Rearing and Footing
By Samantha Harvey, Founder — Alternative Horsemanship™ the Remote Horse Coach
Question:
My horse had been rearing a lot. The footing in my field isn't that good — she had been fine all summer, then got her shoes off, the ground got hard, and then she started. Then when the first snow came, she was fine for a month or so, then when the snow got hard, uneven, and high, she started again. Do you think she is doing this because of the footing? It's very aggravating, and I try to bring her head to my knee and make her go forward, but I can't — she's too powerful. I have been doing groundwork with her for now, until she gets her shoes back on and the snow is gone. I'm hoping she will be better.
Answer:
I'd begin by ruling out possibilities of pain (such as sore feet — have a farrier or vet use a hoof tester to see if she is experiencing any soreness while barefoot, but keep in mind it can take six to nine months before beginning to see positive changes in the hoof). Keep in mind that as you make changes to the horse's hooves, the rest of her body's movement is affected. Her back, shoulders, or hocks could be compensating. I'd also revisit the quality of the tack fit based on her current physical state...
Other factors that can affect the behavior are feed issues or dietary changes (depending on the season), sleep deprivation, if the horse experiences stress of where he is kept, including herd imbalance, and "daily life" in general. Another overlooked consideration is if she had recent dental work and then you noticed an increase in the rearing. Many people do not recognize how teeth and hooves are connected.
Beyond the physical, I'd be assessing the horse's response to your communication. You mentioned the mare has a history of rearing. I remind folks that the physical behavior reflects the horse's mental and emotional state. If the horse's subtle feedback reflecting fear, concern, anticipation, or defensiveness, was/is ignored, they learn to escalate their behavior in more dramatic or resistant responses. If the root causes are not addressed, the behavior will continue to escalate.
Often, to address the big, unwanted response, we have to break down teaching the horse to think, search, and try, in smaller segments. To do so, we need to develop a common "language." This is the beginning of re-engage the horse's brain to encourage their curiosity vs tolerance. It is then that the new experiences are retained.
The less anticipation, fear, or concern he starts with, the more adaptable the horse can be as the unexpected comes up. Being able to separate out influencing what the horse is focused on, from asking for her movement, can help her learn to think through scenarios.
You may find that you have to re-sensitize yourself as to what you consider is "normal" in the horse's responses... Example- does she always rush through a gate/into the trailer/into the arena/etc., can she stand relaxed, does she move away as you catch/halter/saddle, what is her physical tension, do her body and brain seem to be in the same place or is she always looking around/away from where you're at?
Rather than continuing the same or similar pattern of interaction, the goal is to address her in a manner that has value to her, helps to INFLUENCE what is about to happen, rather than continuing the unwanted cycle. To "see" the horse with fresh eyes, you're going to have to let go of all assumptions.
BELIEVE your horse.
Whether you're attempting to catch her, tack her up, mount, or hack out — if there is any level of stress, agitation, worry, or fear (hard to catch, fussy when tied, fidgeting when mounting, tail swishing when you apply your leg, grinding teeth, "grabbing" or leaning on the bit, slow to respond to an aid, etc.), you'll need to put your initial intentions or goals for the ride aside to address the current concerns your horse is displaying.
Even if you don't think "it's a big deal," or if your horse has "done something many times before," her continued concern reflects that despite your previous efforts, it has not been enough to create a lasting change. The more she is "persuaded" to continue while fearful, the increasing mental pressure is put upon her. At some point, this overflows into the physical explosion— such as rearing, bolting, kicking out, bucking, etc.
By focusing on addressing the horse's feedback when she is having a problem, irrelevant of if you think it is justified or not, helping her learn how to mentally work through her concerns, she will physically respond in a more reasonable, and safe manner.
She'll learn to trust your communication rather than having it magnify her defensive responses.
This is not a quick-fix solution. There are many "techniques" to contain rearing, and even if previously you had the physical ability to temporarily stop the rearing, without the cause(s) addressed, it will evolve into another behavior.
— Samantha Harvey, Alternative Horsemanship™
The Remote Horse Coach
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