Rearing? Will he grow out of it? What's the cause? Why?

Question

Firstly, i only want answers from someone who is experience, and has dealt with horses that rear in the past.

The rearing is nothing to do with back, teeth, saddle fitting and so on. All of that is fine as it has been checked.

But here's the story:

My mum and I got a 6yo chestnut gelding 16.2hh about 4 months ago. He was bred by a top show jumping stallion, but the owners decided to sell him as they thought he was too lazy. So my mum and i got him hoping to do some schooling and do novice jumping and dressage, and he was more for my mum to enjoy, whilst i was waiting to get an event horse after i've finished college studying horse management.

Turns out he was not a horse for enjoyment like we first though!!! His had allot of schooling, and has a tendency to rear. Sad thing is, through all the negative comments of people saying he is too big, his a hand full and we need to sell him. His actually come such a long way with his schooling, we're really proud. His a sweet heart to handle and my mum and i have just grown so attached to him. (My mum has also had many of youngsters since a young age so she is experienced, but she has never had a horse that rears!)

Also, behind all the spooking and rearing, he has the talent i want for when i've done college. He got placed first out with his trainer at his first dressage test. He definately could event, and his got so much talent.

In a couple of years when he has matured he'd be ideal, and my mum and i really do not want to give up on him. But his rearing has got dangerouse, it's almost as if he just has to throw a drama when he thinks he has done too much work, and he can't control himself. We try doing a variety of stuff and keeping him busy, but it didn't work.

I don't want to have to sell him, but i'm not going to have the time to help my mum out whilst i'm at college the next couple of years, except for summers. We can not afford a trainer and he need regular work. It's just too dangerouse for my mum to deal with his rearing on her own. He almost fell backwards on himself the other day and i don't want to force my mum into keeping him when she wanted something for a hobby that she can hack out on without fear that something's going to spook him.

Maybe i should let her sell him, so she can enjoy her hobby. It's pretty selfish making her handle him just so i can have him to event after college? We can't afford two horses, and he can't be left out of work.

I'm not sure on using any gadgets to stop him rearing, i don't really want to. But even his trainer said, he is such a drama queen and loves to make a big deal out of things. Will his rearing ever stop? I've heard it will always be a tendancy, if a horse rears it's there way of dealing with things? How do i change this?

Answer 1

There is a way, but you may find it objectionable.  I never typically use devices to solve problems, and I use NH methods with my horse.  But I have been around for many years, and sometimes a rearing problem is not going to go away with all the retraining, etc. that you should consider, and do in addition to the method I have successfully used, and seen used by others, many times.

It requires the use of draw reins.  I never recommend them in horsemanship, nor do I use them.  But for a rearing problem, they can and do produce excellent results.  They are attached from the girth, through the snaffle bit rings, and to your hands.  Bit guards should be used.  You can attach regular reins above the draw reins to use as well.

Draw reins force the head down when they are engaged.  They can also enforce a tight lateral pull, to spin the horse around.  When the horse begins to rear, the draw rein is engaged with a good hard pull to one side, with enough force to shock the horse, and force him down and around to the side all at once.  Your regular reins should be held in one hand as you pull him around with the other.  It has to be quick, hard, and complete....be sure your hand is far enough down the rein to get him all the way around.  Leg him and make him completely spin around at least once.

This often works after one try.  But if the horse is already a confirmed rearer. it may take 2 or three "doubles", as this is called.

The risk is that he could go off balance and fall, if he gets too high in his rear when you double him.If you aren't confident, you should get an accomplished horseman who knows how to do this to help.  Of course, continuing riding as usual should immediately follow, getting his attention on listening to your cues.  Don't do it and then stand around..keep working.  There is no reward system in this....it truly is an immediate punishment.

Answer 2

I also had a gelding on loan who was a confirmed rearer. He had no medical issues either but had started because he'd been pushed too hard to perform far too young. Over-faced with huge jumps and scary ones too on the cross-country course he started to refuse and was whipped till he bled. That caused him to rear in fear and pain, once he started that it was in his repertoire and there was no way of stopping him BUT TO IGNORE IT.

I rode him every day for six months and he reared in each new environment; on the road (scary), in the school and on bridle paths but usually he would only rear the once in each new situation, unless he felt you'd asked too much and he'd had enough. Gradually I learned just how far to push in our schooling and he responded beautifully. He stopped altogether when I rode him but I knew that under certain circumstances he would revert.

After I'd put six months of hard work in his owners decided to sell him. I was very upset as I'd been told I could have him for the rest of his life because they couldn't do anything with him but suddenly they saw the results of my efforts and wanted cash :(

He was sold to a Dressage trainer who took him out at Elementary level and then sold him again for £15,000. He has a new career and is happy, I take great solace from that, even though I got nothing for risking my neck (except experience), I do have the satisfaction that I helped him go onto a happy life - he is such a talented horse :D

Good luck, I hope you can rehabilitate your boy and that you don't have to sell him

Answer 3

Horses don't grow out of rearing and gadgets will not help they will either:

A: make the situation worse

B: only treat the symptoms

C: stop him from rearing but in turn creating another problem.

