How to manage a rearing horse

If you have ever found yourself sitting on a rearing horse you will know that it is an unpleasant and often frightening experience. It is the sort of behaviour that most riders fear and with good reason. Should the horse rear high enough that they lose balance and fall over backwards you as the rider could be seriously injured. Even if they dont go that high it is still not a nice feeling.
You may be surprised to learn that only 0 01 of horses will fall over when rearing in their natural habitat such as in the field. Its when riders get involved that the percentage of horse falls when rearing increases. Rearing up is a horse behaviour that can be predicted and therefore prevented. If your horse does go up there are techniques you can follow to stop you sliding off or your horse going over on top of you.

How to predict rearing
Stunt riders and trainers Karl Greenwood and Zana CousinsGreenwood teach riders a toolkit of techniques to take away the panic and stress associated with a horse rearing up. Some of it is mindset explains Zana. If you know what youre doing you wont fall off but your brain needs to catch up.
Karl adds Lots of students tell me the thing that scares them the most is how quickly a rear happens which leaves them unprepared for it. Actually horses do give us signs that they are about to go up but we have to be looking for them. Im always tuned in to my horse when I ride. Even on a quiet hack Im aware of whats happening beneath and around me.
According to the Greenwoods if a horse is about to rear youll feel them shorten up as if theyre about to spring forward and their ears will twitch. Bear in mind as well that a horse has to be static in order to rear so theyll need to stop first. That might mean a horses is cantering then they stop and start rearing for instance. Preventing a horse from stopping and keeping them going forward is key to avoiding rearing up.
Why do horses rear?
Its essential to understand why your horse is rearing as this will help to eliminate the behaviour. Its easy to think theyre being badly behaved but could they be in pain or feeling sore? Its vital that you rule this out first. Pain that could cause rearing up could