Equestrians -- help!!
Last week, I put on the F11 and started riding like I said I would. However, the experiment went unfinished. I have some riding issues.
The poney we have (he's less than a hand away from being a horse) is fat. He needs exercise. I've ridden him a few times this spring without any real problems, but he's a very challenging ride. The last time I rode him, though, he scared me silly.
He started to rear non-stop.
Now, before we bought him we were told that he'd started rearing, but because he hadn't done it with me when I tried him, I figured it was an exaggeration. The other day he freaked me out.
He wouldn't listen to any of my cues and just wanted to go where he wanted to go. He charged the fence (I thought he might try to jump it, but I can handle a horse that bolts) and ignored the bit entirely. Then he started to rear and rear and rear. I pulled him to the side and had him down every time, but he was strong enough to right his head and rear some more.
I've heard that a rearing horse can be "cured" by throwing a ballon of warm water on their heads when they do it, but I can't see myself riding around with a ballon full of water waiting for him to act up and then having the speed and presence of mind to throw it (accurately) at his head when he does.
Everyone I've asked said that they don't trust horses that rear and that I should sell him.
The kids would be absolutely CRUSHED. This poney is an adorable one, more like a dog, really, as long as you're not on his back.
Any suggestions would be greatly, greatly appreciated. Thanks.
will anyone hate me if I bump this?
Hey there,
I've been riding for 15 years and I've been an instructor for about 5 of those. Ponies can be such brats can't they??
All kidding aside, I have to say I agree with the people you've talked to, especially if this a lesson pony used for beginner riders. Horses that rear are a danger not only to themselves if they flip over, but to anyone on their back.
I know a "natural" horseman that used the water balloon trick, and I have seen it work for a few, but I have also seen some end in injury for the horse or rider, with the most extreme case being a horse that came down after the water balloon hit him, took off bucking, went around about half of the arena like this and the rider stuck with him. The horse stopped very suddenly, stood stock still for about 15 seconds, then reared so high that he did flip over backwards, pinning the rider underneath. The horse was ok except for a sore back the next day but the rider broke a rib and a leg. Not pretty.
Sorry for the novel, I just want to reiterate that yes, there are ways you can try to work the rear out of a horse, but if they are prone to it, they will always have that instinct, and I personally would not feel comfortable putting kids on a pony that has the tendency to rear.
I'm sorry that's probably not what you want to hear, good luck with whatever you decide to do, and keep me posted!
Here are a few ideas/thoughts for you:
-before you ride, does the pony get a turn out or lunge, or are you just hopping on? Don't know if he lives in a stall or pasture, or what, but even horses that are in a pasture and able to walk around all day, they probably still need to work a bit and get some bucks out or wear down the energy level a little bit before being ridden, especially if he hasn't been ridden for awhile.
-Have you ever used a lunging surcingle or any kind of bitting rig/rebalancing reins/etc? If you have one, or have access to one, you can safely simulate riding from the ground....put the surcingle on, and use bridle with a REALLY soft bit...loose ring snaffle, rubber snaffle, etc. If you attach the siderein on the outside and then run the lunge line through the bit and attach back to the surcingle, you can actually simulate the same sort of bending/turning/halting/etc that you will need to enforce while riding. Running the lunge line through the bit gives you the leverage you need to bend the horse, and you can gently reinforce your aids with the lunge whip. Work on a lot of walk/trot, trot/halt, trot/canter, canter/halt transitions, use a lot of firm voice cues to let him know you mean business. I am a HUGE fan of groundwork...gives you a great opportunity to build the basics and train safely from the ground before riding a problem horse. If you have a round pen or smaller arena to lunge in, that's always better than a large arena where he might be able to break away from you. Also, note of caution: if your horse has never worked on a lunge line or in a surcingle with sidereins, start very slow, especially when attaching the sidereins....start with them very loose so he can get used to them, and to make sure he's not going to pull back against them.
-I have heard of the balloon trick, but never seen it used. i have also heard about people breaking an egg over the horse's head (something about the smell of sulfar smelling like blood??) and also breaking a bottle of wine over a horse's head when they rear....YIKES!! Don't recommend that one!! One trick that I can honestly say I have seen used and has actually worked, although, is VERY extreme, is driving the horse with double lunge lines, and when they rear, pulling them over backwards (ok....don't call PETA, it wasn't me, I swear!!) Apparently it's an old cowboy trick...the idea, I guess, is that horses don't realize that they can fall over when they rear, so if you show them that they can, they won't rear anymore. I saw this done with a horse that had become virtually unrideable because of a severe and dangerous rearing problem, and they tipped him over once and I swear, he never reared again! Ok, now, I'm NOT suggesting that you try this tactic, unless you happen to know someone who knows how to do it properly, because, obviously, you could seriously injure the horse....again, don't anybody freak out about this one....just passing along info!!
