Rearing/bucking

Question
I am fairly new at riding horses -1 year. We have 2 horses/age 14 and 20 that we have owned for a year. About 2 weeks ago the gelding reared up and flipped over. This has never happened before. We took him back to our trainer and his impression is the horse does not have a rearing problem. He feels I did contribute to it. I know I was not expecting it so I am sure I pulled back on the reins. I rode him at the trainers and while backing him he reared up again. The trainer said something about being on the muscle which I do not understand completely. Please let me know what this means.
The other mare who is 20 and has been doing fine has started some bucking.She tried it with me at the lesson with the trainer. He then rode her and of course she did not try it with him. He is very firm and the horses don't get away with anything. A little rough too.
Soooooo... after all these things happening I am very apprehensive and nervous about what they will do next and will I be able to handle it. Prior to these episodes I was very confident with my skills and not afraid at all of the horses.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Tracey


Answer
Hi Tracey!

It seems that you did everything correctly for a new horse owner.  You bought a few older, experienced horses and hired a trainer to help you sort it all out.  So, why are you having problems, right?

Because horses have brains and are instinctively herd animals.  If they feel dominated and unable to win back dominance they will listen to the "leader".  In this case a strong force/rider....your trainer.  They do not feel the same from you and therefore act out and try to win back dominance.

Now, when I say dominance, it does not mean physically beating and forcing...it's really a state of mind that an animal immediately picks up on and they just know they are under you in the chain of command.  When I approach a horse and get on it, it knows exactly what and who I am.  They still try to pull out their bag of tricks but, they quickly see it fails and they acquiesce.

Your horses are testing you.  This is natural. I am very worried about the rearing though.  This is the worst and most dangerous habit I know of.  And one that is the hardest to train out of their heads.  Once they start it and it works in getting you off their back, it can quickly become their go-to trick that they repeat when stressed and feeling disrespectful.  Will he stop now that he has begun?  I cannot say.  But, I can advise you watch him carefully when in saddle and keep him out of situations that encourage rearing, like asking to back up for no reason except to back up.  Let the trainer work him out of the idea of rearing and then show you how to avoid it too.  

As for the mare and her bucking, that to me is just her being pissy and a mare.  At 20 she knows exactly what she's doing!  You must dominate her and that will not be easy, she has been around the block a few times!!  LOL!

Start with solid ground work and respect there.  Everytime you touch either it is "training" mode.  They are to listen to you, respect your space and do as you ask.  Then, carry this over to longeing exercises that get them to do all 3 gaits both ways on your voice command with no questions asked.  This will transfer to when you are in the saddle.  

The whole time you are working with them on the ground you will be building your confidence and getting their respect.  Just getting back in the saddle right now and trying to get confident from up there will not work.  Establish your authority with them in baby steps and build a real relationship...they need to see you in a new light.

I assume you are asking my opinion because you doubt the trainer standing in front of you.  You said he is "a little rough" with the horses.  Is he really or are you "a little too easy" with them and that's why they are bad for you and good for him?  Horses are not big dogs or plush toys that just do as you want because you ask them to.  You have to deserve their trust and respect.  They are magnificent, sentient creatures that deserve our best.  But, they are still herd animals that need to know who is in charge.  Very few riders and horses obtain a perfect balance of authority with each other.  Where they are true, trusted equals.  I have only achieved that with one horse and it took 5 years of constant work on and off the saddle.

If you do not feel this trainer is right for your horses, hire a new one but, stick with a trainer of some kind to help you get through all of this.  You need their help.  The horses know what to do and are telling you all sorts of things in their own way.  You need a trainer to help you interpret them and learn their language.

You are very new to all of this and if you really want to stay in horses, you have to change your ideas and the way you approach your (and all) horses.  Thousands of years of instinct are on their side....they are not changing.

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

Solange