At 20:26:58 on 15.02.10, Becky_doo wrote:
Hi all, I have a youngster who has the potential to be a top class show jumper. However training a horse who prefers to be on his back legs more than all 4 isnt one of my specialities. I have had his teeth, back and tack checked. He is unfortunately intelligent and like to tell me when he understands what I am asking of him- and no longer wishes to do it. It is only in the school that we have this problem and not with handling or hacking. I am wondering where I am not challenging him enough. We vary out routine and what we do riding wise and in the school. But when he has had enough- he's had enough. It's definately worse when others are in the school. I make sure I ride him through the rearing, and I have the final word but I would like to get on him and take him away competing but am worried about warm up rings. But to be completely honest- the rearing scares the pants off me. I can take his mind off the rearing by using a crop but then his back end comes up higher than his front end! I dont mind this as much, but i would like to enjoy schooling him and not dread it. He is what I feel a typical 4 year old and I am hoping it is a phase, but with all the love, work and money I put into him and give him, I feel I should get something back and not tollerate this behaviour. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks for looking! Becks and Sunny Doo

At 22:52:57 on 05.03.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
You must show him you mean business. He has probably associated rearing with not doing work now. You need to show trying to rear gains nothing and if anything only increases the work load. Every time you feel him get read to rear turn a tight circle (as tight as you can) and ask him to continue doing what you were just doing. Also riding in an outline this makes it a lot harder for him to rear (but never ride behind the vertical as this can cause a horse to rear and protest). Also push forward not upward, a horse rears when they have energy that they can't travel forward with so instead they go upward instead. It is like a horse will often rear in front of a jump when refusing as it can't get over it but the energy has to go somewhere or the horse will crash. Bearing this in mind encourage your horse to move free and forward, try to get him to stretch long, low but round and encourage him with a schooling whip to really carry himself forwards but don't forget as soon as he shows signs of rearing turn a circle and then do something that requires more thought and effort. e.g. if you are cantering and he rears turn a tight circle without breaking from canter then carry on round the school to do a serpentine and make him change canter leads where appropriate whether you do flying changes or break to trot. Hope this helps :)

At 16:47:16 on 09.03.10, Angelalain wrote:
You say he is 4, is that 4 this January (as in TB) or 4 rising 5 this April? If he is only rising four this spring I do think you need to look at how mature he is and whether he is actually old enough to take in what you are asking of him Of course, I don't know how hard he has been worked, or what level you are expecting of him, but if he is rising 4 he should still be 'long and low'. I really don't think turning in tight circles is going to be suitable for a horse this young. I do wonder if he is telling you , not that he is not being challenged, but that you are expecting too much too soon. We see it often at Pony Club. Mum buys new young pony (4 or 5) goes wonderfully for a couple of months, and as child gets more confident they push onwards and upwards (literally) then suddenly it all goes to pot. Pony is nappy, bolting, rearing and generally scaring the kid to bits. Maybe a step back, and less pressure may help, but I do agree you can't let him get away with it. Rearing is not pleasent, I can only suggest you keep the schooling sessions short and keep his attention, don't let him get to the point of being fed up.I know horses are supposed to learn by repetition, but repeat, do something else, come back and repeat. Maybe this will help. Of course you could be a year further on in your schooling, in which case I apologise for my lecture!

At 14:09:26 on 13.03.10, vaquero wrote:
Hi there Becks. The first and most important thing that I’d like to share with you is this: If ever you feel unsafe while riding your horse – get off. One of the biggest misconceptions in the horse community is that a rider must stay on the horse at all times, no matter what difficulties they are facing. There is no need for you to put your safety at risk and this is not a poor reflection upon your riding skills. Horsemanship is not warfare (although it was developed for it), there is no winning or losing. Dismount as soon as it is safe to do so and address the issue from the ground. A long lead rope will put you at a safe distance while you help your horse to manage his emotions.

At 08:45:20 on 20.03.10, handsoffmysaddle wrote:
I agree with vaquero 100%!! if he is being unmanagable, ride him with a rope halter under his bridle, or something similar to which you can attatch a long lead that you can ride with over his withers, and if he's being an arse, do a one rein stop/pulley rein (disengage his hindquarters and keep his feet moving, he can't rear with his head to his side or his hind legs disengaged and not under him) and once he is no longer trying to rear, buck, etc. and it is safe to dismount, hop off and do some serious groundwork- drive him forward, sideways, backwards, change direction, keep his feet moving until he's worked hard and he should think "oh no, I shouldn't do that again" Also, keep trying to find the big reason as to why he's rearing, and if you can fix that the rearing should fix itself actually, but for a spur of the moment thing the above should at least keep you safe! good luck! I've also posted a vid I found of a guy doing pretty much what I described- just keep at it until your silly guy does what you ask of him nicely and with respect, and stops the bad behaviour. :P

At 15:16:38 on 24.03.10, plodalong wrote:
Monty Roberts would say that a horse wont go where he cant see. in his book ask Monty he advocates that professional help should be found, Monty would put some blinkers on the horse that rears up.the type of blinkers that look like the eyes of a fly.it is just something else to try.hope you soon get sorted and i am in full agreement with Vaquero if you dont feel safe.get off.

At 17:30:38 on 24.03.10, Flicka wrote:
I have to agree with angelalain that sometimes we do too much with young horses and they get sour. The school is much harder work for a horse than going out on a hack where he is more naturally thinking forward. As he is being nappy though you do need to assert your leadership by moving his feet and turning him and disengaging the hindquarters. I would do a brief spell in the school always keeping his attention, with turns and serpentines so you are changing direction and keeping his attention all the time. Then when you are pleased jump off and really praise him. Don't take him to the point where he misbehaves if you can. The more he repeats bad behaviour the more it gets hardwired into him. Then keep school work to a minimum. You can do a lot of schooling anyway on a hack. By the way do you think you ride differently in the school to out hacking-take a stronger contact maybe, use hand and leg at the same time. He may be getting confused and then the only way is up!!

At 11:14:01 on 01.04.10, YasandCrystal wrote:
oh please dont try the water bottle trick or breaking an egg on the horse's head! Take a look at the trainer video below - kind assertive riding wins the day!! Endospink is an expert with all sorts of difficult racehorses.

At 11:40:11 on 01.04.10, YasandCrystal wrote:
YasandCrystal wrote: .....and another!I am NOT suggesting for one second that you try this method!!!!! If you read all the comments on both vids (and there are many more too) on YouTube they do dispel all the 'myth rearing cures'!!

At 12:46:34 on 01.04.10, Flicka wrote:
Mmmm not so sure a horse that can't go backwards rears. When my mare used to rear, going backwards was part of it. The problem was going forward. And I tried the water bottle and the egg idea-it didn't work at all, I just ended up with a horse that had even more reason not to trust me. Luckily I stopped at the suggestion to pull her over backwards!! Rearing is a symptom of an underlying issue-look to that instead. Good Luck.