Rearing isn't funny!

by Kristina
(Germany)

I have a 2 yr old filly she stands at 16hh, I'm having a problem with her rearing when being asked to do something she doesn't want to do or when you're in the field and she wants to play she will come up real close and rear then run away. I mean real close, her knees touch the person she is a very intelligent horse stubborn and very playful has a very strong mind how can i get her to understand she is to big to play with now and that rearing isn't funny.

Answer:

Hi Kristina,

There are a few things here that impact your situation. Because you said she is too big to play with in this manner (which I absolutely agree with!) can I assume that when she was younger and smaller that you did allow this? We often underestimate the behaviors we ended up encouraging at one time become very difficult to stop when we want them to! This behavior has proven to be useful for her needs. It appears her first response to requests that she does not understand or wish to do, she shows her disapproval is by rearing. Certainly one of the more dangerous behaviors to come from a horse and unless we are trick training we would want to discourage this.

My experience as a Mother has helped me see young two year old horses much like a 2-5 year old child. They are learning what they like and dislike, are quick to let you know with outbursts but they lack the ability to know the difference when the behavior is inappropriate for the situation. In other words they just want what they want and want it now! The difference of course is that a young horse can hurt us and a child cannot. Yet in both cases we are responsible for their safety that’s why we must insist on their cooperation at times.

When things get dangerous you are allowed to defend your personal space. So in the instance that your filly would run up to you, I would likely start defending my space before she gets within 20 feet by jumping up and down, waving my arms as if to make my space uncomfortable for her to even want to enter. I would be using the word “NO”, and quickly praising “GOOD GIRL” when she does anything I want. I would be the one to enter her space instead. But that would be not be something I would do first because that would be reactive and not proactive.

These dominant horses are always very smart and quick learners. What they really need is stuff to do like ground training exercises. It’s best to work quickly because they will take over the training session in a heartbeat if they have a moment of boredom or time to think. Clicker Training is perfect for these characteristics too because it keeps them (and all horses) really engaged in the moment.

What you do not want to do is fight back. I am sure someone out there will tell you to hit her front legs at the moment she rears. The problem with that is you will create fear and resentment plus we are about being proactive not reactive. Do things that would not initiate her to want to rear. Review tasks she can do well and build upon those. Be very alert and present when you are with her so you have a chance of refocusing her energy if she gets frustrated. You must assure her that you are in charge/and in control of all the decision making process. The best way to do that is to make every decision about what you are doing and do it with consistency. Again, a stern “NO” is all that is needed and then quickly move on refocusing her thoughts onto something else that she can do.

Be safe,
Elaine Polny
Training Horses Naturally