bad behavior

Question
I have a similar problem as Ruth. My 15 year old mare rears and has flipped when tied. so you have to hold her lead to saddle her. She is also cinchy. She turns around like she is going to bite but doesn't. She has also reared when being ridden if she is ready to be done. I do not ride her regularly,but she is in a 2 acre pasture and has horse friends in the next pasture. thanks for your advice.
                                         Sandy

Answer
Hi Sandy!

I have to say that rearing is the worst issue a horse can have.  Especially if they take it to the level where they specifically use it as a defense mechanism to unsaddle a rider.  Also, since she is doing it in the crossties and has actually flipped herself over...well, that is not good.

It could be that she had large gaps in her training and never really understood what the humans around her wanted from her.  So, things just got worse.  It could be that the wires in her head are crossed and she is just not ridable.

Can it be fixed to where she is safe to ride?  I cannot say.  Most likely not though and in your case because she is ridden so infrequently, the problem is never addressed correctly through training and it will just get worse.

My advice is to turn her into a pasture pet at your place or donate her to a rescue organization/farm that needs a "babysitter" in the field.  At her age it would be soooo difficult to re-train her whole thought process and in the end, just when you thought she was safe, she could still flip.

It is always better to be safe than sorry and in this case, your mare is in danger of killing herself too.  Flipping can seriously injure a horse and it is best to avoid the issue altogether.  Just let her be a horse and hopefully helpful in some other way...like a babysitter.

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange