rearing, please reassure me..

D

Daphnelia

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 May 2007
Messages
874
Location
Sussex
Visit site
Took Harry out for a jaunt around the forest this evening, for the first time with a curb chain on his kimblewick - all was going lovely, we jumped some logs, had some good trots and canters, and had a play in the waterholes (well, around the edge, Harry decided crocodiles lurked within)
So on the home stretch I decided to do some walk to halt transistions, and ask him to stand for a few seconds before walking on. He didnt like that, and stepped forward and backed up, tossing his head. I have done so much hard work on standing still with this horse, so I was a bit peeved, and held him strongly between my hands and legs (which is what I usually do when he figets) and told him to 'stand' - to which he went up about a foot
frown.gif
Shouted at him and walked him forward to repeat excercise, cue not standing still, me taking a hold, and him rearing again, but this time higher. Decided to take a different approach and asked him to stand with very gentle contact, which he did and calmed down.
I think the answer is staring me in the face, and its that he doesnt like the curb, and was telling me the only way he could. I guess just writing it all down helps me to think clearly and not panic. I dont do rearing horses, I havent the nerve or the skills to cope with one. So Im a bit worried here
crazy.gif
Please has anyone heard of this sort of reaction to a curb chain before? And could you recommend any other bit? I certainly didnt jab him in the mouth, but id hold him enough for th curb chain to come into effect. He's in a ported kimblewick now, but can get strong in it which is why I wanted the chain to come into action. Perhaps a gag?
Thanks

xxx
 
Just a thought, did you have the chain a little too tight? Or perhaps did not release the pressure quick enough?

I always make sure I can fit 2 fingers between chin and chain. And no matter how weak or strong the bit, it is only as severe as the person using it, so maybe not such a tiqht hold is required and an even quicker release than you are used to?

Good luck.
 
a pelham is harsh due to the fact you have a extra brake this could possibly be his reaction to it
i would try him in a gag
 
No.. it wasn't too tight, thank you though, I checked it several times before I set out because I'm so fussy about his tack!
I have little doubt that it was my hands at fault, I am so used to having to be strong with them when needed, although thats no excuse. Probably did not release pressure quickly, thinking about it. I guess I'm just seeking reassurance that this was my fault and not some demonic streak coming out in my angelic horse!
crazy.gif


xxx
 
I think you will have to remove the curb for a while to allow him to forget how to rear, if when you apply your hands and legs the chain is fitted a millimetre too tight the discomfort would cause him to react in the only way possible , to go up.
I would guess that's the cause of the rearing, and changing bits for a while should fix it.
The two ring gag can actually be quite kind especially if you use two reins and only use the lower one when you really need to.
If he is so sensitive perhaps he doesn't need a strong bit at all, just a change in design, I found the Myler comfort snaffle with a high port incredibly effective on a horse badly started and who tried to lean, within two sessions he was very responsive and calm.
 
I think what you asked him to do was inviting trouble. Things like that teach horses to rear, I doubt he will do it in a 'normal' situation but be aware that it's now in his vocabulary to try again in a similar situation
 
Look at it from another perspective...
If you wanted to teach your horse to rear, what would you do?

Probs, when he's in a keen mood and wants to get home, stop him and refuse to let him get on with going home. Then wrap your legs round him & keep a tight hold on the front end and hey presto..... Pony has learned to rear.

 
I can't believe you are wondering why he was irritated at being asked to halt quietly on is way home if you have only just started teaching him to stand properly! And holding him back and squeezing was giving him some mixed messages. You are doing the right thing in expecting him to be able to stand when you tell him to, but make the lessons easier and don't pressurise him so much that he resorts to rearing to get away from you.

You answered your own question - you loosened your contact and he stood quietly. But don't make someting as simple as standing still into a battle, as you could end up losing.
 
i'd put a rubber curb chain guard on, but most of all, i would never ever ask a horse to stand in that way. fwiw i asked something similar (but very lightly) when i was a child on a show pony, and it went straight over backwards with me, and i woke up in hospital the next day... very lucky only to be concussed.
if you keep both legs on and both hands firmly, the only way he can go is UP.
you need to ask for a halt passively and softly, and repeatedly, not as a challenge. he is a flight animal, and if he gets nervous, it is his instinct to move. if he can't, he'll go up. very very simple. you said you were "a bit peeved" because he wouldn't stand after all the work you've done on it, so i wouldn't be surprised if you were a bit stronger than usual about it. that coupled with the curb chain that he wasn't used to... you are very lucky you haven't got a fractured pelvis now, tbh!
i'd be a lot lot gentler and politer about it, and not make an issue of it. the more relaxed you are about it, the more he will be, and then it'll be easy.
 
I personally wouldnt try a gag. I tried one on Sus for faster work and he reared in that. It was only on the snaffle ring.

I would try a neue sheule tranz bit. (there are different types) I have the one which is like a gag only the bottom ring in incorporated in to the snaffle ring. This has worked really well i have the brakes and no rearing.
 
My mare does the exact same thing (she's in a hackamore) and if I relax more she is more likely to stand still. She's reared with me a couple of times which I've basically ignored as the more uptight I get about things the worse she gets. She doesn't get away with it and still has to do the exercise though.

I agree with FMM though, by doing this exercise the way you have you are almost teaching him to rear. You already said that by being calm he was better behaved. Try starting out with something much easier, like standing still on the yard or in the school and gradually build it up to standing while hacking. And remain calm if you can. As yet, I wouldn't ask Pen to stand on a hack unless totally necessary as I know it would just wind her up, but take her into the school before/afterwards to work on these kind of things as she's more relaxed there. Remember not to ask for too much too soon.
 
