How do I stop her from rearing?

[fivestrideline]

Also, a reputation of being “crazy” at shows is not a bragging right. That’s not good, and reflects poorly on rider, trainer, and program.

OP, I really want you to know that I’m not trying to pile on! It seems apparent from your post that you’re under the impression that she’s “excited” and acting up due to a desire to work. I’m sure someone gave you that impression (IRL or through SM), but the reality is that horses like this are almost ALWAYS in pain. It is up to the humans to figure out how to fix the cause of such behavior - be it medical or training or environment.

Again, if you don’t own this horse, it’s way past time to find something else to ride. There are plenty of horses out there that aren’t trying to kill themselves and you. If you do own her, get the vet (a really really good one), spend the showing and lesson money on figuring out what is wrong with her, and then find a good, kind, horse first trainer to break the bad habits.

[VodkaRedbullx2]

If the horse is rearing the moment you get in the saddle and she’s 22 years old my first question is what is her height and what is your weight?

That’s immediate back pain.

You need Bute, a saddle fitter, and to reassess somethings - maybe frank trainer insight.

Also check feet and add shoes.

[candyappy]

@Phaedra1

After she rears, she won’t do it again until I need to get on. I go out for lessons every week, and she will be high-stung but doesn’t rear. Before I started riding her, when she was eventing several years ago with her other rider, she would do airs above the ground.

Looks like the OP went MIA but I will ask anyways.

Am I interpreting this incorrectly?

Sounds like she rears when eventing. She did it when her previous rider evented. You mean cross country jumping alone ? Or all 3 disciplines at the event?

She doesn’t rear when you go to lessons so to me it seems like it is localized and associated with one specific thing.

Kind of like a horse that acts up in the box at timed events , barrel racing, roping etc…

Does she rear when you are at home?

[Phaedra1]

I do own this mare. When I say this is new, I mean, like the first show I did in May, she did it
because she has been doing it more consistently. I am going to try mounting her when she is walking in a circle, like you suggested. My trainer is not happy with the way she is behaving, and we were discussing ways to change this behaviour because we both agree that it is not safe whether she is happy or not. At home, I try to use the mounting block as much as possible, but I also sometimes have to get on the ground. As some of you said, maybe I am hitting her back when I get on. I know that she is sensitive, so I make sure I get on lightly. but I am not perfect, so once or twice I have accidentally sat a little hard.
My show routine is
Thorough grooming, including itching her favourite spots to try to help calm her down, tacking up, ensuring the saddle pad is clean and non crinkled, and tenting the saddle pad and half pad, then walking a couple laps in each direction of the warm up arena then get on her starting easy, not much pressure, then after a lap of the warm up ring I started working her I try to give myself half hour to 45 minutes to warm up

We are going to a clinic on Monday so I will see how she is with the exercises I have been doing this week about patience circles and listening

[Phaedra1]

Shes 14.2 and I think I’m somewhere between 100 and 120
She also has a magnetic saddle pad we school in and a gel half pad we use all the time
Her saddle was fitted to her and its only saddle she’s happy in

[GraceLikeRain]

She’s 22 and only started this behavior in May? She definitely is hurting. I’d do thorough lameness workup, have your saddle fitter out, and give her some time off until you get things figured out.

[sheltona01]

As a saddle fitter, is the gel pad ir the magnetic new? I have seen horses hate them.

[fivestrideline]

@Phaedra1

She also has a magnetic saddle pad we school in and a gel half pad we use all the time
Her saddle was fitted to her and its only saddle she’s happy in

Seconding - are either of these pads new? Was the saddle fitted to her with these pads? A lot of horses HATE gel pads. If a saddle was fitted bare or with only a thin cotton pad and then the rider uses thicker/different material and adds another layer too (half pad), it can be pinch city!

Was the show in May your first show together? Or just your first show in the year? Do you show in the exact same gear as you use at home (sounds as if she’s spicy at home but rearing at shows)? Do you only ever mount from the ground off property? You can buy a cheap step stool, get a leg up, or use a trailer fender/fence rail/truck bed/bucket to get on without torquing her back.

Was she doing “airs above the ground” for her previous owner (the “other rider” you mentioned)? Same trainer or new one?

I ask these things because it sounds like something changed recently. Horses don’t tend to get hotter and develop bad habits as they age for no reason. It could be something as simple as her hocks are fusing, or your saddle doesn’t fit, or she was ripped around by a previous rider. But something hurts and something has changed!

[Old_Mac_Donald]

Tristan Tucker has a new training module on his website specifically for horses that are difficult to mount.

I find his info to be excellent so it would be worth investing in (IMHO - I have not seen this module)

[Angela_Freda]

@Old_Mac_Donald

Tristan Tucker has a new training module on his website specifically for horses that are difficult to mount.

I find his info to be excellent so it would be worth investing in (IMHO - I have not seen this module)

But does it address training only, or also troubleshooting physiological issues related to mounting that could be at play here?
I’m unfamiliar with this guy.

[Phaedra1]

She has been using the gel and magnetic for 3 years now and it seems like she enjoys them, if I don’t use them it feels like she uptight and stiff

[Paint_Party]

@Phaedra1

I know she’s doing it because she’s excited.

I’ve been reading along and think you’ve gotten a lot of good advice already. But I was was curious. How do you know your mare is rearing “because she’s excited”?

I’m just wondering if it’s actually anxiety because she’s anticipating the pain that’s about to occur once you put your weight in the saddle or anxiety because she’s anticipating the stress of the competition.

[Angela_Freda]

Or pain from exertion.
At 22 an event horse who has been doing a job like this for any amount of time probably requires quit a bit of maintenance to keep them going, I would think?

[RedHorses]

Tristan’s method is very much into releasing mental and physical tension in the horse so they are okay and understand the ask. A horse with a physical issue is not going to be capable of releasing their tension created by anxiety over anticipated pain.

[eightpondfarm]

I know of a training barn that has a sand-filled dummy on a pulley. The greeny is ground walked and halted directly underneath and dummy lowered.

I wonder if there’s some way OP could put a weighted form ontop that mare in a straight-down way and see what happens when the mare is ‘mounted’ in a precise fashion.

[bingbingbing]

When is the last time she has been checked by a vet for soundness/back issues? Is she on any type of maintenance?

[Dressagelvr]

This sounds like a lot physical problem. Agree with everyone who has said stop riding immediately. Time for the vet.