Rearing Problems with my Horse

I have an 8 year old Tenn.Walker Mare that rears on occasion. She'll rear when she doesn't want to respond to your command. I've had this thorse since she was 2 yrs. old and have ridden her a lot. The rearing problems first started, in the beginning, when I tried to leave the premises. I started using a tie down so we wouldn't get hurt when she reared. I would lead her away from the premises and then mount and ride, and would ride a couple hours with no problems. I could cross small ditches etc. On accassion when I tried to cross this same ditch she would rear. I dismounted, re-engaged the tie down turned her towards the ditch and when it felt as if she was going to rear I would give a hearty whack with the crop and she would cross/jumb the ditch and I would make her go back and forth over this ditch numerous time before continuintg my ride.  I don't think she was afraid of the ditch, I think she was being a stuborn mare. My daughter now rides this horse and the horse is beginning to rear more often. She has been training her to drop her head and is trying to ride longer distances with the horse's head dropped. Is there a method that can be used to eliminate this rearing? I am 73 and still ride this horse on accasion and have very little problem with her rearing. The rearing generally occurs when she decides she does not want to obey or leave another horse. She has been ridden a great deal by herself in the past. Would appreciate your imput.

Thanks, Bobby

Hi Bobby,

Well, first let me say I hope I am riding at 73 years of age. Well done, Bobby. I am nearly 60 and still riding mustangs and colts. I really hope to be able to ride forever (until I am no longer in this body).

Something that I have found works well for me in situations where a horse is doing something I do not want, like rearing, is to put the horse to an action (work) at the first hint of the behavior. The 'action' I like to ask for is a leg yield where the horse moves its hind quarters away from the pressure of a leg and goes into tight turns around a inside leg. I do this 2-3 rotations in both directions. Then I offer the horse a "HO!". If the behavior continues I do the same thing and keep doing the process until the horse is ready to stand quietly. Once it stands quietly I ask it to move forward. If it being to rear I do the hind quarter yields again. The horse cannot rear, kick, buck, backup or bite when doing this move. It puts the horse's attention back on the rider. As a horse can only think about one thing at a time, engageing its mind, engages its mind. It will stop the behavior you don't want and learn it goes to 'work' if it thinks about rearing. Do you understand? Always be careful.........Blessings to you.

Sincerely, Franklin