Rearing in the school

Elen

New User
Joined
16 January 2025
Messages
4
Visit site
Hello! I have recently bought an ex race (3 weeks ago), he is amazing in many ways.

He has started to rear when being schooled (in a school). He will go 15/20 mins without anything, going perfectly and then randomly goes up. It is generally in the same spot, but sometimes goes past this no problem. He hasn’t reared hacking, and has been pretty bombproof out and in open spaces - it is just in the school.

I have spoken to the previous owner who has even agreed to take him back, as he wasn’t sold like this and states that this very out of character.

Does anyone have any advice ?
 
could be any number of reasons varying from kissing spine,boldness, food/haylage setting him off,too little turnout, being confused by rider/ too little work. If he has done it once you can guarantee he will do it again when he feels under pressure, defintely send him back. if you even start looking down the back x-ray/SI diagnosis road you will end up spending a fortune, return him while you can.
 
Last edited:
I’m not a trainer. I bought him as a safe, confidence giver, happy hacker.

I would not expect an ex-racer I had specifically bought as a happy hacker to necessarily be as well suited to working in the school. I know my guy isn’t- hacking is what he does really well because physically that’s easy for him where sustained periods of schooling would not be. (Not that I would expect him to rear, but change the parameters in what you wanted and what you expect, you may hit issues)
 
I would not expect an ex-racer I had specifically bought as a happy hacker to necessarily be as well suited to working in the school. I know my guy isn’t- hacking is what he does really well because physically that’s easy for him where sustained periods of schooling would not be. (Not that I would expect him to rear, but change the parameters in what you wanted and what you expect, you may hit issues)
Thank you for your help, appreciate the advice
 
I've got a friend in a wheelchair due to a horse rearing, slipping and coming over backwards. Its not worth it. Once they learn to rear as an evasion its always their go to and no matter how balanced and calm they are about it, you cannot be sure that they wont come over backwards or even sideways and leave you crippled or dead.
 
When you buy a safe happy hacker I don't think you should be expected to deal with rearing at all.
I didn't say one should, did I? But the OP said s/he wasn't a trainer and I was pointing out that it's better to acknowledge that we all influence our horses and take on that responsibility, for any horse one happens to own or handle, even if well trained by someone else in the past.
 
I also agree to send him back. It's a shame, but safety wise it's the best move. A rearer isn't much of a confidence giver.
 
Absolutely send him back.
For anyone else who comes across this my horse started randomly rearing up in the school but never hacking, scoped with grade 4 ulcers. * i had owned her for years not 3 weeks!*
 
Top