Why Does a Horse Suddenly Start Rearing?

[Wellspotted]

I've just found out that Blaze (horse I used to ride 'til he got moved) has just started rearing. He reared with his rider on his back.

When I went out to see him about a month ago he did not seem as friendly/affectionate as he used to at the barn where I rode him, but neither did he seem anxious/upset about anything. He was just back to his old aloof self, the way he was when we first got him.

Now I learn he has started rearing. Fortunately he did not go over backwards, and his rider did not come off.

Still ... rearing ... :eek: :eek:

I am really worried about them both.

[CanterQueen]

Pain or heath issue.

Bad fitting saddle.

Bad rider.

Mistreatment at new barn.

Not enough exercise (as in do we work him regularly or just go out and ride the heck out of him every now and then?)

[JulesGirl]

Pain, usually. Checking the saddle fit and having the chiro out would be my plan of action.

[murphyluv]

well, I am assuming that with any type of resistance it could come from pain.

although, the camp I worked at we had a 3 year old that was ridden a lot by an idiot staff member that thought he could ride (mounted shooter---) he was rough with his hands, and would suddenly snatch up the reins to stop with no prior indication that that was what he wanted to do. He also allowed the horse to root, pop his head up and down and in general by silly.
I hopped on the horse, and almost got a bloody nose. He was also extremely "light" in the front end and kept trying to go up. I'm sure if we had allowed it to go on any further it would have definitely lead to rearing. The other staff members and I pretty much grabbed the horse before he had a chance to, whenever he was at the barn. Kept him from riding the horse the rest of the season. Almost ruined the horse.

Is there someone riding the horse on a consistant basis?

[flypony74]

Pain, or too much bit/rider in his mouth, leaving no where to go but UP.

That is the one thing I really hate. Give me a good bucker any day over that.

[Wellspotted]

Yes, two or three times a week, I think at least one of those times is in a lesson.

The trainer said Blaze needs some work to do.

[see u at x]

Have they had his teeth checked? If not, they might want to. My mare had TMJ issues because of her teeth not having been done by her previous owners, and not long after I got her, she started doing a little bucking and would rear up on occasion. I got her teeth done, gave her a month off of work, had someone do massage work on her, and *knock on wood* we haven't had any problems since.

[zakattack]

ulcers is also a possibility, one of the lesson horses at the barn i board who is usually very forward began stopping, backing up, and sometimes rearing during under saddle work.

[BuddyRoo]

If nothing else has changed and a new behavior like this arises, I would be looking for pain. Mouth or saddle fit.

If it's a new rider, I would be wondering if the horse is getting trapped with hands. (heavy handed).

In what context is this occurring?

[Cielo Azure]

Have they had his teeth checked? If not, they might want to. My mare had TMJ issues because of her teeth not having been done by her previous owners, and not long after I got her, she started doing a little bucking and would rear up on occasion. I got her teeth done, gave her a month off of work, had someone do massage work on her, and *knock on wood* we haven't had any problems since.

YUP...TEETH, TEETH, TEETH!! 9 TIMES OUT OF TEN.

[rabicon]

pain, teeth, mistreatment, or someone with just really hard hands that is yanking the crap out of him and has made him really resistant.

[FlashGordon]

Sore feet. Sore back. Tension in poll/neck. Over-bitting. Ulcers. Teeth issues.

Riders with bad hands/seat/riding in general that won't LET their horses go forward can create the issue too.

[Thomas_1]

Pain and evasion and ordinarily in the mouth or back. Or significant rider error.

The last one I had here to sort out rearing had the roof of his mouth like a lump of raw meat and from a heavy handed rider misusing double bridle and buckling the bit into the top of his mouth.

[Cathy D]

Others have brought up medical reasons, so I won't rehash.

On the behavioural side, usually they do it because they are excited and want to go forward and are restricted from doing so (this would include the rider snatching up roughly), or they are refusing to go forward when asked, and when the rider gets after them, they go up. I've seen some high level dressage horses pull this one in the ring, a total rejection of the aids.

Some of them do it just because they think it is fun. These are usually stud colts and stallions.

Definitely not a good habit to pick up. I have a feeling this horse is going to be looking for a new owner in short order. If you get this horse back to work with, remember that they can't rear while they are going forward, and the ones that rear because they are refusing to go forward can't if you keep the hind legs moving by disengaging the hindquarters around the front end.

[goeslikestink]

I've just found out that Blaze (horse I used to ride 'til he got moved) has just started rearing. He reared with his rider on his back.

When I went out to see him about a month ago he did not seem as friendly/affectionate as he used to at the barn where I rode him, but neither did he seem anxious/upset about anything. He was just back to his old aloof self, the way he was when we first got him.

Now I learn he has started rearing. Fortunately he did not go over backwards, and his rider did not come off.

Still ... rearing ... :eek: :eek:

I am really worried about them both.

read this it could be her bad hands - bits are only servere as the hands that use them ok
you know that ,, but hands as in heavy in the reins or handset or supporting there bodyw eight will make ahorse rear or buck
this explains it to a t
http://www.meredithmanor.com/features/articles/faith/fixing_bit_evasions.asp