Horse that rears?

Question

My friends horse rears when you try to ride her. She hasn't been ridden in a long time, and she is an older mare, probably in her 20's.. A few days ago I jumped on her and I knew she had a problem with rearing so i brought my crop cause I had read that hitting them over the head when they rear teaches them that "up" is not a acceptible action. The first time she reared, i smacked her in between her ears, but that only made it worse! she kept flinging her head all around and half rearing up. Then she stopped for about two mins and just as we were getting out of the yard, she reared up once again and i gave her a good smack between the ears again but that just caused her to rear up higher and i went and jumped off her back because i htought that she was going to come down on top of me. I did get back on her but couldnt ride for very long due to other happenings. What are some other ways to deal with rearing? I heard about the egg too but that seems a little silly..

Answer 1

the egg thing sounds silly but beating the horse in the head with a crop doesn't?

Let someone who knows what they are doing work with your horse on the rearing...

What would you to if someone cracked you a good one in between the ears with a crop...

You people make me glad that I am smart enough to realize when it's time to get a professional.

Edit...it's not Friday the 13th yet is it?

Answer 2

My horse kid told me to tell you guys that a "simple fix" is to use a tie down (standing martingale)  and crank it down to where the horse can't get the leverage to go up.

Answer 3

This mare is a long time rear-er...this is a taught behavior from a rider probably years ago and it has more then likely worked every single time. By whacking her in the head with a crop you have now confirmed that not only can she rear but she needs to also be worried that every time she does she is going to get knocked in the head with a crop, which will only amplify her rearing more from here on out. The honest truth is this mare is 20 something and the corrective work for a confirmed rearing horses isn't pretty, it is a technique called "flipping" and it is probably more then she could handle at her age. I say enjoy her on the ground, love her dearly, and leave her be. Even sending her to a professional won't be pretty, it will be expensive, and at her age could permanently injure her...

As a side note I'm not going to be ugly to you and call you animal abuser because that's just ridiculous you are non of those things, you simple were looking for help and read some that was worthless, not knowing better you trusted the information and tried it. But don't always go based off what you read, alot of the time the people writing those articles and books, don't have a freakin' clue.

Answer 4

You're braver (or more stupid) that I am, hon.  

If I know a horse is a rearer, I never get on it, never will ride, and never will try to train it.  It's called Alpo, and it is not worth an injury..

It would be out of my barn in a heartbeat.  Your body, unparalyzed  and out of a wheelchair is far more valuable than some old 20 year old mare, I promise.  

Horses, mile for mile are already the most dangerous form of transportation.  Please don't join the ranks of Christopher Reeves.  Can't imagine a worse life.

Answer 5

Using a crop was a bad idea. And the egg must be similar to the glass bottle, which I disagree with and think is stupid. If the horse is rearing and she's older, is there a possibility that she's in any pain? I would have her checked out.

If it's not a pain issue, lunge her before you ride her. Tire her out. Then tie her head around to one side with a rein so that her head is turned. Leave her sit ten minutes. Tie her around to the other side, ten minutes. It's good to be able to feel her (every horse has a tell) before she rears up. Every time she starts pull her around to one side, pretty much make her nose touch her belly, and turn her in circles. She will figure out that it's more work to fight than to behave.

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

I think you first need to look at why she is rearing. Rule out any pain/discomfort issues, if she has not been ridden for some time then her saddle fit will need checking as she will have changed shape.

If she has been out of work for a long period then she may just be being pushed to fast or be nervous.

Get her back,teeth etc checked.

Did she rear when she was ridden before?

In my opinion only when all the above has been done can you begin to start looking at the rearing problem.

Answer 7

I don't know if you have ever heard of Paul Williamson a.k.a Endospink, but he went to help someone with a rearer (he has a website and a youtube account) and he managed to cure the problem. His motto is never get off of the horse when they act up because that is the only time to fix it. He just held on and eventually the horse stopped rearing he rode her for a whole week and each time he got on no more rearing. You should watch the video. I wouldn't recommend doing this because it takes a very experienced rider to do this.

video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKkl8jbe0...

Answer 8

Assuming you have eliminated any physical causes for her behavior...we will assume that she is just barn sour.  Best to have a professional trainer but if none is available or if it is just not possible ......a horse cannot rear if it is moving in a circle.  My friend has a horse the occasionally tries to rear.  As soon as she feels as if she is thinking about rearing she gets her moving in tight circles so the horse has to think about where to put her feet rather than rearing.  The crop might be useful here to get her motivating in the circle.  Don't allow her to stand still or slow down, once she is standing still she will probably try her shenanigans again.  Rearing is very dangerous, I would rather have a horse that bucks any day.

Answer 9

She may have back or leg problems so when you get on her she rears in pain. Call a vet out and see if he can find anything wrong with her.

Hiting her on the head with a crop will just make her head shy and break her trust in people.