Rearing!

[Mosh]

My silly horsey has a napping problem!
I think its more due to lack of confidence and the fact he loves his friends!
I'm in the process of getting him out and about by himself and in company from time to time (ridden and going for "walks") but when hes ridden and going out by himself, he throws some rears but spins around while doing it...if that makes sense
I do ride him through it and I don't let him get away with it and we always get out of the yard and once we're out hes fine. He actually enjoys it
Its nothing physical as back, teeth, feet and tack have been checked and theres no problems there.
Is there anything else I should do? I don't particularly want to hit him over the had with an egg/whip, I think this would make him worse.
Am I doing the right thing by making him work through it as someone said it wasn't and i would probably put a strain on his back/neck/poll? which confused me a bit tbh!..think i'm going to ignore that "advice"


mini eggs if you get this far! as long as you're in throwing distance!

 

[NeilM]

My OH had exactly the same, but for different reasons, with a project horse she took on a few years ago. She did the same as you, and just kept working through it. After a while her horse realised that going out (alone or in company) was enjoyable and nothing to be frightened of and the rearing and napping stopped.

 

[alicep]

i have exactly the same problem with my mare. unfortunately it has never seemed to get better but there is never a time where we dont eventually get out the gate. what i did find was she was so much better if i lead her down the drive away from the yard and mounted at the bottom of the drive. That seemed to cut out all the problems. just keep at it and dont let him get his own way.

 

[Vicki1986]

my mare does this sometimes if she sees something that scares her on the way out, normally i can feel its about to happen so i just wrap my legs on and squeeze really as ahrd as i can and try to ride her forward, it usually works for more minor scary objects. sometimes if she starts rearing its better for to just let her get on with it and just sit and do nothing until she calms down and will walk on calmy, other times i have to get off and lead her past. it all just depends on the situation - usually the quicker i react the easier it is to deal with her outbursts.

 

[Como]

Hi
My horse had a terrible napping problem when I bought him. It stems from their lack of confidence and going out on their own is a big deal they really need to trust you. I never hit him, just patiently worked through it. If he went back then I encouraged him back, if he spun then we went in a circle; they get worse if you fight them. He stopped doing it quite quickly but would still nap on a hack if unsure about what was ahead. I could feel he was going to do it so I would lean back, close my legs, push with my seat and encourage him with my voice and this works. Lots of praise too even if he only makes one step forward every five minutes! He is looking to you for confidence. Good luck! A body protector can give you the confidence you need too!!

 

[Damnation]

Well you said that your boy actually enjoys the hack once he has gotten over the napping. This is the same with my mare. All I can say is perseverence! Eventually he will think, oh we are hacking, I like this!! My mare isn't as bad as your boy but she naps, I just ride her through it and after her little episode she calms right down and we have a rather nice hack. Maybe get him out in company as much as you can to build up his confidence?

 

[Mosh]

hey thanks everyone!
yeah, i'll think just carry on what i was doing with him, i try and do an equal mixture of hacking alone and in company and he always get lots of praise....even if it takes 20 minutes to go 100 yards.
I'll wear my body protector i think,
thanks everyone, your words have given me the confidence boost i needed. I'll hack him out tomorrow and let you know we did!
thanks

 

[ladyt25]

Hmm, my sister's horse has a similar and has now not been ridden for 3 odd weeks as I've been away. Am not relishing the thought of taking him out alone as don't enjoy the argument! TBO he's not really a rearer as such as once he's far enough from home he's fine (the odd spin occasionally). Thing is, he can be a real donkey especially when hacking in company and I know it's down to lack of confidence but, as i am getting older (the big 30! ha ha) I find my confidence has gone downhill. i trust my horse 100% but last year he slipped and fell on the road and i broke my collar bone.

I think it's at the back of my mind something similar could happen or i will 'break' my sister's horse whilst she's away (til June). Think i need to just get on with it. May try putting his standing martingale back on a and poss draw reins if needs be - if his head is kept low he behaves. I have heard a tip if you have a serial rearer and that is to tie the horse's tail to it's girth - the horse needs its tail to balance in a rear. However, i think this is only if the horse goes straight up, mine just sort of hops up (probably not high at all) and spins round.

I think perseverance is the key and if needs me get off and lead until a distance away (I did this the last time me and said neddy had a disagreement on where we wanted to go!!)