Wanted to go ahead and say: I am NOT riding this horse until the rearing problem is fixed, and I also advised the owner that it would not be safe to ride him.
So let me explain:
Magoo is a Ten. Walker I'm training for my friend's neighbor. I was told he was a bucker and I've dealt with buckers before and I wasn't too nervous about it. The younger daughters had been riding him about a year or so ago and he probably just got away with too much. He hasn't been ridden in perhaps a year before I rode him.
I lunged him a bit first in case he was a tad excited. He was relatively ok but has problems with respect on the ground (I'm around 90 pounds and am 5' lol Not many horses take me seriously at first). I got him sorted out and decided to ride him a bit, just to address how his manners were under-saddle
He gave a few half-hearted attempts to throw me over his shoulder but was rather willing to go forwards and listen to my aids. After realizing I wasn't like the daughters, he came along nicely and acted like a gentleman despite the little dog that came running at him.
The problem came when I decided to give him a break and hang out with a friend who was with me as a treat. At first he stood still, then he started to paw so I gave him a little nudge with my foot. He stopped for a bit, then would paw again and soon tried to move forwards. I simply asked him to stand when he did and it eventually became a battle of wills.
He wasn't horrible though and was planning to hop off when he stood quietly to get my point across and hopefully give him that 'ah-ha!' moment. He gave me a few mini rears but nothing too serious.
I've ridden a rearer before (a Shetland who would have tantrums lol) and knew what it felt like when they were thinking about it. He started to back up so I quickly nudged him forwards, thinking that most horses don't tend to rear while moving forwards.
Course then he rears up as he's walking forwards. I think we were two inches from flipping (at least it felt like it). Thankfully it scared him too and he stood quietly after wards and I called it a day after that.
Is there anything I can do on the ground with him and his rearing?
The owner said the vet cleared him and he was sound (he came out maybe a month or two before I rode him) and his saddle fits him, so as far as I know he has no excuse to rear besides the fact that he didn't feel like standing still.
I've heard of cracking an egg on their head or just tapping them on the head so they think that something is up there they can't see to stop them from rearing. Kudos to anyone who can hold an egg and ride a rear but I simply don't have that talent! I can't reach his head easily anyways (I think he's around 16 hands)
I don't have access to a round pen and only have two stalls and two large pastures. My trainer is letting me use her surcingle and I have two lunge lines to use instead of long lines (seeing how long lines are rather expensive) to work with.
If possible, I would have a more experienced trainer ride him but the owner has no money for one (I offered to train him for free). She's planning on selling him to the first offer and it'll be on my conscious now if he ends up flipping over on someone and killing them.
I have video of his rearing here in case it helps at all?
Thanks!
(sorry how lengthy this got :P I like to write stories and the editor in me refuses to let me cut it down lol)
Hi Gabby,
Your long story gives a good account of what's going on! Magoo seems to want to be the one to decide and if not, he'll try to get rid of his rider. Do you have a Duallyhalter?
I would suggest clear groundwork, where you show him he can come off pressure and find quiet.
You can even leave the halter on when riding and remind him of the contract between the two of you, when he's trying to give you a hard time. Rearing when the hindquarters are disengaged is not easy! So pull him to the side with the leadrope. Try not to work with the reins and the bit, this might cause a bigger reaction.
Another thing you could do to fix the rearing is a mask (like Walter "won't go forward") and tape off the top. Horses don't go where they can't see. Stay safe and keep us posted on your progress,
Miriam
Hi Gabby
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Do you have a copy of "From My Hands to Yours" by Monty Roberts?
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He talks about horse rearing on page 166. He explains how to use the mask with the tape on it like what Miriam is saying. After watching the Walter Wont Go Forward series, I have no doubt that the mask would work really well for your rearer.
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Very scary when a horse rears... Good luck and stay safe :-)
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Kind regards,
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Gen
Gabby
In addition to the mask tying him to a rail and letting him stand for thirty or forty minutes at a time will teach him patience. Keep him saddled but no bit, just a halter. tie him short so he cannot rear or hurt himself. Be sure that the ground is fairly soft so if he starts pawing he won't damage his feet. Every horse my trainer has goes through this process so when the horse is asked to stand they are quiet and don't move out until asked. Usually the horse is tied after he has been worked for thirty minutes. You must also stay near the horse during this time to make sure he is ok. After you release him walk him around then give him a bath without soap, just to cool him out and make him comfortable.
