How do you stop a horse from rearing up when you are riding him?

Answer 1

Stopping a horse from rearing:Rearing is a bad habit, and if the horse learns that rearing - a display of physical strength - will not help him get his way, he will stop doing it.

Nobody is stronger than a horse. The main mistake people make is pulling at the horse to try to bring him down. This will never work because the horse is always stronger than the person yanking on his reins. But the person is smarter than the horse. If you want to make him stop rearing, you have to outsmart him.

Using a lunging cavesson instead of the halter deters some horses, and stretching shade cloth a few centimetres above the height of the horse's head where you want to lead him also works but it's inconvenient.

Another way is to choose a halter that has metal rings on either side of the noseband. Remove the bottom part of the noseband so that you are left with the piece that sits on top of the horse's nose and the rest of the halter. Thread a piece of rope through the rings so that the rope sits in his chin groove and the two ends hang out of the sides of the rings. Tie the ends together and tie that to a lead. When the horse rears, hold the rope steady so that the rope tightens against his chin. He'll learn that rearing is painful. Leaving four feet on the ground is not.

That's hard to understand and harder to explain. If you don't get it email me for the bitmap image: laurafrogsrule@gmail.com

I should also mention that this little trick is NOT a substitute for professional training. I have had a few people email me who have horses with quite serious behavioral issues. This is worth a try for a couple of weeks to see if it makes any difference, but it won't work on every horse and it's not going to cure a serious psychological problem.

Answer 2

My pony used to rear and it really helps if when they start to rear you pop them on the poll with your head cause then they think that they are hitting their head on something. I have also heard that you can bop them in between the ears with your crop. Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Horses do things like rearing. bucking etc. for a reason, there is always a reason behind this behavior. Here's one reason on why your horse rears when you lead her: Horses are very sensitive creatures they sense everything from us humans. You could be nervous or scared when you lead your horse therefor your horse senses or feels your nervousness and she immediately feels nervous or threatened so she rears that's the best answer I can come up with. Or your horse is simply being bold!

Answer 4

This is a particularly troublesome question. Rearing up can be a very dangerous habit. You don't give any history on the horse or what the breed he is but the most important factor here is how much experience you have with equine behavior problems. Do you know if there was any abuse or rough handling where the horse used to live? He/she may have been hurt and is now frightened of some aspect of being led. What your horse is displaying is 'refusal of forward impulsion while in-hand'. For a horse that won't go forward they refuse in certain ways. Rearing, spinning, backing and bucking are some of them. Sinse I don't know your level of knowledge or experience I'm am very reluctant to have you deal with this yourself. First, rule out any physical problem that could be making your horse refuse to go forward. Only a vet can help you there. If there are no physical problems that could make your horse act this way you may need to consult a professional trainer. Be cautious here. The wrong trainer could make it worse. Do you have a friend that has horse knowledge that you trust. Or they may know from experience a good trainer that has a gentle touch. If you do take your horse to a trainer, be somewhat active in your horse's education. Ask them questions. Remember there are never any stupid questions. Qestions are how intelligent people learn new things. Whatever you decide to do please do not ignore this behavior. It most likely will not go away on it's own.

If you do decide to tackle this one on your own, do so very patiently and carefully. You can take a very long lead line and hold one end while another person the horse trusts walks around the back with the other end and lines the rope up under the horse's butt and around to the opposite side of you, making a "cradle" of sorts around it's rear end, and pull on that rope evenly from both sides while attemting to move forward, slightly "nudging" the horse along. If it takes even one or two steps, immediately reward it with a treat, lots of petting and soft, kind words of encouragement. This technique is usually meant to be used with foals, and other smaller animals, and I am not sure of the size of animal you are dealing with. Also, do not face the horse and attempt to pull it forward. This is a mistake that many people make when trying to get a horse to move forward. Facing it is a body language sign to it that you do not want it to move.

Answer 5

Have you tried different bits? Your horse might not work well with the bit you have on him. Aside from that, you could try a Running or Standing Martingale. Though I'd try a Running Martingale first since it's easier on them. Both of these limit the ability for the horse to throw his head up. I've always used a Running Martingale for these problems and it's worked wonderfully. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

There is a strap that goes on the horse, I believe it is called a "rearing strap" that is supposed to keep the horse from rearing. It does not actually prevent it from rearing, it prevents its leg movements during and that makes the horse uncomfortable so that it is conditioned to not do that action.

Answer 7

You're better off finding out WHY your horse is rearing. Has his saddle been fitted? Have his teeth been looked at? What about his back? There's not much point in trying to train your horse not to rear if you haven't eliminated any cause to the problem in the first place.

If you've had everything looked at (and seriously, get them looked at!) and he's just rearing because he knows that he can get it over you that way, I've heard that you can whack them on the top of the head between the ears with a riding crop when they go to do it. I imagine that there are better ways to stop it, but that's the only one I know of.

Answer 8

Rearing is one of the most dangerous behaviour problems and should never be ignored. Whether you can 'fix' it yourself will depend on your experience and judgement and of course the horse's trainablity. The act of rearing is just the horse's refusal for the que for forward impulsion, or to move forward. The first step is to make sure the horse has no physical problem such as a sore mouth, back, legs or feet. Before any drastic training it may be wise to have him examined by your vet, who will be able to detect a health problem. If you and your vet feel your horse is healthy, you next need to evaluate the situation. If the problem is very minor and you are a confident and accomplished rider and have had some training experience, then with great caution you may try to discourage this behaviour.

Before you begin, make sure the problem is not rider-related. Many times the problem with the horse can be traced to rider/handler error. Make sure you are not sending him mixed signals, clenching and pulling the reins, ect. To move forward he needs a rider with steady leg aids and soft, giving hands. If you feel you are not the problem, move on to the next step.

Try to observe what it is that sets your horse off, any particular place, ect. Some horses will do this when presented with new challenges such as crossing a wooden bridge, a small jump or a small stream. I have had several horses that wouldn't step in a puddle. If your horse has a certain place or situation he is refusing it will eliminate the need to second guess what is on his mind. Be firm and confident in your leg and seat aids for forward movement. Keep your leg on him and sink your weight in your heels and seat bones. If you feel his front end coming off the ground try to turn his head to the side, even circle 360 and when your headed in the direction of your choice again ask for him to move forward. You may have to repeat this many times depending on the problem and how ingrained the habit is in his mind. You are basically making him move 'forward' but in circle instead of a straight line. When you get a step or two forward (not in a circle) praise him but remember to keep your leg on him. If you feel at any time, out of control, or the situation could be dangerous to you or him, untack and put him away.

You may need to, at this point, think of a professional trainer. Although expensive, it is possibly your best and safest next step. If this is not an option you may need to decide if this is the right horse for you. In conclusion, I strongly advise against harsh training devices and/or tack, and big whips and sharp spurs. This could possibly make the problem worse than when you started. And always wear protective head wear and proper riding boots/shoes. Your safety and your horse's safety should be your first and foremost priority.

Answer 9

Try holding your hands higher with the reins, so then when he tries to put his head down he can't. Or, maybe try a different bit. Maybe a full cheek snaffle so he can't turn.