My thoroughbred gelding reared up at me whilst being led?

Question

He is 25 years old and I have owned him for 17 years, not once in those 17 years has he ever exhibited this type of behavior. He is turned out with 2 mares and seems to be stiffing the group when he is returned to that paddock. I took him out to turn him out in an adjoining field, and this is when he reared right up and lunged out at me, I dropped the lead rope and he went up again and lunged again, in order to get back to the field gate safely, in order to make him go back I kept throwing the rope at him. I was also scared he would turn around and kick me.

I have no idea why he has done this.

Any help would be appreciated, as I'm a bit unsure about him.

Answer 1

What do you mean by "stiffing" the group?

Sounds as simple as he did not want to go in the other field.

If you just took him from one field and this happened as you were trying to seperate him from the others - he was telling you "no". Many horses don't like to be seperated.

Next time put him out first if you need to keep them seperate .

Could be he was caught up in some "horse game" that you interrupted.

I doubt he was TRYING to hurt/scare you.







  

Answer 2

I bet he was spooked by something. Maybe a bird flew behind you and he got scared.

Answer 3

Well, it seems very unusual for a 25 year old horse to be totally rude and go into attack mode if they've never done this before.

My first thought - he may have seen/sensed something dangerous that frightened him.  Do you live in an area with bears or other wild animals that may injure him?

Next, if he truely is just being rude.  Maybe he was just full of himself that day - was he in his stall longer than normal and hadn't been worked?  If so, consider working him more - possibly lunging him.  (Again though, this seems rare for a 25 y/o - they're usually content doing whatever you ask of them!).

Otherwise, maybe he really was trying to hurt you.  If so, I would lead him with a chain over his nose for a while.  You could also invest in a "BeNice Halter."  Next time he does this - just yank him down (stand back though so he doesn't fall on you of course - try to be brave - they really can't run very fast when they're only on two feet) by jerking the rope.

If all else fails and he really has developed a VERY dangerous habit you may have to start carring a lunge whip with you to protect yourself (I highly doubt this is the case though).

I would recommend wearing a helmet though for a while until you gain your trust back with your horse - even when you're leading him.

Try to do a lot of ground work with him to get your trust back.  There are some neat programs (mostly natural horsemanship - if you're interested just google it and you'll be overwhelmed!) out there that could help (they tend to be expensive, but most people fall in love with them).  You can try Parelli, Hybrid Horsemen, etc.

If all else fails - hire someone with a little more experience to work him a little and see if he's truely dangerous.

I think I'd try to take a few deep breaths and remember that this is your buddy for the last 17 years.  Try to relax and just go back to the good ole days.

Best wishes!

Answer 4

he is showing signs of disrespect. my thoroughbred used to do this, but ive only owned him for 8 months.

maybe hes testing you, to see if he can be the leader.

thorouhgbreds always need to know whos boss

do lots of groundwork, use only a rope halter for better control and if he rears slam down on the lead rope and say "NO" when he lowers his head bring him forward and rub his forhead with a "good boy" happily.

if he starts to push you around, e.g swinging his indquarters towards you, walking all over you

carry a whip with you . if he walk over you give him a quick smack on his chest to say, "no im leading you , not the other way round"

horses do much worsew things in the paddock with  eachother to determine a hirachy, so you need him to be beneath you and to respect you.

Answer 5

has he been bred in the past and/or gelded late?

if so that can cause that behavior, he might have instincts making him do that since he is around the mares all the time, one or both of the mares may be in heat

we just bought a 13 yr small paint gelding who was bred once and then gelded and he has beat up almost all of our horses and acts like a stud  

Answer 6

I would guess it had to do with the mares.  I have owned horses for 30 years and I find that you never know what to expect.  You can have a horse that is always the same temperment and then one day it changes.  Only the horse knows the reason and he won't tell you.  Perhaps this will never happen again.  

Answer 7

Good grief...I can't stop laughing.  I'm sorry...just reading that whole stiffing the group, stiffing the ground, sniffing the ground thing has made a laughing idiot of me!  I completely empathize

As for the question, I wonder if he has a medical condition that involves hormonal or neurological changes.  It is so bizarre that it would make the most sense.  Have you checked the paddock for toxic weeds...something like that could be the cause of this kind of behavior.