Re: Rearing Horse

["Judy A. Worley" <aussie@aa.net>]

My 1/2 Tb mare was light on her front end as a 2 1/2 to 3 yr. old.  At the
age of 17, still does it once in awhile, but I can hold her down.  My
husband made a 3' long PVC pipe for me, with a loop to hang on the horn, or
my wrist, after she reared and fell on me, on the pavement, as a 2 1/2 yr.
old!  It was just an evation; she didn't want to leave home. As she came
down sideways,   I thought I was going to die. I shot up a "God!" prayer,
and was led to move my foot "just a little". and the stirrup crushed, but
because it was on the under curve of the belly, stayed nice and straight,
and didn't take my foot and ligaments with it Nice souvenier. I got up and
walked away.  After that, I put on a tiedown, so I'd have the advantage. If
a horse can't get its head up, it can't rear.  She tried a number of times,
and every time, she even threw her head up against the tie-down, I'd crack
her between the ears with that 1" PVC.  It was either going to be her or me,
because rearing can kill you.  About a month of that, and I took the
tie-down off, but kept the pipe.  After awhile I didn't need that either.  I
bred for this mare, she's a gorgeous copper penny palomino, I've paraded and
won many trophies in Seattle parades, that to this day, I'd trust my life to
in the mountains, and smooth riding, with a 15 mph floating trot like a
slipstream, so it was worth going the extra mile for her.  Hope this helps.
Judy
-----Original Message-----
From: G & J Thom <thomlabs@netbistro.com>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Thursday, March 19, 1998 7:45 AM
Subject: Rearing Horse


>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
>