Rearing Issue

Question
I have had my 12yo Standardbred Gelding for 2 years, he is 16hh and the biggest sticky-beak of a horse I have ever known.  Rhino is an ex-trotter, and yes, we still have problems getting to that canter level and holding it.  But my problem is that the last two times I have ridden him (we only do pleasure trail-riding), he has mucked up incredibly after we turn for home. He is perfect, until then.  Once we change direction he starts chomping on the bit, head up high and tilted to the side, crab walking (he does good side-passes I'm told), but now he has started rearing.  

At 16hh its a bloody long way up(or down!).  When he did this the first time I wrapped my reins around his bum and got his attention and he calmed down,  it was a "one off" or so I thought,  but yesterday it just continued. We had about four episodes of this carrying on.  I handled it well (I think) until the last rear when I thought we were going to flip.  I then made him stand still whilst I dismounted and I walked him home. I beleive this is a behavourial issue and not a physical problem.  I haven't change tack or bits etc.  I have now taken him off pasture since as I think the amount of green grass he is getting may be too much.  What I need to find out is if there is anyway to prevent this happening, i.e when he starts to act up and do little rears, what would be beneficial, is there any tricks to keeping four feet on the ground?  Giving him a good whack around the bum certainly didn't seem to help yesterday, it did get his attention and make him stand still but as soon as i ask him to walk forward again he just went up.

I ride with my 10yo daughter with her 12hh pony, and she is very upset to see Rhino rearing the way he does.  Friends advice to me is once a horse has learn't to  rear they will continue doing it! Is this true?

Any advice would be appreciated

Julie

Answer
Hi Julie!

This is a very common issue for horses.  Often called "barn sour" it just means a horse wants to get back to his safe place.  Be it a barn, stall, pasture, horse buddies or trailer...it all results in the same behavior.  Just what you described.

First, stop trail riding him, especially with your daughter and her pony.  This has to be fixed right now and they should not be a part of it.

Start with some longeing exercises and a few tack changes.  You should longe him for at least 15 min. before every single time you work him.  If you are familiar with Monty's "Joining Up" exercises, use them...they will help him to bond to you.  It also sounds like he is evading the bit and has no bit acceptance.  You did not say what he is going in and I cannot tell if it is too mild or too harsh.  If it is just a snaffle, then it's
probably too mild and he is disrespecting it.  If it is a big honking curb with 4" shanks,  then that's too strong and he's over-bitted.  How are your hands?  If you have good, kind hands try something in the middle of those two, maybe a snaffle with a slow twist.  Also, you should be riding him in a standing martingale, in Western they call it a tie-down.  This will help you to keep him from rearing so easily.

When you longe him it should be with a plan of attack.  He should be able to do all 3 gaits, extending and collecting them on voice only, with a special emphasis on "WHOA".  Donut reins would help to frame him up and give him bit acceptance.  If you have never used them, have a knowledge person help you get him started in them and show you how to continue using them.

Now, he's tired from longeing, has a new bit and standing martingale and he is ready for the next phase.  TREATS!!!

Yes, they work wonders in making him forget he's worried and wants to run back home.  Can you walk him on the lead line to the road and back with him being calm and focused on you?  If yes, go to riding him to the road and when you turn him, does he get anxious and wants to run back to his "safe place"?  This is where you need a helper to walk with you and A.) Grab him and walk him to prevent him from rearing and dancing.  B.) Shovel sugar cubes in his mouth the second he is calm and keep rewarding the calm, walking forward with praise and sugar.  Eventually, phase out the sugar and just have the helper.  Then, phase out the helper benig so close and have them 20 paces away....and so on till you are independently controlling him and he is calm.  If he gets nervous, just go back to the beginning and start over with sugar and a helper close by.  Do it on his time frame, not yours.

If Rhino (love his name!) only does this on trail, you will have to tackle this on the trail.  But, BABY STEPS!!  Don't take him to the trails until you have established a solid working relationship with him and have worked him consistently in the new longeing exercises and tack.  What you want is not to control the rearing but, NOT TO HAVE IT AT ALL!!!

DO NOT pull back on your reins!  This is what leads to rearing.  The rearing is a 50/50 thing.  50% your fault for pulling him back and 50% his fault for resorting to it.
Will he always do it?  Quite possibly, IF you take no steps to train it out of him.  And if you do not keep him trained to his correct behavior, he will backslide into rearing again.

So, to sum up....fill in the gaps in his education, go slow and make yourself his safe place so he is not worried about anything.  You have to become his constant in all situations.  So, he says to himself, "Oh, everything's fine.  Mum's here and she takes care of me!"

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

Solange