-honestly, it sounds to me like you have an out of shape, bratty pony on your hands who may have gotten a little too used to his life of leisure. Some proper groundwork, and a regular training program will help your situation a lot! Sorry for the novel, but I know how frustrating a problem like this will be. And to reiterate what Ashleigh said above, rearing is a VERY dangerous problem, and this pony should not be ridden by beginners unless you are certain that you have cured him of this vice. If he continues to rear and you think that sending him down the road will break your kids hearts, maybe he is destined to be just a cute/non-rideable yard decoration :)
Please let me know if you have any questions!
I think Monty Roberts has some interesting training techniques. He is fairly well known and has been very successful.
Good Luck!
having been on the ground under a falling horse (and i truly believe he did everything possible not to crush me), it's not worth the risk.
I agree with pgeorgian--on both counts. One, it could be a health issue. We've got a pony at my barn who developed a huge bucking problem right after he was purchased. The girl who owns him was frustrated and more than a little scared to ride for months. After going through two vets and several sets of x-rays, it was an acupuncturist that finally sorted out the problem (and now I can't remember what it was--unfortunate, since it kinda ruins my story!).
And then option two is, don't keep a habitual rearer if it's purely a behavioral issue. It's one of the few vices that's often incurable, and it's not worth risking your safety or your kids'. Maybe I'm overcautious, but you see enough horses land on enough people and you tend to get that way. :)
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I'll check out the link, but am wary about trying any techniques myself -- I'd rather someone who has experience with this kind of thing try. Also, the pony's never been lunged before and is so poorly behaved everytime I try, I'm getting frustrated. (He's an exclusively outdoor pony with a three sided covered stall that he has access to).
I don't know what I'm going to do. I honestly believe it IS behavioural because it matches his personality. He really acts up when he's just had enough work.
There's some love lost between us since he freaked me out the other day and I'm considering replacing him with two smaller ponies that my kids can tack up and ride without problems. But they WILL be upset if we sell him -- happens he's a beautiful palomino (like a princess's horse ;)) that looks suspiciously like a Haflinger and who follows them around like a dog. But it's a bloody luxury to have an 800 lb dog in the yard that eats more than his fair share.
The rub is that I can handle most behaviour problems on my own, except rearing!
There's a guy up the road who has a reputation as a "horse whisperer". I've left a message. If anything exciting happens when he visits, I'll post it. If not, well, end of story. Palomino pony will have to go (his name is Jim).
Thanks again.
Try taking it slow go out and ride him at a walk if he's being good then end for the day. Always end on a good note. another possibility is mabey there is a problem in his neck, withers, or spine that when you shift or whenn he moves causes him pain and he reacts or his teeth are too long and the bit is hurting his mouth. get him checked by a vet and teeth person.
We sold Jim back to the people who originally sold him to us and they sold him to a woman who wanted to start up a riding school. I was told that they solved his rearing problem and he was fine. End of story.
NOT!!
I went into the feed store the other day and what do I see posted on the wall but a picture of Jim on a For Sale sign. I guess we weren't the only ones to have problems with him. It's reassuring to know that it's not entirely my fault...
I thought about a chiropractor for horses when I had him, but I know that he'd been abused by his previous owners and assumed that the bulk of his problem was behavioural. In retrospect, I probably should have exploited the option before giving up -- but he'd gotten really destructive with the fences; every morning we woke up to a new "jail break" and repairs were becoming financially overwhelming.
Goes to show that it sometimes doesn't matter how much you love an animal -- when they're damaged, they're sometimes damaged for good.
don't feel guilty, kitty. it took seven years for me and my boy (also a Jimmy) to get to the point where we really trusted each other. i could put in that time (and deal with the lumps) because i didn't have kids who were counting on me or wanting to ride him.
so - now you're in the market for a horse? it's a good time to buy ;) i'd look for a good, solid QH gelding at least 10 years old. skip the silliness!
You're right, I shouldn't feel guilty but do because the kids were so attached to him. Believe it or not, he actually played hide and seek with them. Amazing to see a 13H2 pony try to hide...(he was better at seeking).
We're looking into doing a half-board for the winter. The kids have access to a little 12H pony who's a little machine, but I'd also like them to be on a horse (the twins are 8 and I want to ride, too!) so we'll see what comes up at the local barn -- which happens to have a huge indoor arena.
Seven years! OMG that's patience for you. You're so very lucky to have had the opportunity to foster a relationship like that. Kudos!
