Why does a horse rear?
Whether the horse is mounted or on foot, it can have many defensive reactions. Among the horse's defensive reactions, there is the rearing. Being a dangerous reaction for the rider, it is important to control and avoid the rearing. Why does the horse react this way? We explain everything you need to know.
Fear
If your horse is faced with a fearful situation, one of the reflexes he may have is to rear up in order to escape this fear. The horse may have seen an object in the corner of your arena or a "ghost" in the stables that he may be afraid of.
Naturally, the horse is a prey that prefers to flee to defend itself. That said, in most cases, when the horse is afraid it refuses to move forward towards the area or object that worries it. In this case, the rider can quickly become angry. The latter will then increase the pressure by pulling on the lunge line or pushing with his legs. The horse will therefore have no other solution than to rear up in order to get rid of the pressure that is exerted on him and to flee.
The pain
When the horse is suffering, he is not able to express his suffering to you with words. This means that he uses other kinds of reactions to indicate his pain, such as rearing up. The problem that is at the root of the horse's suffering may then be linked to the equipment used for him, such as an unsuitable saddle or bit. In this case, the most reliable solution is to get him quality accessories from La Sellerie Française .
Pain can also be caused by an action on the part of the rider. It could be a whip blow, a spur that is used incorrectly or even physical pain. To avoid pain, the horse will have no choice but to rear up.
If you want to check if your horse's reaction is due to pain, you can give him a check-up. A veterinarian, an equine dentist or an osteopath will surely help you detect the problem very quickly.
The incomprehension
When some horses do not understand their riders' requests, the latter may react by rearing up. That said, poor communication between rider and horse can lead to truly conflictual situations.
When the horse is working, for example, he is subjected to different exercises. If he finds himself in this case facing the request of his rider that he cannot understand, he can offer him the cabrade in order to try to satisfy him.
Rearing can also be a way for the horse to get rid of the pressure of the hands or legs that the rider exerts on his horse by giving him an exercise.
The excitement
When the hair is excited, it is not always able to contain its emotions. This is usually the case with stallions and young horses. The horse may rear when it takes the path to the paddocks or when it finds itself in the particular atmosphere of a competition. A stallion who meets mares or other horses that it does not know may also rear out of excitement.