horse that rears up

Question
I have a 10 yr. old QH named Blaze that I have owned for app. 4 yrs. He is as gentle as they come but he has a bad habit of rearing when I try to make him turn to the left. We can turn to the right all day long but if I try to turn to the left and he doesn't want to go then he tries to act stubborn and rear. He can have a bit of an attitude like " I want to do things my way". Before you say anything about the bit I ride him with a Hackamore. I use the bit at times because I like to feel a little more in control. He has done this rearing with both. He has only reared once with me not being on him. I was just standing beside him holding the reins and he wanted to back up and I tugged on the reins and that resulted in him going completely over. I have children and would love for them to be able to ride him. ant suggestions that may help to stop the rearing?


Answer
hi Michelle,
this is a nasty habit, my filly does the same thing when shes hyper. my first suggestion would be have an equine chiropractor come out and readjust hid body. especially his poll,ribs,and back. he is probably out in all of them and when he turn to the left it could be pinching a nerve. after this go into the round pen and put on draw rein on the left side of, only make him work to the left. then ground drive him and have him turn both ways. overtime he tries to act up. tap him with the whip and make him go forward. if he does rear. try to pull him over and when hes down sit on his neck right by his head and make him stay down.let him lay for  for about 20 mins. this shows dominance over him.after let him up and continue to ground drive him. if he does the same thing, pull him back over and make him lay there.
( this process does have many cautions. if he starts to shake while hes down let him up. a horse that has mental problems can go into an epileptic seizure. this has happened to me with a racehorse but we later found out he had a brain tumor and thats why he had a seizure. the other caution his watch out for his feet. never approach him in front of his feet when hes on the ground. always come from his back side.)
after he ground drives good, put draw reins on him and ride him. the draw reins will make his head stay low so the risk of him rearing is not as great. if he tries to rear. pull as hard as you can on the left rein until his head is right by your foot. make him stand like this for a while and retry your command. over time he should get the point that if he tries to rear he wont be able to move his head.
another old trick i have used ( its kinda a pain in the rear but it works, is carry a water balloon or egg while riding. if he rears, smash it over his head. this does not hurt him at all. but he feels the liquid on his head and he thinks hes bleeding. horses very rearily ever rear after this. good luck with your horse and let me know how he does. if you have any other problems come on back and i can help.
amanfa groff