Rearing - ignore or reprimand??

Dawng

Dawng

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I haven't ridden since before the bad weather in November so did some in hand exercises yesterday leading in walk over a pole and halting just for 10 minutes but when I went to lead her back to her stable she reared up and kicked up backward like the 'airs above ground' movement. I was so taken aback that I didn't do anything just took hold of her again and carried on - do you think I should have ignored it as I did or should I have reprimanded her in some way - just wondering in case she does it again. She's never done anything like it before - I'm sure it's just high spirits because she hasn't been worked. Any thoughts please.
 
Personally I would have done something to reprimand her, often a good growl does the trick. Rearing is not nice, particularly in hand where you are in a very vulnerable position. In your circumstance I can imagine you were too shocked to do anything as she hasn't done it before.
 
my lad did the same thing out of the blue, really shocked me.. my automatic reaction was to roar at him and push him back out of my space once he landed. he hasn't done it since (touch wood!). at the time he was moving up ranks in a new herd, so i think he was checking his dominance over me. i would always automatically reprimand a rearer i think
 
I think you did the right thing as, like you said she has never done it before and it was completely out of character. You carried on, you didn't let her go and run away so I don't think she will associate rearing with getting something that she wants. If she starts doing it regularly I would recommend using a chifney-I used it on my mare (a 16.3 wb is too big to be standing vertical while you lead) and she never dared do it again! Good luck! :)
 
I always naturally react by reprimanding. Have unfortunately dealt with quite a few rearers and my share lived on an arab stud (til last thursday :( ) so i handle the youngsters a lot, who seem to like standing on their back legs.

I automatically give a yank on the leadrope, turn to face them with strong dominant body language and a very firm NO. Then ask them to walk on nicely. Even if it is just high spirits, it's not an acceptable way to express it when ridden/ in hand and they need to know that very clearly.
 
Thanks for replies I think I'll not be so shocked next time and obviously will have to reprimand so she doesn't think she can make a habit of it.
 
Just as an update - decided to try and lunge today to get some of the excess energy away - well she bucked and reared and then zoomed round like a catherine wheel - just let her do it and got her demons out but she did lead in quietly. My legs were like jelly afterwards and have now started on a glass of well deserved wine!
 
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