I've only had my gelding, Gideon, for about three weeks. Before he came into my posession, he was a "pasture pony" for six months. Previous to being a lawn ornament, he had been ridden English style and taught the basics of Dressage, but was never shown. I've ridden him about 10 times now. I work him almost every day in the round pen for at least 20 minutes before riding.
Recently he has been rearing when I ask him to bend, slow down, come away from the rail, etc. Rearing doesn't scare me, I know how to handle myself, but I worry that one wrong step could put him off balance and he'll flip backwards. I ride strictly with a bridle and saddle, no martingale.
He's reared in total a dozen times, spaced out on two different days. I checked his saddle to be sure the cinch wasn't too tight, and I stretched out his legs as well. I use a snaffle bit, the same that he's always been ridden with, and I checked to make sure it wasn't too tight. I even take extra care to check his hooves and be sure they're absolutely clean. When he's in the round pen, I watch his movement to see if he is favoring a leg for any reason, or if there's any soreness or limping.
I can't find anything wrong. The first few times I rode him he did great. He's been ridden in the same arena since he's been at the stables, so its not like its a new environment.
Jacqueline, seriously consider having a professional saddle fitter take a look at your saddle. Sometimes a horse will tolerate an ill fitting saddle a few days and then start acting out as he has now associated the saddle with pain. Or it could be that the saddle is just now starting to cause some bruising that are painful now. Have you pressed along his spine to see where the ouch might be? I went through several saddles to fit the horse I have now. Once you see what a saddle that really fits looks like.....you'll be surprised. There are many sights that give you the details on this ... the most informative i have found is trumbullmtn.com. Adjustable saddles are great for out of shape horses who might still muscle up. Good luck!!! Happy riding!
Does the saddle fit properly? (lie evenly on his back without hurting him... it is quite hard actually to get a fitting saddle...) He could also have a sore back - try running your knuckles down both sides of his spine with even pressure - -does he flinch? Otherwise, it could be that he is just challenging your role as leader - in which case it would be best to do lots of ground work - make sure he accepts you as the leader on the ground walking forwards, stopping and walking backwards without pressure and such. Once that is done, it should be better if he was fine before. If he keeps on rearing, just release one rein while he is on his way up - this will throw him off balance and he will come down to the side. Or you can pull him down to one side. Just don't pull back on both reins (or too late) or he will be over backwards.
a lot of times horses rear it is b/c they are confused/frustrated or feel trapped. it sounds like this could be the issue w/ your horse b/c of the times that he does it. not saying you are a bad rider or anything but maybe something about the way you are asking him to bend or slow down is different than what he is used to or something. or is he doing it at a certain spot in the ring? this could also be an issue. just a few ideas that maybe you can look into.
No, he doesn't do it at any particular spot. If he sees another horse outside of the ring, he wants to follow it as best he can... if he doesn't get HIS way, he'll rear. When he's in the round pen, he shows signs of being submissive. I'm also having problems with simple things such as him giving me his hoof. I know that he's challenging me, I'm just not sure how to go about correcting his behavior. I don't agree with theories that suggest he should be slapped when he misbehaves (not that any of you have said that, I was just saying in general). That's just going to make him face shy and untrusting. I'll try a different saddle and see if that helps.
I agree with the first two posts. He needs a different saddle OR a chiropractor. Its possible his back is okay but that the saddle does not fit, OR that the saddle is fine, but his back is out of place. Could be both. He also could have VERY sore muscles if he is not used to working. We often don't appreciate or understand how much work it is for a horse. I mean, 20 minutes in the roundpen....could you jog slowly for twenty minutes? And then put on a backpack full of books and go run around for another 30-60 minutes without pain? Now do it every day. Young horses, or horses not used to working often, need to be taken slowly.
A horse that is not used to working might only be worked in the roundpen for a week or so, for me. Then roundpen and very light riding, slowly increasing as time went by. It might be weeks before we canter, because he is not ready. They need time to get in shape. Imagine how tired and sore your muscles would be. Give him a break for a few days then try again and see if he feels better.
I work him for 20 minutes in the round pen, and when I ride, its for 15 minutes and its at a walk. I agree with you that he might be sore, so I'll pace everything better and see if that helps.
That's good. Next question, then. Are you doing any natural horsemanship type stuff with him? Sometimes it can really help. Asking him to flex around at a stand still, then later at a walk and trot.... If he is resistant in the bridle, that might help a bit.
