Rearing Youngster Opinions Needed

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Trot_On_Dressage

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Hi All

Was interested in hearing your opinions.

The first reaction my youngster has when either excitable or scared is to rear full up. He hasn't been backed yet so this is only on the lead rope.

My question to those with similar experiences is do you think he will be a rearer under saddle as it does seem his thing to do when under stress.

Opinions great fully received :)
 
Yes. My grey went through a rearing stage as a yearling. I would use a long leadrope and carry a schooling whip. If she *thought* about rearing I would send her forwards. She stopped after a couple of weeks.
 
He does get told off about it and knows its wrong but it's just his first reaction.

He's 5 years old and a TB! He hasn't got round to be fully backed yet through various circumstances and injury!

I guess what I am worried about is that he will be a rearer under saddle as this is his first reaction. Perhaps I'm looking for reasons to get rid of him!
 
Push him forwards so that his legs are moving and he can't rear. Mini-lunge around you. You need to learn to read him so that you can see that rearing might happen (eg scary thing ahead) and keep him moving. My grey hasn't reared under saddle.
 
Thanks for that Faracat. It's good to hear your grey has never reared when ridden.

I've had nothing but bad luck with this horse and I'm worrying his going to be a rearer when finally ridden.
 
Mine rears a lot in play and, unsurprisingly I suppose, that is what she does under saddle too if stressed/defiant. She's never really reared in hand so there was nothing to be done about it apart from brace for impact! :eek:
 
Can you get him in to work now or is he still recovering from injury?
It sounds like high spirits and he should be better with something to think about is it possible to get him long reining in walk you would definatly need a helper as you don't want any nastys happening you could walk him over poles long rein out and about if possible and though cones things like that to get his grey matter thinking.
 
My youngster (ISH) also did this as a two year old in hand. I nipped it in the bud straight away, pushing her on and keeping her moving, and she quickly stopped doing it. She's now been lightly backed (3 1/2 now) and so far has shown no inclination to do it under saddle.
 
Thanks Jesstickle.

I think I know deep down that he will behave like this when ridden hence the question. He is a flighty nervous sort. I suppose I need to decide what I'm going to do about it. *** big sigh ***
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
Thanks Jesstickle.

I think I know deep down that he will behave like this when ridden hence the question. He is a flighty nervous sort. I suppose I need to decide what I'm going to do about it. *** big sigh ***
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Are you able to get started on some lunging etc he may change with the roultine and disipline of doing something daily .
 
I have sent mine to a friend to be ridden away as her and I had a bit of a disagreement that meant I found myself a bit rattled and it was all going a bit awry. She's being good now and she was easy to back, I should have just been more careful with how I did things and I could have avoided the whole shebang I think. I'm sure you'll be ok :)

ETS: hers weren't real, big, stand bolt upright rears. Not under saddle. It was more the start of it, half up and lunging forward. She rears vertical in the field though. Quite a sight!
 
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Thanks everyone

Although he is now fully sound and has been for a while I'm not restarting him til Dec due to not being able to lunge him (due to injury) I'm already long reining him now.
 
No he never has reared in long reins. He doesn't rear all the time, just when something scares him or he is excited when being led.

He is incredibly nervous, infact his nervousness is getting worse. I'm not a shoutey person and I have been incredibly progressive with his training so not sure why he seems to get worse. I wasn't able to long rein him tonight as he was so sky high with energy he was not listening to me at all. It didn't seem a good idea to attach long lines so I just walked him in hand. (although the rearing was when I brought him in from field not during this)

I feel like I have no energy left for him. This year as taken it out of me as it has been very stop start with injury etc and I feel like I've run out of steam. He is a lovely boy but sometimes I feel like I've had enough!
 
He is also a vertical rearer Jesstickle. Once was so high he nearly went over backwards! He has also done this once in his stable when he was having a strop at being tied up.
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
No he never has reared in long reins. He doesn't rear all the time, just when something scares him or he is excited when being led.

He is incredibly nervous, infact his nervousness is getting worse. I'm not a shoutey person and I have been incredibly progressive with his training so not sure why he seems to get worse. I wasn't able to long rein him tonight as he was so sky high with energy he was not listening to me at all. It didn't seem a good idea to attach long lines so I just walked him in hand. (although the rearing was when I brought him in from field not during this)

I feel like I have no energy left for him. This year as taken it out of me as it has been very stop start with injury etc and I feel like I've run out of steam. He is a lovely boy but sometimes I feel like I've had enough!
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It's very emotionally draining when a long term project like this has gone a bit a off the rails .
It's a good sign he never rears in the long riens . It might be worth trying some magnesium oxide to see if it helps .
I assume you are already doing the no hard food lots of turn out thing .
Can you get him away somewhere for a month and get them to continue the long riening it would have to be someone you really trust to keep the rehab going to give you a little break from it.
Good luck .
 
Mine is a TB and also a bundle of energy. What makes her much, much better is being in constant work. I wanted her to have a really easy 4yo year but she is just vile if you pick her up and put her down so she is working 5/6 days a week. She has stopped weaving pretty much and is much easier to deal with all round if she has something to keep her mind going. She isn't nervous by nature, just like the blimming Duracell bunny though so may not be the same for you. She is also a walking disaster when it comes to injuries, ask Faracat if you don't believe me :p :D
 
I tried a magnesium calmer during the spring and to be honest i didn't see much difference.

He has always been on a high fibre diet and never had a heating energy diet. He is only on a balancer at the moment due to not needing any hard food for weight. He has 12 hours turnout per day.

He isn't always highly strung but is always nervy. I have been thinking and researching sending him away when its time to be restarted. I don't really have the money if I'm honest but would find it somehow but now I'm questioning whether he is worth it as I'm being quoted £200 per week for 8 weeks.

If I'm honest I don't feel like I have bonded with him at all. I am more of a mare person! I love him dearly but I don't trust him, he wouldn't hurt you intentially but when he panics he really glazes over and is a general gelding nitwit!

Sorry for winey tone of post, I feel like I'm at my wits end with him!
 
Trot_On_Dressage said:
I tried a magnesium calmer during the spring and to be honest i didn't see much difference.

He has always been on a high fibre diet and never had a heating energy diet. He is only on a balancer at the moment due to not needing any hard food for weight. He has 12 hours turnout per day.

He isn't always highly strung but is always nervy. I have been thinking and researching sending him away when its time to be restarted. I don't really have the money if I'm honest but would find it somehow but now I'm questioning whether he is worth it as I'm being quoted £200 per week for 8 weeks.

If I'm honest I don't feel like I have bonded with him at all. I am more of Qa mare person! I love him dearly but I don't trust him, he wouldn't hurt you intentially but when he panics he really glazes over and is a general gelding nitwit!

Sorry for winey tone of post, I feel like I'm at my wits end with him!
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When you get that I don't trust you feeling ,trust it that's you're sixth sense I have had that feeling with a few horses and it's worth listening to .
 
I think that's what I'm frightened of Goldenstar. I've had horses for 26 years and I am a BHSAI. I've never had this feeling about a horse i own before. I'm not sure if it's just due to frustration with him and this year or it is justified.
 
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