Cheers and good luck
Hi Gabby,
For sure the best thing you can do is buy Monty's book as recommended by Gen as soon as possible. Monty addresses rearing and exactly how to handle it. He would agree that you should not ride the horse again until you have the horse working happily on the longlines with the dummy rider. His book explains ehat to do very clearly, and he said it has worked to stop rearing with every horse he has done it with.
Good luck.
Thanks everyone!
I believe my trainer has From My Hands To Yours, but she's currently moving so everything is in a box (:P My luck). A friend of mine might have it, though.
Thanks for the exact page!
I was thinking about using the pacifier right after I posted this lol
I'm scared that he'll revert to his old ways when he isn't wearing it when he decides he's done for the day. (Though that'll probably be explained in the book further lol)
I think the rail tying might help him a good deal. He is rather clingy to both people and his pasture buddy so that'll probably be a good exercise for him. Thanks!
I don't own a dually halter, but I'm planning on trying to make a make-shift one. I've seen a few hand made ones in this area and they seem to work great.
And I completely agree on the more groundwork with this fella! He's been able to push his old pasture mate around quite easily, I can't say I'm surprised how he thinks he can do the same with me. (Probably his underlining problem in general: no respect)
Thanks for all the positive help guys!
I'm hoping to work with him some this week (if the weather permits)
I'll keep you updated!
Hi Gabby,
I am also dealing with a horse that is rearing,i don't have any advice to offer you but was hoping some of the guys who answered you might be able to give me some advice. i have a new horse i go her a month ago, she is a thoroughbred is has been sitting in the paddock for the last two years due to an old injury (now all healed) and her old owner having a baby. She was VERY spoilt. I'm pretty certain my problems come from respect issues too. I achieved a good join up today although she went a lot longer round the pen until she gave me the signs than Monty says. Then we went for a ride in the paddock. I think she may be coming into season, but she is being quite nappy. She is happy to go walking around but as soon as i ask her to trot she is not too keen - basically sometimes she will and sometimes she just stops and refuses to go forward. I pushed her with my legs - jsut squeezing hard and she did a couple of small rears and then did a full rear, i kicked off my stirrups and slid off and to one side. When she came down she seemed really surprised and i walked her round a bit and then got on again. she didn't do it again, but when we got further away from the other horses she got all excited and started calling out, as we were on a hill i got off to be safe and walk her down slowly, she kept throwing her head round and then reared and pulled the reins out of my hands but she didn't go anywhere, again she looked surprised when she got down. she kept shaking her head so i loosened her noseband and then she walked home fine - what do i do?
For the stopping thing, we use to have a horse that did that. We tried both keeping a lunge line with you and attached to his bridle and when he refused to go forwards, the rider would hop off and immediately lunge him and once he was forwards and had impulse, the rider would stop lunging him and hop back on and continue like nothing happened.
Another thing we tried was asking for a turn on the forehand, just to get his feet moving.
Both helped this particular horse, hope it might help with your mare!
Hi raena
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The stopping / napping issue is dealt with in the Walter Wont Go Forward series of videos. Monty Roberts uses a pacifier mask with tape on the back side of the eye covers on the mask so that the horse will move forward instead of back.
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Similar approach to the rearing but with the tape in a different spot on the eye covers of the mask. And Monty Roberts uses the giddy up rope as well.
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See you later,
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Gen
Hey Gabby, though i dont really have a fix for you problem i do have a rearer. He was my first horse so it helps that i know him inside and out and ive had him for years though when he decides he doesnt want to leave his paddock mates he rears and can play up. Luckily Smokey isnt real big and i know him well enough, though i found that turning his head towards your ankle and either just flexing their neck or doing a small circle and then asking for a forward motion again always helped to get him those few extra steps forward and sometimes past the problem point. Not sure it will help but thought i would share incase.
