Lorien Stable: Trainer's Notes

[Raeanned]

I have a 6yr old QH who rears when she gets agitated while I'm riding her. She starts chomping her teeth showing her agrivation and ultimately rears. I was brought up on the back of a horse but have never dealt with this problem. My aunt raised her from birth and she was trained by a professional. However, the only riding my aunt ever did with this horse was trail and she never really went beyond the basic walk/trot. She is fine when we stick to these basics but to go beyond that always results in a rear. I don't feel as though I am sending her mixed messages, the fit of her tack is good and her teeth are ok. I feel it is a dominance issue, I just don't know how to deal with it. I can confidently deal with any other situations she throws my way, just don't have the experience in this area to know what to do.

I have started over with basic ground work, lunging in a round pen and getting sumbission from her. In just a few days she has done very well and I plan to continue with this work. But, where do I go from here and how do I gain her submission while under saddle when we start the work she dislikes so much?
Any advise on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

[galadriel]

Rearing is the worst problem for an amateur rider to come up against. It's just too dangerous overall; rearing is a habit that will get both you and the horse seriously injured; in my opinion, it's not a matter of it, it's a matter of when.

If the horse rears in resistance, and does it consistently, eventually she's going to go over on you. The balance of a horse on her hind legs is very delicate; if you're just a little off balance when she goes into the rear; if you accidentally pull on her mouth; if *she* was a little off balance; if the ground is uneven or she steps into a hole...any of these can cause serious consequences. More than just injury, it could be fatal, for either or both of you.

I strongly recommend that you find a trainer to work with your mare on this issue. I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Rearing is just too dangerous to recommend anything else.

[Abby]

Hi!!!
I have the same problem w/ my 5 yr old gelding except he rears when he thinks hes worked enough for the day...what ive tried to do is when i feel hes gonna rear i stop whatever it is i am doing( since a horse usually stops and raises his head 4 rearing) and when hes relaxed, i give him the softest aids to go forward and then i smack him on the butt. It works but is there no other way hat will permanenty stop rearng? galadriel you seem to be an experienced trainer and i just wanna know,what would you do in this situation? if anyone knows what to do, please write!!!!!!