Rearing horses can cause you to be unseated, struck, or fall on your horse. The horse could also lose its balance and fall, injuring and injuring yourself. Horses that rear while being tethered to carriages can cause injury to the driver or passengers and damage equipment and other objects.
It’s hard to stop a horse from learning this behavior because it is a way to avoid work and express frustration. It would be dangerous for a novice rider to attempt to fix this problem. You should seek professional help.
Why do horses rear?
Before you can eliminate the behavior, it is essential to understand why your horse is acting in this way. You should consider the possibility that your horse may have other health problems. A poor fit or saddle, overgrown teeth and soreness can all make a horse behave.
- Girths Your horse may be cranky if it has poor or tight girths.
- Health concerns: Your veterinarian might be able to assist you with any physical issues.
- Vision or dental problems: Get checked by a professional for vision and painful dental issues. As a means of expressing panic, a horse may raise its teeth if his or her teeth are in pain.
- Poor training Once you have checked that your horse is well-behaved and that there is no reason to worry, think about if your horse has any issues with its training . This could make it frustrated, confused, or overwhelmed by what it’s being asked to do .
- Over- or understimulation: Does your horse eat too many grains and not get enough exercise to burn off all that energy? Horses that spend most of their time in pasture are less likely to get bored, bolt, or reared. Boredom can cause horses to act out.
What to do if your horse rears
Most horses will signal, by balking, that they are expecting a rear. This gives you time to plan your next move. Sometimes however, you don’t have the time to react.
Keep your weight forward and center when you ride horses. If the horse rears, try to keep your weight in front and center and to support your balance. Pulling on the reins could cause the horse to lose its balance, and possibly fall backwards.
You can also bailout. If you feel uneasy, an emergency dismount may be the best option. You must get out of the horse’s way quickly to avoid being hit on the way down. This has the downside that your horse will learn to avoid you if you bail each time it rears.
How to Prevent Rearing
If you are able to properly handle a horse that rears when ridden or driven, don’t attempt to ride it. This is what you should know:
- How to work a horse “long & low” without having to school him.
- How to drive your horse forward.
- How to engage (and deengage) the horse’s hindquarters.
- How to use your hands gently
- How to recognize if a horse is inclined towards settling on its hinches.
- How to effectively school horses, giving it 100% of your attention.
- How to stay cool at all times
- What bits might help?
Don’t pull on the horse’s head when you’re standing on the ground. This could make matters worse. Training a horse to put his head up or back up is counterproductive. Recognize what causes the rear to turn and take steps to prevent it.
Punishment that involves hitting, screaming, yanking on a lead, throwing your arms up in the air or waving a whip could make matters worse. Any behavior problem can be extinguished with punishment, but it is rare that this works.
Professional Assistance
A professional trainer can help you if you are a beginner or intermediate rider.
Check out references and ask for them to provide you with some. Do the horses come from this trainer well-mannered from the ground, under saddle, or in harness? Do the owners enjoy the horses and are they happy with the results? Some trainers won’t work with horses that rear.
Should you Buy or Keep a Horse with Rears?
If you are considering buying a horse but it rears while your watching or practicing, don’t purchase it. Rearing a horse can be costly, no matter how attractive it may seem. You might not be able to keep a horse you rear.