Stopping rearing - need help please!

chelsearoper91

chelsearoper91

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I have just taken on an 11 year old 16.2 gelding, ex national hunt race horse who has a habit of rearing when I mount. His back, teeth and saddle are all fine, it would just seem he is acting out and being stroppy about being ridden. With his previous owner he used napping and small rearing to get out of being ridden as she was scared and put him away and untacked. I have hacked him out in company with no bother it's just on occasion that when I mount him and go to ride in the arena/field he takes a few steps then goes up and up and up until I bail. Just wanted advice on how to de-train this habit and what to do when he rears to discourage him. The last time he did it I lunged him until he was really tired then spent 5 minutes on the yard mounting and dismounting him until he stood and then walked a few laps of the yard and put him away.
 
I would swerve the behaviour by mounting racing style, ie pop up from the ground, swing leg over and walk on. or ask for a leg up on the move, also racing style.
I have seen Richard Maxwell dealing with this by using the round pen and a rein which is used to bring the head in towards the shoulder.
Personally [when I was younger and fitter] I would not de-camp.
Use a neck rein.
 
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Have you tried just generally lunging for 5 mins before you get on?

And is he any different if held whilst you mount?
 
Is he rearing because you are asking him to stand and he wants to go forward or is he rearing because you want him to go forward but he wants to nap (or both)?
 
He is sometimes a bit fidgitty at the mounting block but doesn't walk off until your mounted and ask him to go forward. He hasn't raced for over 5 years, and has only been used for hacking and some schooling but has had around 6 months off work until now. If I mount with a schooling whip in my right hand and hold it/ tap on his side when he steps away from the block he stands fine, it's just when I walk him he protests and rears. I think he just knows that he can use rearing to get what he wants as the old owner always gave in and put him away. How can I let him know it's unacceptable?
 
I always try to have someone at his head just to try and keep him from stepping away from the block. It's just as I go to put my foot in the stirrup he fidgets, he almost seems over protective of his body. Like when I lead him and go to his side next to saddle he moves away, gets stroppy and tries to nip. He just has issues about being told what to do and lack of respect as he as been allowed to do what he whats for so long. I think once he learns rearing is not allowed he will start having some respect, I just need to know the best way to deal with it and how to treat him when he does it.
 
That sounds more like a napping problem than a mounting problem to me really. You seem to be on the right track being tough with it. If you can, sometimes lead him to the school and mount in there and hack out in company a lot, you don't want to be fighting battles all the time. That should help build up your relationship and confidence in each other. It sounds like when he does it you are just going to have to get after him as much as you need to like with any napping.
 
He just has issues about being told what to do and lack of respect as he as been allowed to do what he whats for so long.
Click to expand...

I suspect the horse is trying to tell you something........
 
I used to have this problem with a horse that was given to me. Not now though. Everytime you get on, he's obviously anticipating you to ask him to go forward, so already in his head he's thinking about rearing. What i did was vary it up so my horse didn't know what i was going to ask so could anticipate.
1 - Get on, sit there, scratch all over, get off and put away.
2 - Get on and ask for a back up (this is hard if your anticipating him to rear!)
3 - Get on from the other side (as its from a different eye it will seem totally different to him)
4 - Get on and ask for his neck to bend so he can see you on board, scratch and ask him to move his front feet sideways.
5 - Get on and move the hind feet round.

When i did these with my boy and varied it up, when i asked for forward he went without a problem.

Every horse and rider is different, so what works for one person may not work for another. This is when trial and error comes into play.

x
 
You need to work out why it happens it's the why that's important with rearing does he not want to go or does he want to and standing to mount causes the rear because he's prevented from going forward.
You must also be sure that he's not got any pain.
 
what is he like to saddle and girth up? its just ive seen a few horses who did the same as your fellow ( fidget whilst you get your stirrups ) and they have had problems with ulcers. Maybe something to think about as well.
 
If I was you, I would again make 100% sure that there's no underlying physical problem. Apart from problems with his back/teeth/saddle fitting, also rule out e.g. gastric ulcers.

But I know how you feel because my horse would also have a temper tantrum when hacking alone - just being really naughty and showing absolutely no respect to me :-(

I've learnt now that the best way of dealing with this is to prevent him from 'having his head'. Take a firm hold/unyielding contact on one of the reins - by doing this he wouldn't be able to throw his head up in the air to start the rearing...

Also - once mounted (just get on with the mounting from a block - do it quickly and get it over with) - once you can feel that he's bunching up the muscles over his back and getting ready to rear: swiftly pull his head to the right, (as if you want him to sniff your right foot) and then do plenty of very small circles on the spot, keep spinning and spinning for at least 5 times in this tiny circle. Just be careful not to do the circles so small and fast that he becomes unbalanced and fall over. After the circling, immediately trot him on in a straight line, or even canter if necessary (anything that makes him go forward at speed). ("Ride it like you stole it!")

It's impossible for a horse to rear when they move forward - so don't stay in halt for any longer than necessary once you got on.

And stay calm while it's happening!

(IMO it's better to get him used to a mounting block, rather than having a leg up from someone or allowing him to walk off while you're getting on. He has got to learn to stand still for you.)
 
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Thank you to everyone for your help and advice, moving him to his new yard next week then it's stop rearing boot camp! :p I have a good few things to try and check now :D
 
No advice, but please please please, get it sorted sooner rather than later.

My friend had an accident on monday, won't go into details as don't want to scare you, enough to say she is in hospital :(

Good luck
 
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