[anaderi14]

I have a 4 year old paint who knows how to intimidate people. For the past couple of months I've worked him out of most of his bad habits (kicking, biting) and now he just throws a fit sometimes but I understand since he is still a baby and needs a "review" every now and then. Two weeks ago, he began rearing while I lead him. First he quickens his step, then runs past and almost over me, and rears. I've been doing lunging work and I get after him when he rears and this seems to be helping. But I was wondering if anyone else had any other suggestions?

[CrazyHorse]

Carry a dressage whip, a crop or a lunge whip with you and pop the snot out of him when he even thinks about running past you, and back him up fast a few steps. He does not see you as his leader and has no respect for you. You need to show him you are alpha mare and he is to back off when you say so. Is he gelded?

[sorrell]

If you have a chain lead line, this might help. When he starts to rear, move back toward his body and pull his head toward you. There are also rearing surcingles you can try, but they may make him fight and sling his head or fall over, all of which can harm you and him.
There is also a way to put a chain behind his ears, running from his nose, so if he tried to rear, pressure will be applied to the poll and bring him down again.
That said, if you can afford to hire a professional to work with him, it would be better. I had a half arab that had an attitude and I hired a guy for $50 who rode him once, showed me what to do and we rarely had problems with him after that. It was the best $50 I ever spent!!!
Often using a whip or chain will just make a horse more likely to misbehave. It depends on his personality.
When horses learn they can intimidate you, it is often difficult to rehab them, but it can be done.

[sorrell]

I just looked at a natural horsemanship article to confirm, and they also recommended bringing the horse's head toward your body, while driving the rear end around you, basically forcing them to move the rear sideways so they can't roll back onto the haunches to get lift off for the rear. You don't have to beat or yank on them this way, just basically move them off balance. The point is to show them that you have control over their movement and they don't have control over yours. You may need a whip to drive the rear away, but just to push the rear around, not to beat. Some others might be better able to describe it. I've done something similar with young horses, but I still like the added comfort of a chain if the horse can overpower me by pulling.

[CrazyHorse]

Originally Posted by sorrell

I just looked at a natural horsemanship article to confirm, and they also recommended bringing the horse's head toward your body, while driving the rear end around you, basically forcing them to move the rear sideways so they can't roll back onto the haunches to get lift off for the rear. You don't have to beat or yank on them this way, just basically move them off balance. The point is to show them that you have control over their movement and they don't have control over yours. You may need a whip to drive the rear away, but just to push the rear around, not to beat. Some others might be better able to describe it. I've done something similar with young horses, but I still like the added comfort of a chain if the horse can overpower me by pulling.

Just wanted to clarify my post. I wasn't saying that she should beat him, just pop him and let it sting a bit so he will get the idea that running over her is not acceptable

[sorrell]

Originally Posted by CrazyHorse

Just wanted to clarify my post. I wasn't saying that she should beat him, just pop him and let it sting a bit so he will get the idea that running over her is not acceptable

oh, I know, I have taken a whip to a horse that tried to slam me in a wall. I'm just saying, if you can do it another way, it is better. If it comes to getting run over and trampled or drug, I'm of the opinion that any option that keeps you safe is a good option!

[CrazyHorse]

Originally Posted by sorrell

oh, I know, I have taken a whip to a horse that tried to slam me in a wall. I'm just saying, if you can do it another way, it is better. If it comes to getting run over and trampled or drug, I'm of the opinion that any option that keeps you safe is a good option!

I agree 100% Some horses do need a bit more convincing than others, and some respond to voice and body language alone. My mare tried to run over me once and all it took was backing her up real fast a few steps and getting in her face so to speak and she hasn't tried it since.

[MuckMuck]

Really not wanting to get into it here and everyone is totally entitled to their opinion,but popping and smacking is just not necessary at all.

Why does a horse Rear?

It wants to be somewhere else and wants to get there a lot faster than you do.
It does not want to be led and it wants to lead instead.
It does not want to be restrained for sure.

The key to the problem is that the horse does not want restraint!
The horse looks at the 90lb human on the end of the line and says
"I am bigger than you".

So the solution is to be stronger than the horse to get them to listen to you.
The solution is for the horse to yield to your direction and accept YOUR cues by listening.
By taking their feet away you have effected them WAY MORE then a bunch of smacking.



If I am leading a horse and it started to rear,then they just earned a trip to the round pen and an hour of standing real quiet.
Let them fight with themselves.

Then you just sit in a chair and relax while the training continues.

[MissHopesMom]

I'm not understanding how hobbling a horse and making it stand in a round pen for an hour after the fact is more effective than a small pop on the bum at the moment it happens?

To me, it makes more sense to get the discipline done and over with and move on instead of dragging out the process. Heck, how will the horse remember why he's been standing still for 59 minutes, when I can barely do the same?!

[MuckMuck]

Originally Posted by MissHopesMom

I'm not understanding how hobbling a horse and making it stand in a round pen for an hour after the fact is more effective than a small pop on the bum at the moment it happens?

To me, it makes more sense to get the discipline done and over with and move on instead of dragging out the process. Heck, how will the horse remember why he's been standing still for 59 minutes, when I can barely do the same?!

The point is that the problem is about the horses use of his legs and the rearing is a rebellion against your leading.

The horse does not have to remember anything accept that YOU have control over his legs.
You get to move him when you need to and he does not get to act up.
The method is more effective in many (but not all) cases.
It may not make sense to you,but it does to the horse.

Act out and I take your legs.

Ma'am,I need you to step out of the car and place your hands behind your back please!