In our last blog, we discussed the issue of a kicking horse and how to fix the problem. Another issue a lot of horse owners might face is a rearing horse. This is another dangerous habit that your horse could develop. To learn how to fix this issue, please read this blog!

Reasons Why Horses Rear

First of all, horses have several defense behaviors they will gravitate to if under threat.  Their preferred protection is to instantly run away from the danger, about 1/4 to ½ mile, before they get tired, slow down and look back.  Depending upon the horse, the close up behaviors can include biting, kicking bucking, crow-hopping, pushing through, or rearing up.  Some horses don’t have a strong propensity to rear, while others are what old-timers called  “light on the front end.”

The first step in preventing any behavioral issue in your horse is to understand why they are doing it. Rearing can be a reaction that indicates the following:

• They are in pain.
• They are confused.
• They are scared.
• They have too much excess energy.

Physical Pain

If your horse is physically suffering, they might be rearing to tell you that there is something wrong. Some of the issues could be that the saddle you put on them does not fit correctly, they are sick, their teeth are overgrown, their girths are too tight, or there is something wrong with their vision. To ensure it is nothing that is physically hurting your horse, you will want to do a thorough check of your horse.

If you don’t see anything wrong, observe them closer and see if their behaviors change in different environments. For example, if they are rearing during a ride, maybe there is something on the path that is causing them stress, or they don’t want to leave the stable and their buddies.

Confused Horse

If your horse is confused, this can be the reason they are rearing. Consider your training and how you ride them. Are you asking him to do a trick he hasn’t learned yet? Or a trick that requires he master another move that he hasn’t learned yet? Are you taking him to a new place or through a new obstacle that he isn’t sure of yet?  If your horse is exhibiting behavioral problems that you haven’t seen before, you might want to consider what you are doing differently. This also leads into the possibility that your horse is scared. If they are shown a different environment, you are riding differently, or you are letting a different person ride him, this could cause your horse discomfort.

Excess Energy

Another reason your horse might be rearing is because they have too much energy. Are you feeding them a lot of rich foods but not taking them out to exercise enough? It is important that your horse spends enough time in a pasture or field because they can get the exercise and fresh air they need.

Danger of a Rearing Horse

If a horse is rearing fairly often more than 12” off the ground, it creates a serious problem for a rider and sometimes for the handler.  The greatest danger is that a rider can fall off or need to jump off.  Also, many riders will want to pull back on the reins to stop the horse from rearing, which can make them go higher and over backwards.  Obviously, the rider would not be in a good spot if that happened.  If a horse learns that a rider can be forced off by rearing, they can do it again to get out of work.  So, if you notice a horse developing a rearing vice, don’t let it go on too long before bringing a professional trainer in to remedy the problem.

For more tips on handling behavioral issues with your horse, please refer to our blog!

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