Sudden rearing

[LALuna22]

Hi. I’m new to the forum and not sure there is the right place to post this Q but daughters mare has suddenly started rearing when approached by her. She’s always been a bit feisty but generally good to catch and enjoys school, grooming, hacking etc. she’s relatively new (2 months) but has settled really well, they’ve bonded and it’s all quite sudden. Any ideas?

 

[Birker2020]

Horse on our yard started rearing under saddle folowing a period of box rest and it had ulcers.

Might be worth scoping particuarly if there are any other symptoms thst could be attributed to ulcers. The very fact she's had a recent change of ownership might be a stressful event in itself. I know you say she's settled well but that might be your interpretation and not the necessarily the horses.

 

[Red-1]

I'm not sure about the circumstances where she is rearing. Is it specific to your daughter only, for example when approached in the field or stable? Or when groomed? Or tacked up or rugged? Or lunged? How is she ridden? How is she with other people in the circumstances where she rears with your daughter?

Has there been an incident to set this off? How old is your daughter? Who else handles the horse or has access to her?

 

[southerncomfort]

Have you changed feed or turnout at all from what she was used to in her old home?

 

[rextherobber]

One of my mares was ok for the first few weeks then got quite nasty to handle on the ground, we had maybe a year-18 months of boundary pushing, then she suddenly decided I was her person and is now a complete angel. She was 4. I think mares can be a bit of a challenge, they are entire animals and yet we don't necessarily treat them with the respect we'd give a stallion. Wear hat, gloves, watch your back, don't put yourself in a position where you can get cornered or squashed against a wall, make sure your body language is confident and keep calm and quiet. This is assuming the behaviour is on the ground? How old is your daughter?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I also agree with what rex says above! It took a few months for my horse to accept me. He was a racer so didnt have a specific human. I have a spectacular rearer, its not ever done in a bad way and he only ever does it if he has been left out too long and I assume this is his way of telling me or if hes really excited when he sees me. This was a week or so ago. As soon as he saw me he starts his carry on ?
Determine whether she is doing it out of anger if you can? If shes ok under saddle.
I would put a rope halter on for a couple of weeks and see if that helps!
It also depends whether she is doing it while she has her headcollar on too. She could just be excited to see her.

 

[kathantoinette]

Has she got enough to eat in the paddock? My (riggy) gelding used to do this when he was hungry and p$$ed off!!

 

[canteron]

You could try changing her mindset on being caught. When you catch her give her a treat - when she is beginning to expect it (maybe after the third time, you don’t want her to get ‘pushy for the treat) don’t give her the treat until after you are through the gate, then after another 2 or 3 times don’t give the treat until she is in her stable/ tied up. (You could go straight to this stage if you want).

Hopefully It’s just a girl getting her confidence in her new home - and giving you a quick lesson that with mares you have to make them think it’s all their idea ?