It's a lose lose situation with using gadgets either way.Horses rear because they are

1:in pain

2:being rushed in their training

3:a restrictive rein contact

so call the vet for a check up and have her check the fit of your tack too, IF everything is fine then its most likley he is being pushed past his limit so take a step or two back in training, though you may be confident where you guys are at he may not be.If you have established none of these are the cause then it is most likley that it is something you are doind while riding him that is causing him pain so you may need to give yourself a "check up"...lol

Answer 4

get a crop, tap him between thee ears EVERYTIME he attempts it ...

Also have him checked for naviculare ect his feet could be hurting and wants you off

Answer 5

can't help with the rearing issue, but could you possible loan him out through the school year to someone withs a trainer to help them and the understanding that he rears?

and then, get a horse on loan for your mum to use whilst your away, its somewhat confusing but it could help your problem!

that way, you can still work with him in the summers, and after you finish school you'll have you event horse.

also, you didn't mention if he was gelded or not... if he isn't do that also.

EDIT: you may also see about turning him out for a feild untill you're done with school and hes a little older, and has time to just chill, (i mean NO riding, just eating, sleeping, playing, maybe being groomed but thats it) and then once you have the time re start him, like he doesn't know how to do anything.  This way you'll get a clean slate, and a happy non-rearing horse! (hopefully..)

Answer 6

when in the ride does he rear?

some horses rear if they feel you are pulling too hard on their mouth.  

When he rears, a lot like a buck, drive him down and forward hard as soon as he lands

obviously get in standing position when he's rearing

If you're not experienced with rearing you really either need to find a way to get him to a trainer or sell him . Rearing is NOT easy to fix and is very dangerous since the horse can fall over backwards onto you or your mom.  

keep a chart of when he rears and what you were doing.  Make sure its not you're fault he's rearing (does he rear when you ask him to jump higher-he may not be ready-, when you ask him to stop- sore mouth/pulling to hard-, dressage movements-sore joints/back/other pain-, etc.).  If the rearing is just random, and can't be pinned to any movement or exercise or command, it is most likely the horse.  

When he rears, however, just put him straight back to work! he shouldn't learn that he can get out of work by rearing

good luck, and remember- safety is always the first concern!

Answer 7

Hi, God what a predicament youre in. I TOTALLY understand you not wanting to gim up on him, sounds like he could be a little cracker if he could just stop with the attitude! Well ill tell you something that my friend did which stopped her horse from rearing. Right or wrong i dont know... all i know is that it worked. We were out riding and, as usual we got half way round and her Gelding went up in the air. The second he did it (we were expecting it to happen) she got out the egg that was in her pocket (yes an egg!) and crushed, quite firmly between her horses ears. Now i know it might sound crackers but she had looked into EVERYTHING to stop this horse rearing.... had had evrything checked, back, teeth, made to measure saddle, bit etc... and had had no other option than to come to the conclusion that her horse was just being an adolescent idiot, who would throw a paddy the second HE thought he'd done enough. The idea behind the egg trick was that when the horse went up, the crack of the egg, which must have sounded quite loud near his ears, was meant to sound and feel like he had bashed his head on something (through no ones fault but his own) The egg which dribbled down his head was meant to feel like blood, and the overall idea was to make the horse think that by throwing his paddy, he had hurt himself. This may be a load of rubbish, but my friend, who by now was absolutely desperate to solve the problem, was prepared to try anything, and shockingly.... he has NEVER reared since. Im sure there will be people who disagree with this kind of method, just because thats the only reason they are on sites like this.... to disagree with everyone, but the fact is, it caused the horse no pain, brought him back down.. pretty sharpish!, and has stopped him from ever doing it again. My thoughts are that horses DO grow out of rearing, amongst other things. I ve seen it happen over the years of riding many different ages, breeds etc. The fact is that all animals have a personality of some sort and that aometimes its NOT the saddle/bridle/back/teeth, they just need to realise that theyre behaviour cant go on. Good luck, its not a nice vice to try to stop. Try not to give up xx

Answer 8

i had a horse that reared a lot when i got him,the idiot girls at the riding school had taught him to do it by yanking on his mouth and whipping him,he was a mess when i got him.I pulled him over twice and i think i helped a bit,also because he had no mouth and kept getting his tongue over the bit i rode him in just a halter,he became a calm horse that was good to ride and won at shows,i would be making inquiries about his previous owner cause they might have mistreated him and made him sour,get out and do heaps of trail riding in company of other horses,enjoy him and let him know it!

Answer 9

Now rearing is the second most dangerous problem a horse can have. it is very VERY hard to help over the internet but i would NOT recommend you try to help it yourself. because i have heard about people who have tried to help it them self and the horse fell over backwards and crushed their arm. i would send him to a PROFESSIONAL trainer.

Answer 10

Im not a proffesional but i do have a few suggestions,

* Research Research Research.. you may even come across someone who has the exact same problem and resolved it.

* Try looking at www.youtube.com ive seen many lessons on how to stop a horse rearing and bucking.

* Maybe try to get into contact with the people you bought him off, maybe they had the same issue and resolved it somehow.

* Consider part leasing him with a professional.

What ever method you use to stop him I would suggest using it soon, he 'could' potentially get worse. And I dont think you should sell him, as he sounds like a wonderful horse that needs to be given a second chance.

Good luck!