I haven't started yet, I'm still "shopping around" for natural horsemanship ideas and methods. Not sure where to start in all honesty. He's my first horse. I've taken lessons for three years, but it was on horses that have been trained thoroughly and are easy to work with.
i think it might have something to do with him not being ridden in so long and i also agree that it could have something to do with the saddle my old throughbred used to do something similar and it turned out she needed a custom fit saddle for her back
I use a mixture of all the natural horseman guys. You don't need any special equipment for it, either. Don't let anyone convince you of that. You dont' need a "carrot stick" for instance. A regular lunge whip or a rope will do just as well for most exercises. It's more the way of thinking that interests me.
Yeah, I wasn't planning on buying their "special equipment," but I've been looking around and agree that a mixture of the ideas and methods will probably work best.
I don't think there's anyone in my area who makes custom saddles, so if he DOES need one I guess I'll look around online for custom saddle fitters.
Definitly check to see if the saddle fits him and maybe have his back worked on. Try also a wither pad for extra cushioning. From my own experience it sounds like he is a bit herd bound. Maybe for a few times take him out with another horse and see if you can get him to leave the other horse. Is he use to being ridden outside? If he is used to being ridden in a round pen or a ring only then he needs to learn that he has to go outside. I had a dressage horse in training that had learned to rear from his previous owner to get his own way. He would go straight up and walk on his hind legs. I used draw reins to give me extra support to pull his head around to my knee every time he wanted to go up. Attach the draw reins to side of the girth, not between his legs. As strong as horses are it is okay to get help when the do something that dangerous. Make sure you make a big deal out of him being good, but provide tough love when he is bad. Keep working with him and don't let him push you around. Once he realizes you are incharge, hopefully he will get better. Good luck.
One thing to try would be to have someone else (a trainer perferably) get on and see what they think the problem is. it could be that he is just used to being ridden a certain way and has realized that by rearing he will always get what he wants. i am in no way saying that you are a bad rider, but to get a trainer or instructor on him, they may have more ideas and may have seen this before. Its always worth a try!
You might want to look into Clinton Anderson or GaWaNi Pony Boy also. I'm not ruling out the saddle issue, but the fact that he's giving you a hard time just cleaning out his hooves indicates it's a dominance issue.
Jacqueline Clark
If you have RFDTV Take a look at the Downunder Horsemanship. Look at some of the lessons that he has and see if you might try somewhat he tells you to do. Also locate someone that can check if the saddle is fitting right.
Do you know why he was left alone before youbought him? For how long without someone riding him?
You have me listed as one of your friends, let me see if I can help you with your problem. I own 23 horses and I have one of my stallions that likes to show off ,that h has someone on his back a lot. He will rear when he is worked in a isle way or if I'm working him in a streight line and stop him without turning him. he willo rear and spin on his back end and then waite to see what gear I Que him for then he walks on the way he is supposed to do. He has done this since I first started to ride him..(it is just him) 15.3hh black TWH. We started off in a 100' runway and this was the way he would turn. I do this with/without a saddle or bridle on him also, (It is just him)
How tall is he, If 15+hh see if you can get him to laydown for you to sit on him, and then give him a Que to get up and see if you can control him completely this way. Start out with-out sitting on him this might give you an idea if he has a back problem, then when you can sit on him, and then have him get to his feet and ride off watching to see if he is favoring any of his legs, this will give you an idea of what to do from there. Please get in contact with me when you can do this letting me know what you see or fine out. 307/214-7215 best time to contact me is on weekends anytime.
If you haven't already done so, have a vet look at him...check the back and also his teeth. and the saddle fitting is important,
I used to ride a horse who would rear when he didn't get his own way...unfortuantely it was a learned behaviour and he had to learn that I would not give up. After about three months I figured out when he was going to rear and just drove him forward...eventually he stopped rearing and we were great friends for years.
Assuming the tack fits and the horse is sound. The horse needs to move forward. It's that simple. I like to longe in side reins but if they are too tight the horse can not come over it's back and move freely forward into contact.
How are you asking the horse to bend?
Doess the bridle fit correctly? The inability of the horse to move freely forward can cause rearing issues.
I know I am going to get a ton of heat for this but I don't agree with the natural horsemanship thing.
If you want a dressage horse start training it in dressage. Get the horse rythmic, relaxed and accepting of the contact.
More if you are interested.
BF USDF l
