Rearing Horse

Question
I am 41 and have ridden for years and am well seated. I have a 5 yr old quarter pony mare I bought for my daughter for gaming. Daughter is 13 and has ridden for 5 yrs and is a strong rider with a good seat. This mare is the most gentle, respectful, sweet natured, loving horse I have ever known. Perfect on the ground and great under saddle, though somewhat high energy. But... under certian circumstances she rears - and rears BIG! She is in great shape and can ride on the trail all day. But at gaming events she gets tired at the end of the day and will rear when asked to leave the horses lined up and do her pattern. If you ask her to go forward she goes up and will continue to go up - no getting her to to go in any direction but up. She also rears on the trail if we ask her to leave the herd or walk out first. When we feel a rear coming we circle her to avoid it and also circle her after a rear to keep her from going back up, but often it comes without warning and is always straight up - no short rears to warn you. She is on a short term care lease with option to purchase. We love everything else about this mare, but need to make a decision as to whether this is fixable before purchase. So far the circling has not helped - we have had her 4 months.

Answer
Hello Tracie,

My advice is that you do not buy this horse.  The problem may or may not be fixable. Much depends on the skill and courage and timing of the rider.  Few 13 year olds have the necessary skill to fix this problem and it will recur over and over again unless she is broken of it.

The way to break this habit is this: the instant the rider feels the rear coming on (and he/she must be skilled enough to feel it) the right rein is let go, the left rein takes the nose to the left knee and the pony is spun around in place until she is dizzy.  This must take place each and every time she is about to rear.  Danger is that she might fall. Problem is that the rider does not react soon enough to prevent the rear, and then it is too late.  When she comes down the spin can be applied, but again, it is much better if it is before the rear.

So I would not even consider buying a horse that bucks, rears, or falls down.  There are too many good horses out there that we don't need to spend money for one like this.

Best wishes,
dorothy