If introducing something completely new I always do so in a school, finding out on a hack that your new bit of kit isn't the right thing is a bit of a nightmare.

And yes, horses can react strongly, we tried a pelham on Emerald once with a view to using it for showing. At the first contact of the curb chain she walked backwards and sat down (because she is too polite to rear without lots of warning) - we never tried again!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I can't believe you are wondering why he was irritated at being asked to halt quietly on is way home if you have only just started teaching him to stand properly! And holding him back and squeezing was giving him some mixed messages. You are doing the right thing in expecting him to be able to stand when you tell him to, but make the lessons easier and don't pressurise him so much that he resorts to rearing to get away from you.

You answered your own question - you loosened your contact and he stood quietly. But don't make someting as simple as standing still into a battle, as you could end up losing.

[/ QUOTE ]


I agree. Also a gag would not really be a good idea as it has a head raising effect and is just as strong. It seems a shame after he was a good boy up until that point, perhaps you asked too much of him and it's how bits are used not just how strong they are, if they are used insensitively.
 
If you are riding in a strong bit like a kimblewick you will need to adjust your riding accordingly. I ride my older horse in a kimblewick when I am doing fast work, but know that I only need to 'think' stop and fractionally stop moving my hands to slow her. If I took up a strong contact and used my legs she would find it WAY too much! Are you sure you need a kimblewick? If you are sure you do you will need to take great care to ride with a truly light hand
 
I definatly rather have a horse that rears then bucks, much easier to sit to! (for the average rear anyway)

I don't think kimberwicks are that strong, espcially if it is a propper old kimberwick with slots in the ring. then it can be a D-ring snaffle or a hanging cheak (or i can think of an analogy to the top slot!) with the bonus of spreading pressure with a curb that you can tailor to your horse. People resort to gags far too easilly now theres no two ways about them being harsh bits! If you want to practice halts on a hack i'd do in just prior to turning to home so they've burnt off thier exese and are not facing home and just do it calmly with as little rein contact as needed.
 
FWIW, Antifaz can be very strong, but he really really objects to anything with a curb. He's much happier in a dutch gag (no curb!) you could try the kimblewick without the chain for a while OR I believe you can get elasticated curb straps which would soften the effect.
Incidentally, A once reared right up and over with his previous b*stard of a rider but has never ever done it with me, so don't panic about the rearing just yet!
smile.gif
 
I'm not sure you want to look at changing his bit particularly - although he clearly doesn't like the curb strap. But I would certainly re-evaluage how you ask him to do things.

In an ideal world of course you horse should stand still for you on the way home. But we all know that horses don't think like that - and I think your first mistake was to ask him to do this at this point in the ride, I would suggest. For what purpose anyway??

I don't know why you need a strong bit - and it is a strong bit regardless of what one poster has said. But you do need to look at how you ride your horse in one. And if he isn't happy with a curb chain - look yes at another type of bit that doesn't need one, but will still give you some brakes.
 
Thank you for all the replies. I have been taught to ask him to halt like that by my previous trainer, and before now it has caused no problems and he has settled. He is extremely sensitive, with a bad past, and her reasoning was that it made him feel secure. Clearly in extreme situations that is not the case, which is why I changed my approach.
Why did I ask him for halt on the home stretch? Because he should. Just as he should halt for all road junctions on the home stretch. I did a lot of work on this about 2 months ago, so I havent just started teaching him to stand, I appologise if my words were misleading. Halting on the homestretch is something I ask of him everytime I hack, and usually he is happy to oblige, because he feels more secure in familiar surroundings (as opposed to out in the middle of the forest).
I have no doubt my hands were at fault, and am furious with myself. What I wanted to know was whether it was a common reaction, as I am still learning. I (unfortunately?) have not taught him to rear, he is capable of going up spectacularly when he is upset or in pain. This I felt was forgivable, as how else could he let me know..? I was concerned that it had become 'bad behaviour' for want of better term. I now am convinced that's not the cause, so thank you for reassuring me on that front.
I hope I have answered everyones questions. And thanks again for the replies. Will work through this very carefully, am going to see if a friend has a gag I can borrow for a little while, and will certainly look in to the myler bit

xxx
 
I quite agree that your horse should stop when asked, especially on the way home, otherwise it can turn into a race to the yard. It is an unusual ride where there isn't a road junction that you have to stop at on the way home. I think I would move to a less harsh bit, rather than going up the scale as I have found over the years that my brakes are better, and the horses outline is better if you aren't fighting over a harsh bit.
 
Thank you
smile.gif
I dont want to move him to a 'harsher' bit per sey, just something that will give me adequate control when cantering on a hack, but that he is happy with. I usually ride with the reins of the kimblewick on the highest slot, and no curb chain. But for cantering on a hack he seems to forget he's got a bit in and it takes a good tug to even get him to slow. He works so well in the kimblewick, just not the chain it seems (so basically its a drop straightbar snaffle!) Although cantering he responds well to it.. hmm.. we'll sort something out Im sure

xxx
 
Ditto most of recent replies, its no good trying stuff like that on the way home, it just winds them up, better left in a school. Personally I wouldnt imagine the bit makes a jot of difference.

Any of mine would act like that if I asked them to stop randomly on way home! - they would stand but if asked continually for no obvious reason they would get shirty.

Even the minis in hand going home would create!!!

Its something for the school in my opinion.....but thats just my opinion.

Dont get me wrong my lot will stand if at a junction or some other valid reason but horses are not daft, if they sense you are doing it on a hack for the sake of doing it, they get arsey!!
 
Thanks for your opinon
smile.gif
He is asked to do the same thing on every hack, as previously mentioned. I like both my animals to do what I want when I ask, regardless of where it is, guess I'm a bit funny like that
wink.gif


xxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top