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Hi Karen
You hit the nail on the head! My horse would only rear when I wanted to 
go a different way from a group, or most times, just from my sister and 
her horse. It was a spoiled rear that he tried once and although I was 
good in equitation as a teenager, the horses I took lessons on at the 
riding academy were schooling horses and did not have any bad habits.
I was in for a big surprise with my young 3 year old saddlebred .
I did the baggy thing and it worked for me. Someone just replied to me 
that she had success with a raw egg used the same way as the baggy. She 
pointed out that horses respond differently to the same things and that 
what works for one horse, may not work for another---- Amen to that!!!
Even Arabs differ (especially Arabs) and they even respond differently 
to different riders. Mine seem to be much more tolerant with children 
and beginners whereas a few take advantage of same. Go figure.
So, where I would not use cruel methods to break a bad habit, I doubt 
that a little "egg on the face" (which I have had egg on MY face many 
times ;-) ) or a baggy of water, or spurring on forward or whatever 
within reason. would ruin a horse forever. What would ruin a horse 
forever is if he went over backward and killed his rider and or himself.

Karen Sullivan wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andrea Day" <fetlocks@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> most of post deleted, just great, wonderful advice, however comment on
> following:
>
> If you can
>  
>
> > feel the horse beginning to rear, gig him with your heels and try to get
> >    
> him
>  
>
> > moving. A horse can't rear if he's strongly moving forwards. If he goes up
> > instead of forwards, you probably have a more serious problem than his
> >    
> just
>  
>
> > testing you. Figure out why he rears--is he afraid, hurting, being a shit,
> > doesn't like water?
> >    
>
> Andrea, again, it was a very good post and I agree with tons of it.
> However, I have seen a lot
> of horses that develop the rearing habit due to the following:  Horse tries
> it once, for whatever reason
> (being a shit that day, or being held back when buddies are going ahead,
> etc, etc).  Goes up in air
> a little....and rider gets scared, and ignores it (does not discipline or
> correct horse).  Horse then tries it
> a second time, with a little more effort, again, rider gives up on whatever
> it was the horse was supposed to
> do. Happens a few other times, rider now avoids those situation that will
> cause the horse to rear (can't ride it off
> property,etc).  Horse has now learned rearing habit as protest to ANYTHING
> it does not want to do.
>
> > From that I have seen, horses either rear becuase they are being held back
> too hard....or refusal to go forward.
> Both can be "diffused" by circling the horse right before it goes up.  In
> the case of a horse that rears when being held
> back....sending him forward is giving him exactly what he wants, in the case
> of a horse that might rear because his buddies
> are going away from him.  If you send him forward...he is getting his way.
> Does that make sense? Yes, he won't rear if
> he gets to go along with the group....but that isn't solving the problem if
> he rears when you try to separate him...and there
> is no reason horses can't be trained to be left behind or go away from a
> group.  If you can't do this safely, then the horse is
> NOT trained!
>
> When in group situations, especially with green horses, it is a lot to
> expect that they stand still when groups pause or people separate.  Best
> thing to do, if they have so much energy or anxiety they can't stand still,
> is to allow them to move, but in a circle you can direct.  If they are
> disengaging their hind leg by circling, then can't rear or buck...and this
> can be done in a quiet, gentle way.  If the trail is too narrow....and you
> can't do this, you shouldn't be out there on that particular horse on that
> particular trail yet!
>
> Karen
>
>
>
>
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--
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians
Home of 16.2h TLA Halynov
who lives on through his legacy
Hal's Riverdance!
http://www.arabiansporthorse.com

Always remember: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." (George Carlin)





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