tugs but not with traces attached to sulkie], not "tied" in to it, it will soon be clear if there is trouble ahead.
The alternative may be field ornament or knackers.
 
My sons new pony reared up yesterday while he was leading her, we had tacked her up and he was trying to go through the gate. She did a couple of small rears and then went right up, lad tried to hang on to her but she kicked out and hit his hand. I shouted at him to let go and she took off round the paddock. I eventually caught her and removed the reins from her legs:mad: I tried to get her to walk round on the lunge as said lad didnt want to get back on(dont blame him). Think it might be hormone problem which we knew we were taking on but she has been a sweetie up till now. Already rung the vet he is coming friday to see where we go from here. I know that she rears on the start line at games comps but that is very small and only from exitement.
 
maree t said:
My sons new pony reared up yesterday while he was leading her, we had tacked her up and he was trying to go through the gate. She did a couple of small rears and then went right up, lad tried to hang on to her but she kicked out and hit his hand. I shouted at him to let go and she took off round the paddock. I eventually caught her and removed the reins from her legs:mad: I tried to get her to walk round on the lunge as said lad didnt want to get back on(dont blame him). Think it might be hormone problem which we knew we were taking on but she has been a sweetie up till now. Already rung the vet he is coming friday to see where we go from here. I know that she rears on the start line at games comps but that is very small and only from exitement.
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tbh I would ask previous owner to come round straight away, she has had an experienced rider on her previously and may not be the right pony for your son.
 
marydoll said:
I find it astonishing that any professional would advise any rider on board or off for that matter to pull a horse over, i'd liken that to russian rulette with your life :eek::eek::eek: And the damage you could do to the horse by pulling it over is horrendous.
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Oh i know, i totally agree! I just stood like :eek: when she was telling me!
 
Kadastorm said:
i can see your point and i agree, trust and trying to turn them and make them move their feet also works in alot of cases.
unfortunately, a friend of mine has a rearer who is just unreal. it rears vertical, falls over, spins and broncs and its all so violent you end up flying off. So none of these methods work. The friend bought the horse, knowing it had a problem, from a dealer but then found out that he had had 7 previous owners and the only way the dealer could ride was to cling on and then beat the crap out of him. This horse is 17.3hh 5yr old warmblood.
so now the horse is only doing ground work to gain some trust, but the owner will not get back on as it is too much and he isnt experienced enough...sad really. i dont know what they are going to do, no one we know will get on it, just do ground work - he is a real diamond on the ground.
but if someone in the beginning had got on top of it by using one of the methods mentioned then it might have been a different story for the horse.

(he has had all medical/back/teeth checks)
Click to expand...

7 previous owners and it is only a 5 year old? OMG! I am also rather worried by the comment "no one we know will get on it" - with a horse like this the answer isn't just to keep asking braver/more experienced friends, it needs proper professional help. In my experience (and I'm not pretending to be an expert by any means!!) young warmbloods often seem to try standing up at first when they don't want to do something/feel a bit insecure, and how you cope with it in the early days is very important. If your friend can find the right professional to work with then it is very possible that the horse can be helped - whether it will ever be the right horse for your friend is a different question, but a genuine professional who is used to youngsters and tricky horses may very well be able to help turn the horse round and help him find someone who can give him the confidence and direction he needs who would take him on from your friend.

There are people like this around! Someone earlier referred to Michael Peace and Richard Maxwell (although they said Robert....). I've never come across any horses Michael has worked with although I've heard good things. I've seen the results of Max's work and the man is amazing, not cheap but if you want help with a horse that seems unmanageable he would be a definite go to person.
 
I’d cling on, I'd invest more time and engergy in find out why the horse is rearing in the first place, easier said than done I know :) but prevention is better than the cure as we all know, nobody can stop a horse going up if it really wants to.

As for rearing in hand (my horse use to do it and he was a nasty with it too but I knew the reasons why he was doing it which made me decide how I was going to deal with it) and I don’t regret I gave him a good old fashioned crack or two, his actions came with a painful consequence basically and believe it or not he soon learnt it wasn’t a good idea nor did it get him anywhere in life:D, I wore a hat and had eyes inserted into the back of my head (ok perhaps not the latter…but it would of helped!).

Took month to get it out of his system, never gone up since *touches wood*.
 
Suziq77 said:
In my experience (and I'm not pretending to be an expert by any means!!) young warmbloods often seem to try standing up at first when they don't want to do something/feel a bit insecure, and how you cope with it in the early days is very important. .
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This makes so much sense to me as when we bought my daughters warmblood mare at 5 yrs old she had a rearing habit.
Allegedly we discovered her old owner who had owned her since a foal used to get off and put her away when she bunny reared .When my daughter (14/15 at time) didn't get off at the bunny rears the rears got bigger and bigger tho never quite as far as coming over-thankfully.
Daughter used to hit her between the ears but tbh really don't think that worked didn't make her worse but didn't stop her either.It wasn't until I started spinning her that she changed her attitude towards it.Now hasn't done it in over a year even then that was first time in ages and tbf was a genuine scare reaction.I am always aware that this is her thing apart from this she is a sweetheart in all other aspects.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PC Steele View Post
Well im speaking from experience actually!!! I have used the newspaper and the egg method and have had success with both. These methods were taught to me by a person who used to sort out napping/rearing horses. The egg method is good as it completely shocks them but doesnt hurt them. Also the newspaper makes them think they have hit their head without hurting them if they hit their head everytime they rear they will stop.I will say eggs takes a certain amount of skill Please dont poo poo things until you have tried them!!! :- Unquote


Quote:- Polarsky Well, Kali has a VERY nasty scar on his poll right behind his right ear - apparently he went up in the box on the ferry over from Poland . . . he was still rearing when we bought him so I guess hitting his head didn't work . . . what we have found works is to ride him forwards so that he can't go up . . . he hasn't worn the martingale or draw reins he came with since we bought him and his rearing has almost completely stopped. Patience and persistence are better than any gadgets:- unquote

Thank you polarsky!
 
The horse needs more ground work for starts. Teach him from the ground, by lifting one rein, a cue to plant the opposite shoulder and disengadge that same hip by stepping over. Can't rear with a disengadged hip neither can he run off.
 
TicTac - I prefer the open rein method too, when the little poppets start indicating they might be going to stand up I've found it can work a treat to open one hand, bring their head round to my knee, put my legs on hard and say "oh do be my guest", but it has taken me A LOT of work with a very experienced genuine professional horseman giving me instruction from the ground for me to feel confident sitting there and doing that. When the warmbloods start bucking and giving irritated grunts as a defence it seems they're usually about to concede... but it can take what feels like ages and I almost always wonder if I am going to be able to keep up the energy to stick it out. I almost never use my stick, usually only right at the end when they're settling. Knowing how long it took me to get my reins sorted and the leg timing and pressure right I don't think I'll be looking to change my method (unless I find a horse that this doesn't work with, at which point I will be on the phone to he who knows better the instant the horse doesn't respond as I would like).

I do think there's a big difference between a rearer and a flipper as well and no bl**dy way would I get on a known flipper. Any horse can be unlucky and lose balance and go over, one that takes you over on purpose is a whole different ball game and not for anyone other than the genuine professionals!

ETA: That might actually be doing what Tim M just said, just I hadn't thought of it like that!
 
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