Full Out Rearing *Good Update!!!!

**areias** · 11-21-2006, 02:11 PM

Sigh...see this post:
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=115760

I have rode twice this week, for the first time in about two months. On Saturday she was pretty good...she was starting to do a little bit of the behaviour, but I stayed pretty firm and she was okay. Today I got on her, went once around the field, and she started up again...only this time full out rearing. She was spinning and circling and dancing around too. I get very nervous on a horse that rears, which maybe only escalates the problem. I don't care if it bucks but I've seen too many people get hurt on a rearing horse. She wouldn't stop, wouldn't listen to me. I was so afraid she would flip over backwards. I tried circling and tried to get her moving but with no response. Somehow through some beautiful side passes (hah..yeah..) I made it to the back side of the field and pretty much bailed out (she would not stop spinning/coming up off her feet). She dosen't lunge or I would have made her do that. I made her walk around the field two or three times then brought her back, left her saddle on and put her in her stall (no food or hay, so no 'rewards' for her). I don't want her to think that when she rears I will get right off and untack her and she can go back out in the field.
My brother and sister were both there, they were supposed to be led around on her, but I decided it was just too dangerous.

Anyways went next door and the lady's daugher is going to come out on sunday and we're going to see if there's a problem-either with me, or with the horse, or with maybe the saddle. We don't think the problem is the saddle though. She dosen't use a bit so it can't be mouth pain. It's hard for me to admit defeat.

I feel like a failure.

**Suki Wingy** · 11-21-2006, 06:32 PM

I'm stummped.

Seems like you did the right thing to me though.

**critter crazy** · 11-21-2006, 08:06 PM

Sounds to me either saddle fitting problems, or lack of respect. How much ground work do you do before riding? Do you lunge her first?? has she ever acted this way before. You said you havent ridden her in two months, have you done any ground work in the last two months???

**critter crazy** · 11-21-2006, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by areias

She dosen't lunge or I would have made her do that.

I must have missed this when i read it! Why does she not Lunge???? That is the basics o ground work. Have you checked her feet?? could she have a sore foot, or something in her feet? The thing that gets me is the fact that she was bad the first day, and then worse the next day. Seems almost like she was in pain, and it got worse. The saddle fit could also be a problem. I know that you dont think it is the saddle, but a saddle that fits one month could not fit the next month. Has she gained/lost weight?? Sounds to me like she needs to have more ground work done, once you have established what the problem is.

**areias** · 11-22-2006, 08:48 AM

No, unfortunately, she dosen't lunge on a line. Never has-I tried working with her on it but she would just stand there and stare at me. I don't really have anyone to help me with the lunging (or two person jobs).

We do groundwork all the time. She follows me around like a puppy, haha. I wish I had access to a round pen, but I don't.

See, the thing is, she was fine when I first got her. A month later this started, and with the florida heat and her fly allergy, we took a break so she could just be a horse. And then I go to get back on her after the 2 months and she flips out. If it was a pain issue I don't think it would show up that violently. I guess you never know, but I'm going to try a different pad (mines pretty thick anyway) and a different saddle.

Her feet are fine, they are getting a little long and it's time for a trim, but other than that I tapped on them with the hoof pick with no response. (Believe me, I really tried to see if it was a pain issue).

I want to say that she's just testing me, and seeing what she can get away with. But I really have had some bad experiences-I don't want to stay on a rearing horse. I'm not trying to ask for perfection, but what I asked for was a pleasure horse that I could just go out there and RIDE and not have to worry about too much.

**critter crazy** · 11-22-2006, 08:56 AM

My mare Cocoa did the exact same thing to me.....After some closer checking, it was the saddle that was pinching in on her withers. So I got another saddle and that helped...then I found that she had weak hocks. So the farrier had to do some corrective shoeing and she was a whole lot better. I felt so bad thinking about how many times I would circle her and all until she settled, when the whole time it was the saddle. That meant she would give in to me and just work through the pain.

Check saddle fit, etc. Try a double pad to see if she reacts any different.

**Vela** · 11-22-2006, 11:32 AM

You need to start over with this horse from the ground up. If you dont have acess to a round pen, you should try fencing off part of the field she lives in, it doesn't even need to be an expensive fence, you could even fence it off and make a sort of round pen with green T posts and white tape, etc. You need to start from the ground up, as well as have a thorough physical exam done by a vet. MANY problems with horses under tack and while ridden are due to pain, some that can be hidden really well. She could have a sore back, malalignment, a problem in her legs, a problem with her teeth or ears, or neck. If it's not physical, it sounds like a lack of respect for you and lack of trust in you to be the boss. She needs to learn this on the ground and then in the saddle. Try looking at programs like Parelli, John Lyons, you can do these on your own with your horse and correct a lot of behavioral problems, as well as teach her she can trust you. Because she didn't have this problem when you got her, it could be any combination of things. You need to start from the basics of ground work and teach her to trust you and try again. Don't give up on her and admit defeat, you probably just need some extra help and honestly those programs and "games" do a lot to foster the relationship needed for a successful partnership. Don't give up, just start over from scratch. Good luck.

**Kalei** · 11-22-2006, 02:55 PM

Yeah I don't know what to say. with horses there can be so many problems, sometimes it takes a person who has delt with horses for all their life to be able to figure out the problem. I know what you mean about being scared on a horse, just in august I got on a horse and it wouldn't listen, it just kept galloping faster and faster and then we found out the saddle wasn't on tight enough and I fell off at like 40 kms per hours, I fractured a rib. It was scary. And as of today that horse still doesn't listen good to its owners. Hope you find the problem soon!

**areias** · 12-09-2006, 10:26 PM

Interesting update....

I went and rode her yesterday. It took me a minute to get on, as I was wearing tighter jeans and she's tall

...she was getting annoyed with me, but eventually I hoisted myself up there. We were in the back field where she is the worst. Well...I went once, twice around the field walking and trotting...then went back the other way and did the same..and do you know what she did??

NOTHING. Absolutely positively...nothing. She was an angel. After about 15miutes I cut it short to reward her, and walked her out to the very back of the field to get off her-and she stood stock still while I dismounted. Usually she jigs around and if I want off I have to deal with her moving all over the place. I don't know what the difference was...and if it was just a fluke or if this is it. The only thing I did differently was when I first went to get her, I sat out in the little paddock with her and worked on trying to get the lead in her mouth (which didn't happen, but anyway..) and doing a few of the excercises that we did with the trainer.

So I don't know..we'll see what happens next time. I just can't believe there were no problems whatsoever. Maybe she is starting to respect me more? In preparing to ride her, I put a halter under her hackamore with a long lead rope in case there were problems, and I also dropped the reins and rode her with just a single lead rope! (Pull to the left, and neck rein to the right!) I'm pretty excited about this. I hope we can keep it up.

EDIT: One hour later..I need to ask something. I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. I was looking at some the old picture posts of shows and everything, and thinking I would like to get her into some of the gaming events...and then I specifically remember the girl saying that she had some trouble with Ava at night at the shows, being seemingly afraid of the shadows of the barrels. And she has been getting a little head-shy, she struck out at the barn owner when she tried to treat a gash on her face. If you are careless and make a quick movement to her face, or accidently knock something into her muzzle or something, she'll throw her head up and back up quickly. I wonder if she might (might) have a vision problem? And maybe that would be associated with the clingy behavior? Any way to tell from looking at the eye? She's also tripped over silly stuff lately, like an ant pile..I thought it's just because shes due for her foot trim. Maybe she just can't see well??

Hmmm...I think a vet visit is in order!