How to manage a rearing horse

contact on their mouth.
If your horse goes to rear again continue riding them forward on a circle and telling them with a firm voice to walk on. The important thing here according to Zana is to keep your leg on and the contact relaxed.
If you feel out of control get off and do something else with your horse. Inhand work or lunging perhaps suggests Karl. If you put the horse away with a haynet theyll associate rearing with that reward which will encourage them to carry on and do it again. Its effectively a reward for bad behaviour.
One of the hardest things for riders to learn when sitting on a rearing horse is to give the contact away but this is important as its the signal to your horse to come down. Be determined as they land too they must move immediately forwards onto a circle.
When riders get nervous they put their leg on but they also grab onto the reins in effect asking their horse to rear explains Zana. If the horse does then go up a nervous rider will often keep pulling thinking the reins will keep them on andor using them to stay balanced. Instead what actually happens is the rearing gets higher and this is when the horse could go over.
What I need the rider to do is relax the contact and hold on tight to the mane saddle or a neck strap whichever is easiest to grab continues Zana. Neck straps are particularly useful and arent just for riders who lack confidence.
Rider energy levels are very relevant too.
When we ask one of our horses to rear we have to create quite a bit of energy and excitement to get them in the right frame of mind for it adds Karl. When riders get anxious this energy transfers to their horse. The height of any rearing is directly related to this energy. Basically more energy results in a higher rear.
Managing a rearing horse
A horse rearing up is an unnerving situation. My sister had an AngloArab mare on loan for many years who was known for occasionally rearing. It usually happened out hacking if for example shed been asked to stop and wait for some reason and she didnt want to. One time we were out in a group of five waiting for our turn to jump a ditch when she started rearing about 3ft off the