Hope you have that 'ah ha' moment
Han :)
The first thing I do when running into problems like rearing ( or other training issues ) would be to get an Equine Dentist out and get his teeth done. There are a lot of training problems that come from lack of proper dental work. Find your nearest Equine Dentist and get him done. You will be much safer after the dental work is done. Horse's try to express the pain they are in (as they cannot talk our language) and sometimes that may be by rearing, bucking, tossing their head, etc. DENTAL WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR SAFETY. Hope this helps.
Stephen
Excellent point Stephen. That is very true.
Yes, excellent point, stephen!
Horses seldom rear up - unless they are really desperate - as they expose their bellies.
A NH-trainer in England (Max something, I think. Maybe Kelly knows him) used a soft bag on a rope to swing under the horse when it reared up to touch it on the belly. This brought the horse down very fast and eventually, he learned not to play that trick.
Mind you, Max didn't recommend this unless you are a VERY competent rider.
This was an extreme case of a horse who was at his wits end,and they needed him to stop rearing as soon as he was mounted to get to the experience that riders can be good.
Hi, any suggestions of what to do if the 'rearer' is a pony, too small for an adult to ride but not considered safe for a young child to ride. The pony 12hh, 13yrs, mare tried and tested, vetted and believed 'safe' prior to purchase rears when ridden alone of infrount of the ride when asked to go into trot. Professionally assessed and no causes of pain found. Bit changed from a double joint to a single one. Saddle fits well. Achieved Join Up. Very good natured to handle in all ways. What do I do - work with her but then have to put a child inboard to ride and 'test' I feel very uneasy about doing that, find an alternative home and run the risk that she will be moved on or end up in the wrong hands, leave her in the field as a companion but I actually think she enjoys work. Or after much communication the previous owner said she is willing to have her returned to her but she will sell her on again and will only pay for the transportation fee which covers what I paid for her as she only cost a few hundred and will only accept her back providing she deems her to be fit and healthy to sell on. I have years of experience with horses and work as a therapist and if the pony was bigger I would be happy to continue with her but it's a kids pony that I have witnessed rearing and that leaves me with a dilemma. Comments please.
My horses sometimes rears when he is nappy. I am currently riding him out with a passifier and have taped the top off as well - it helps riding out and he hasn't reared wearing itd. His rears are not often anymore anyways or as high and aggressive (if that makes sense) as they used to be and actually feel pretty half hearted now. I have learned (since I bought him) that his previous owner got too scared to ride him and he was left standing in a stable for 1,5 years before he moved to a riding center for a year where I bought him. I think they may have tried to 'beat' it out of him as he was also head shy (a bit) and a biter and whenever we went out he felt (to unexperienced me - he is my 1st horse) as if he was ready for the confrontation. I don't take a stick with me (Only giddyup rope now) and I think he is now used to not getting the big argument/power struggles which is making a difference too. Not sure if this helps at all... long way of saying - passifier mask lol
Hi Tonto,
Did you do Join-up with your pony? When in the roundpen, you could do some longlining with the saddle and then put a dummy on her. This way you can watch her reactions without anyone being at risk. You could then drive her with long reins, so you imitate a ridden situation. Since you mentioned trotting I guess going at a walk is not the problem.
Putting a mask taped off at the top as joloke82 suggests might be a next step.
Is there anything the pony likes to do, would she be good driving? Give her a chance to find pleasure in work and build up from there.
Keep us posted and stay safe,
Miriam
Tonto
Does your pony rear when asked to go forward at any particular gait? Sometimes ponies rear because they can get away with it. If the pony has a real sensitive mouth or her mouth has been abused in the pass, she might rear trying to protect her mouth, One thing that you might try is seeing how she responds to just riding with the duallly halter and no bit. This would act like a hackamore but less sever on the nose. Can you get a student that is a very accomplished rider to test this in the round pen or arena? There is a quite a movement to riding without a bit since the horses mouth will never be hurt and it seems to work quite well.
Good luck
Cheers
Hi thanks for the comments that are along the lines of my thinking. Yes, she only rears when asked to go into trot and when asked to go into canter she bucks mildly. I did accomplish join up with her and leading her about with snaffle poses no problems. I have considered going bitless, though a previous owner told me she was a perfect riding pony when she had her a couple of years ago. I think I will go back to basics on the ground and see how we progress. It's putting the rider on board that is my future concern x