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Re: [RC] Rearing (slightly OT) - Bette LamoreHi BarbaraWhen I was in high school, my first horse of my very own was a young saddlebred who had come with a very bad habit of rearing. A trainer at our barn told me to crop between the ears at the apex. Well, that didn't work so he told me to get a coke bottle, and break it over his head at the apex--- said the horse's skull is strong and that it won't hurt him, but that he will think the liquid running down is blood and it will cure him. Loving my horse, I could not bring myself to break a bottle over his head, but I brought a baggy full of water and when he reared, I hit him with my fist and the baggy and yes he thought he was dying by his reaction and he never reared on me again. Since then, however, I use the circling method to end this behavior--- the other method is a little too dicey for my taste at my age now-- as a kid I would try anything. Bette Barbara McCrary wrote: Many years ago, a horse we had bought for our 10 year old daughter, already a rider with some experience, decided he could out-fox the girl. He started rearing the minute she tried to ride him out of our driveway. Our horsehoer at that time was an experienced western rider, and he mounted up, asked the horse to move out, the horse reared, and the man promptly boxed the horse on the head, right between the ears. It was a terrific show for several moments, rearing horse, rider boxing the horse with his fist between the ears. After the dust settled, rider and horse went down the road, and the horse seldom tried this again. When he did, our daughter boxed him between the ears and settled the issue. This horse was NOT and Arab, so I'm not sure whether that is too much correction for the more astute Arab mind. I agree with Karen, and it was MY first thought.....if the horse is 4 years old and has had 2 years of professional training, she was started too early and probably pushed too hard, too young. I feel that 3-1/2 to 4 is a minimum age to start an Arab, and one should take things slowly and carefully. These are generally very smart critters and don't take kindly to heavy-handedness. I KNOW people start riding Quarter Horses at 2, but Arabs AREN'T Quarter Horses!
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