Re: Rearing Horse

[Chris Paus <paus@micoks.net>]

Yes, lStar used to rear and I've learend that spinning him in a circle when
he does this teaches him that it's much easier to just go forward nicely.

Now when he rears, his feet barely leave the ground and it usually signals
to me that he doesn't understand something I want him to do.

You need to rule out physical problems -- poor fitting bit or saddle, etc.
If those are ruled out, then work on behavior. lSeek professional help, but
let the trainer work with you as well as the horse so you don't take her
home and re-teach her to rear.

chris paus and *

At 10:07 AM 3/19/98 -0600, spencer wrote:
>When horses rear my dressage instructor says to make them go forward.  
>Easier said than done.  I am in  similiar situation with my 9yo green broke
>arab mare.  She did fine during winter, but now tries not to leave home. I
>am wondering if it is related to spring heats starting as she did so well
>before they started coming into heat.  I have had to be firm and use my
>riding whip on her butt.  Each day it was getting shorter--like from 20
>minutes to 5 min.  Then , because I work one week on and one week off, it
>has been starting all over again.  She gets herself into lather during this
>and then after she figures out I am going to make her go, she cools and
>goes like she is supposed to.  She has been doing this whether or not I am
>riding alone.  I am planning to take her elsewhere to see if it is the
>same.  In past with other horses, I have just worked thru it using english
>spurs or pelam bit with short shank to give them negative reinforcement for
>the sudden bad manuever.  It ended up taking 2x a much time to go away from
>home as returning to home.   It is called barn sour.   I haven't heard of
>any quick fixes.  John Lyions has a way of going about it a few months ago
>in his monthly magazine.   It is time consuming and I actually feel that
>the horse has suddenly found out he has to WORK for a living and sees goind
>away from home as having to work.  Good luck.  You can always take to
>trainer, but you will probably have same problem when you try to leave HOME
>again when she returns.  Any other endurance riders had this problem?
>Mary Ann
>Zavalla, Tx
>
>----------
>From: G & J Thom <thomlabs@netbistro.com>
>To: ridecamp@endurance.net
>Subject: Rearing Horse
>Date: Thursday, March 19, 1998 9:14 AM
>
>Hi everyone,
>
>This is not entirely endurance related tho the horse we
>are having trouble with was to possibly be started in
>endurance rides this year.  My friend has a 5 yr old 
>arab mare .  This mare goes very well under saddle in
>the arena and around the yard.  As soon as we head away
>from home always in the company of another horse, we
>get a certain distance out never the same spot and this mare
>will all of a sudden start rearing and striking with her back legs
>and will refuse to go on.  Even when you get off and continue
>to walk her in the direction you want to go she will rear for a
>few steps.  My friend and I are not horse trainers and were 
>wondering if 1)  If this is something we should tackle ourselves
>                  2)  If a trainer fixes the problem is it something that
>                       may start up again later.
>This horse has lots of potential for endurance and we were taken quite
>by surprise when the mare started this.  This mare is bottom of
>the pecking order in the herd and has never really indicated that
>she had a temper like this.
>
>Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
>
>Julia
>
>
>
>