At 13:27:48 on 19.06.10, April2010 wrote:
My horse is 14.2 hh and we recantly got her. she has reared 4 times when i have handled her. in the past 10 days!!! the first itme she reard at a big big cob on the other side of the fence. she didnt know the horse. the second time she reaed was when i was cleaning her ears. she did that twice. and the last time was when she got spoked by a fence falling. she also barges into me at feeding time. but the shetland gelding is worse at barging, he kicks aswell at feeding time. is there anything i can do??

At 13:42:45 on 19.06.10, bmc06239 wrote:
Your mare sounds like mine...her first defense is to rear...we thought it best to hold her down with steady pressure if she reared on a lead...after having her flip over with a rider, we've now think it best that when a horse rears on the lead to bring them back down with alternating rather than steady pressure.

At 16:57:26 on 19.06.10, ToriSilverson wrote:
charlie will rear sometimes at silly things, its also good to check for any warnings and try to prevent the rear. calm her or lead her in a circle, basically take her mind off what ever she is reacting to. at feeding time walk into the stable and put your back to him blocking him from the food...push him back in some way and dont let him get the food untill he has stood back and given you space, simply walk away and let him come forward. ground work also helps with barging as you are teaching him/her to respect your space.

At 08:44:36 on 20.06.10, Flicka wrote:
Is she headshy at all? Is she ok when you touch her at the poll, face, ears (apart from the cleaning? I just ask because horses with problems here are more likely to be rearers and spooky. Not always the case but it's always best to check things like this-treat the cause and not the symptom.

At 17:14:29 on 24.06.10, YasandCrystal wrote:
Hi, I would be inclined to use a 'be nice' headcollar - you don't have to get the Monty roberts one which is expensive, but Robinsons do a good cheaper version. That is rather like using a choke chain/lead on a dog; you can give pressure and then reward with release. Barging and rearing are dangerous behaviours and you need to let the horse know that this is unacceptable. If you do so consistently using a pressure headcollar your horse should learn. Much of this type of behaviour is because a horse has just been allowed to get away with it and it becomes habitual. Hope this may help.

At 19:44:42 on 24.06.10, impacatus wrote:
A horse rearing is a dangerous situation, if you have tried to give her a smack og pull her down again without any luck, i would say the best way to get them stop rearing is to use the rearing against themself. Even if she is rearing because she's spooked. I would take the rope, and pull her out of balance and down to the ground, that often stops the rearing, and you have prooven the point that they need to respect you. It sounds mean and horrific, but think about it, how do the horses find out of things with each other? The best is keaping her down on the ground until you aprooves her to stand up again. And no, you dont need to be big and strong to do this, just easily pull her out of balance.

At 13:01:03 on 25.06.10, Maxi Cob wrote:
RS-tor new safety aid attached to stirrup bars kept me from falling off when Lancelot reared (to avoid a rabbit of all things!). No need to reach for it - sits in hand like riding crop.
http://www.rstor.co.uk/

At 17:35:28 on 25.06.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
I am working with a mare atm that rears inhand and i find it best to not put any pressure at all on the headcollar but move your horse with body language, like if she was going to rear on the yard step toward her with the purpose of moving her, if she doesn't move give her a little push, once she has moved sideways try to walk again (don't pull on headcollar but flick the rope across her bum but don't hit her with it) and if she moves forward great if not, sideways again. Also try join up so you don't have to use a lead rope for her to follow you. You will soon crack the problem and as for barging use the same idea, she goes to barge you move her sideways.

At 20:18:40 on 30.06.10, April2010 wrote:
thanks for your help. I will try it out.