Rearing....

A

Apalacia

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Hi,

I posted on here yesterday regarding my pony that has been rearing (please refer to earlier post). I rode her today, started by lungeing and she was fine, hopped on, walk, trot and canter in an outline, was perfect. Got a bit gobby in walk but I was being too heavyhanded, but not the slightest hint of rear.

Then went in and out of the school about 5 times, doing the gate every time as this is where she has reared, but did it perfectly for me even closing and opening the gate when I asked.

THen went for a little hack and canter, and made her stand still for a while once I came to a standstill. She was perfect.

SO, I don't understand why she is rearing with the sharer, I mean, I know I have only ridden her once, but she had done it 4 times in a row with her. I spoke to my vet this afternoon who says, having known the pony, that it is just behavioural - she knows that she can get away with it with the girl, and he said he was 90% sure she would not do it with me today. He was right. He said teeth and back were fine, she is just being a cow. He recommended an behaviorist....what do we think? I mean, is it just a case of this girl riding through it, or what? The vet said that as I have had her for so long, she really has respect for me, and apparently doesn't for my sharer.

Amanda
 
I'd lose the sharer, she sounds as if she is upsetting your pony, and the last thing any horse/pony needs is someone who'll create behavioural problems.
 
My mare reared with me a couple of times not long after I got her and I now know that it was my fault
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I came upon a situation where I tensed, held her too tight, did not let her move and she felt trapped. The only way she could go was up
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its never happened since someone suggested that this could be the reason. Maybe your sharer is a bit nervous?
 
From what I hear from other people at the yard, and the way that I have seen the girl ride, she is confident, but I worry if she does it that she would go over. The pony definitely knows that she can get away with stuff, she is too clever for her own good (as my vet said anyway!). So I may look into getting a behaviour specialist out, otherwise I guess that this sharer ain't gonna work! I expect that the sharer is now getting a bit nervous.
 
Only caution I would say is does the vet know much about ridden horses? Just might be worth getting an experienced instructor to give them a once over?
 
Mmm. Yes. I mean, I guess not as he is not equine only. I think I may talk to a behavioural person, pref. just an equine one and see what they have to say.
 
I would definitely advise your sharer has some lessons on your horse to see if she can spot any potential problems with the pairing.
 
A recent court case (currently under appeal) http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/article.php?aid=126736&cid=397 found the owners of a horse liable when a horse with no previous history of rearing came over on someone who was riding it...no one could be found who saw the accident but it was concluded that her injuries could only have been caused by a rear. My point is that if you continue to allow the sharer (or anyone else) to ride the horse and it does rear and hurt them you may be liable for the costs, especially as this horse is a "known rearer". Please be careful
 


I have insurance...would that make a difference? To tell you the truth, she has never done it with this girl before (having ridden her for two months) and has only done it the 3 times in the last 3 days. I am going to speak to vet. The thing is, there isn't much that I can say, as I got on her today and she was normal Alice! Perfect, slightly quirky, you know, your own horse.

I will keep that court case in mind. If she does it once more then I don't want it to end in something like this. However, I am sure that my insurance covers anyone (as well as myself) to ride her. It did not say in that article whether or not the rider or horse (from a dealer's yard, which due to quick in/out may not have been insured) were insured.

I look forward to more opinions. I will post again a new thread tomorrow when I have spoken to the vet.

I am tempted to first get a professional over to have a look. Anyone know anyone good in the Sussex area who won't cost a bomb!? (Student in London!!!!!!)
 
I may come off as the bad guy, but if you've ruled out any medical complications and pain and the horse continues to rear, I would get rid of it. Rearing is one of the things I will NOT put up with. It's too dangerous to deal with and it can easily get someone hurt or killed. and like someone posted earlier, you can be at fault if someone does have an accident with the horse, because you do know that she has been rearing.

However, if she just started doing it out of the blue, maybe she is in a bit of pain. Hopefully a vet with be able to help you out.
 
One more thought then, could your mare be hormonal?

One of mine is a saint to ride 99% of the time, but she soon lets me know on the odd days she is uncomfortable (nothing as extreme as rearing)
 
I will not put up with rearing either, as she is meant to now be a kid's pony. However, she has never done anything like this....as I said, will ring vet today and get a beahaviorist out. If she continues to do it, thats it. I have already spent 5k fixing her legs ( making her unsellable) and as a student with parents in the States, I don't have the money to pay to fix her anymore.

I do hope that I can sort it out with the sharer. The thing is, she is only 13, and I can't see her being heavy handed - it has only happened three times (Thurs, Fri, Sat). Yes, she can be hormonal, but I have to say, I didn't notice that she was in season yesterday. If anything, she was quieter than normal! (Yes, I know that may indicate pain!!!)

Alright, will ring vet again and let you know, thanks again for all the comments, it is backing up pretty much what I was thinking, just wanted to know what an unbias horse community thinks!!
 
Out of interest has anyone seen the pony rear?

I had someone who swore blind there horse was rearing and in reality it was hopping a little bit.

If the horse doesn't rear with you - it is more definitely something the rider is doing.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Out of interest has anyone seen the pony rear?

I had someone who swore blind there horse was rearing and in reality it was hopping a little bit.

If the horse doesn't rear with you - it is more definitely something the rider is doing.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a good point - my horse rears occasionally and I thought he was going up quite high, but when my instructor watched it turned out he was throwing his head up more than rearing. We have managed to work through it and (touch wood) he hasn't done it in weeks now.

I would agree that if she doesn't do it with you it is probably something the sharer is doing. I would maybe watch her or get an instructor to help.
 
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