rearing...

[nicky89]

Hi I am new to this forum.......I have a 6 yr old TB gelding ex racer. Had him for 2 years without any probs. Moved to present yard about 6 weeks ago. He has been an absolute nighmare putting out in field on a morning started rearing and getting very lively on route. Have used Dually halter which stops him going up but he still tries his best to get the lead rope to slacken them wam off he goes. His back is ok and checked recently. Wondering if could be the fresh grass ?......have tried global herbs TB calmer but no luck in calming him . any advice would be very much appreciated....Thanks......sorry so long !!

 

[SpottedCat]

Turn him out using a bridle and preferably a chifney until he stops. I suspect once he is used to the new yard this will stop, but until then you need to be fully in control and I would not be handling him in a dually!

 

[Dressagebabe]

Hi and welcome to the forum! it is probably a combination of the move and good grass, I bought a TBx 5 months ago and has only just started calming down, he would constantly box and field walk all day but in last couple of weeks he has started to show signs of settling. If your chap is rearing and behaving a little dangerously when leading I would be inclined to use a chifney for a while as they will respect that far more than a Be Nice Halter or similar. We always used chifneys in the stud, race yard and Equine hospitals so it is something that is respected and once he settles then you can go back to a headcollar. The other thing you could try is keeping his nose in a bucket of feed whilst leading him to the field, this sometimes takes their mind off being naughty. Good luck

 

[AmyMay]

There are times when my horse can be a handful to bring and and put out - and by far the best thing is to use a bridle. You have plenty of contol with that than almost anything.

He'll soon settle, but for safety's sake it would be a bridle for me every time.

 

[gina2201]

I agree, use a bridle, you will feel more confident just him wearing one and he should repsect it that bit more and be easier to control.
I did this with Norman when he started behaving out of character (especially in the wind) you'd think after 10 years of British weather he would realise that wind does not = scary but there you go!

He has also just moved yards and is much more lively and on his toes, I opened his field gate, he charged through i had end of rope and managed to hold on so he had to swing round and stand at the gate. He has since chilled out now but if in any doubt use a bridle, but I would take the reins off and use a leadrope!

 

[Natch]

I actually think that if the dually has stopped him from wanting to rear you could continue to use it. When you say he tries to get the leadrope to slacken, presumably you are always holding it tightly in the first place you are not offering him the reward of a looser headcollar for good behaviour. I'd try using the dually correctly - if he is walking nicely and not pulling, don't let it be tight - but if uses a loose contact as an excuse to P off then do whatever you can to hold him let the headcollar go tight, and try to turn his head so that breaks the "set it and run" mode and/or try to get him to turn so that he disengages the hindquarters - both techniques mean you interrupt the charge and can regain control.

I used to turn out/bring in a horse with the same habit - we used a bridle with the reins buckle undone (but I agree with above post, use a leadrope to spare the reins and less chance of injury if he gets loose) - he used to try setting his neck and charging regardless of bridle, chiffney or headcollar - I found that the trick with him was that if he did go, I held on for dear life (short of causing an accident) - the first time he got away from me, the second and third times he did it I managed to keep hold of him and he never tried it again.

Good luck sorting it however you choose to!