Mini rears, whys he started?

[k8_doran]

Well, I've been riding this horse for nearly 3 years. I've been away for about 3 or 4 weeks. I go up once a week, theres a new sharer been riding him nearly every day. I got on him, he started mini rearing :( i think he was happy to go to gate (as if he was going for a hack) but wouldnt go near school and mini rearing. i had little rein contact and still doing it. Got him in school in end, but i dont want him to start this!

The girls at stables saying he is getting more work now (he wasnt before) and been in school alot. I said at our previous yard, he was as well in work in the school nearly 7 days a week but never has he done this before! So whats going on :confused:

[helenc]

Sounds like he's napping - you really need to nip this in the bud now before those mini rears start increasing in size.

He could have had a bad experience with his new sharer or he may be testing you out as you haven't been riding him much lately, also might be confused with different people riding him as he is inexperienced.

There are quite a few threads on napping with lots of methods to overcome it - if you do a quick search you should get a few tips.

My tip is to try to work out why he is doing it - has something happened? Is there something new in that area that has/is spooking him? Is it pain related? Are you nervous about anything? Feed changed? Less or more turnout?

Once you know why he's doing it then it will be easier to work out which method to use to overcome it :)

[k8_doran]

Thanks i will have a look at the threads:D
The new sharer riding about 5 or 6 times a week is definately new.But also good for him as he needs to get out and do stuff. When he did it with me, he was quite happy to walk to the gate to the exit, but not to head towards the school.

I am not sure whats happening, he could be trying it on. He is the sort of horse where you have to be softly soflty, i was giving him his head and he was still mini rearing

[Palomino Mare]

ahh my horse has started this too so if u find any good threads then please let me know, lol!

amz x

[k8_doran]

yeah definately will let you know, hopefully people will keep replying here too!

[Rips]

Obviously I don't know either you or the sharer, so its hard to comment. Mini-rears suggest anxiety to me - and this was just after you had got up on him? If its not pain related then it definitely suggests he had a bad experience the last time he was ridden.

Before I read your thread, (having read about your the sharer before) I instantly thought maybe her style of riding might be a bit more restrictive? You mentioned the owner feels the sharer is getting more out of him in the school? Did you feel, after riding him for so long that he was coming along fine or did he need to be doing better? Maybe she is getting more out of him, but maybe its because shes using more force then necessary and less direction/encouragement.
I find it always the case with greener horses, if they are napping, that they need a slack rein, and lots of encouragement and direction - rather the restricting them and 'forcing' them to do something.
If they start to anticipate the rider restraining them, they can get even more anxious without cause.

Is the sharer riding him in the same tack and everything?

[k8_doran]

Obviously I don't know either you or the sharer, so its hard to comment. Mini-rears suggest anxiety to me - and this was just after you had got up on him? If its not pain related then it definitely suggests he had a bad experience the last time he was ridden.

Before I read your thread, (having read about your the sharer before) I instantly thought maybe her style of riding might be a bit more restrictive? You mentioned the owner feels the sharer is getting more out of him in the school? Did you feel, after riding him for so long that he was coming along fine or did he need to be doing better? Maybe she is getting more out of him, but maybe its because shes using more force then necessary and less direction/encouragement.


yes just after i got on him. then the path goes into two, one way to the school, the other path leads to the road, hacking! he would not go to school but he would walk towards the road. i gave him his head, asked him to gently walk on to the school and he wouldnt.


I find it always the case with greener horses, if they are napping, that they need a slack rein, and lots of encouragement and direction - rather the restricting them and 'forcing' them to do something.
If they start to anticipate the rider restraining them, they can get even more anxious without cause.

Is the sharer riding him in the same tack and everything?

as i say you need to be gentle, giving him his head and letting him have a look.
yes same tack, everything. owner has not really been to stables as she not well so probably not seen her ride or what shes doing. i said to the mutual friend you cant force him, and she went oh...i think this is what the sharer is doing and its no good for him at all

[helenc]

I think that maybe it is time for you to speak to the owner about this :)

[k8_doran]

do you really?

I have only ridden him once since been back will have to see what hes like again, I told the owner he did it and she said hes probably trying it on which he could well have been.

I dont want to the owner to think im poking my nose in :o she is happy the sharer is there as hes getting out a lot and its true, he wouldnt be doing much otherwise so i am definately pleased he is getting ridden more...

[helenc]

Well TBH, I think you're better off sharing your thoughts with the owner than running the risk of the owner or sharer coming on here & seeing what's been written, that's all I was thinking.

But I suppose you don't want to sound like you're slagging the new sharer off to her owner... hmm difficult one.

Maybe see what happens next time you ride & take it from there

[k8_doran]

Thats what I thought i would do, see what hes like when i go up again. I hope i dont sound like i am slagging anyone off, thats the last thing i want! im glad the sharer is there as she is doing him the world of good getting him out, dont know what would of happened without her there, shes doing good for him. i was just concerned about what happened

[puzzles]

ditto all said.
he's probably been trying to tell his rider/handler that he feels unhappy about something in more subtly tones, but when she didn't listen/missed the signs (i.e. stopping, swishing tail and reluctance to go forward, etc) or ignored him, he has had to resort to more obvious means.
have his back, teeth and tack all fitted and then try to pin-point the cause rather than focusing on the symptoms.
has this begun after an incident?

[helenc]

No, you're not coming accross as slagging her off, just that if she read it, she might take it as that