What to do when your horse rears on the ground 

Such good advice! Thank you!

Had a horse that like to rear up. Took a paper bag of warm water. When the horse reared I hit the horse between the ears with the bag of water. Native Americans would do that, said the horse will think the warm water is their own blood. It worked. Horse never reared again.

I have a horse that used to rear all the time. I would back him up quickly every time he did it because that is what I do when he refuses to walk when I want him to. He now never rears

1:14 omg that horse in the background :O

I have a head injury from my filly rearing up while farrier trying to trim. Still have to be very wary when they go up.

I really needed to hear this. Its not really a big deal. My mare had a little rear but i did not feel or think it was a bit deal but then i thought of what others say about rearing. So i must trust my own intuition and feeling. Thank you Warwick.

I found it funny how my 5 year old Apendix Mare rear up to tell me something, lol. She was acting out on the ground and I didn't reacted to that, so she decided she would tell me in a loud manner and so she rear up. I don't have a round pen, so I was lunging her with a 12 foot lead rope, and what do you know, it was the lead rope, because for her it was to short. After she reared up, I went and got a 25 foot long lead rope, and whala! She was fine after that. I know, I know, I'm kinda slow to responding to why she's acting the way she is before she acts out loud, but I found that so hilarious lol. I know I shouldn't, but with her I can, she is the most sweetest, gentle caring and loving horse you will ever meet.

My horse rears when I ask for the lunge he rears at me and aggressively do you have a video or suggestions for me.

For everyone saying “what if he hits me in the head” that’s the reason you walk at their shoulder. My dork of a gelding gets fresh and will do baby rears and even Buck in place on the way to turn out on occasion and I’ve never once been in danger of getting hit on the head, you just side step a little 🤷🏼‍♀️

My OTTB Does that when He’s excited, But he’s 17 hand 4 year old and I’m 5’3 it’s pretty hard usually when I tell him no he usually stops but want would you do if he does that cause I usually walk my horses around the neighborhood before I ride them around the neighborhood before riding them around the neighborhood. Though it’s very hard to Ride them around the neighborhood cause I live in an equine neighborhood and all the horses go crazy when they see a horse pass by the rear on the fence bolt past you bolt up to the fence at your horse and they tends to spunk up the horse Im walking or riding, is there anything I can do to keep them for getting excited or to keep them concentrated on me and not the other horses?

I handled an Appaloosa gelding he reared to have a stretch every time he left the paddock, zero aggression just stretching

Happened to me today in fact trying to back up my horse. She reared up and came down and I turned her around a few times and squared her up and backed her up again and everything was fine. It does look scary but also kinda cool…

My 4 yo gelding , out of the blue rears leaving the beach 2nd time there , just leading , not a lot of room to disengage hinds, have sent him backwards, have walked him on in a controlled manner , one minute he appears relaxed then bang huge rear, nothing scary no waves, sees the car float and does it in one stride, always spins hinds slightly to the left before, so i might try leading from off side, Any thoughts would be appreciated ?

Yesterday while I was hand walking my 13 year old paint mare in the desert she reared and bolted back to Stables when she heard a cart with squeaking wheels coming towards us. Any suggestions on how to calm her down. I let her trot circles around me for five or six times but then when she saw the metal cart she reared hit me in the face knocked me down and bolted. I need suggestions from people out there on how to bomb proof her? This is not the first time that she has done this, which is why I was hand walking her. Thank you for any suggestions.

This is the best video I have seen of yours I completely agree with you oh rearing. Lots of people are commenting about the horse hitting you with there feet that is pawing not rearing and it is easily fixed with a good stick I had a lady bring me a horse that would paw at you when It didn’t like there you wanted it to go so i got a cow paddle and took off the paddle and it only took me three times of hitting it’s legs while it was pawing at me and the issue went away and its feet stayed on the ground and I continued with the training never happened again

My 17hh OTT tb rears when being led it usually starts by her taking off and when she feels my resistance on the rope she goes up sometimes over and over. The rearing itself isn't really the issue but while rearing she will walk or leap toward you striking with her forehooves. Last time this happened I got kicked twice and lost my confidence with her. I live in hope one day she will make a safe ridin horse but I fear I will get hurt training her and hope to get professional help as soon as I can afford it in the mean time she is spelling. I still have to handle her from day to day feeding picking out feet rugging etc and usually she is fine it's putting her under pressure when she reacts ( when I asked her to lunge I get the same reaction rear and come at me) or in general when she dosent want to do what she is being asked eg to lead do you have any advice at all that may help if i find myself in this situation again?

Me too my ear scratches from my filly rearing.

Hi Warwick I watched the Video that you recommended and worked with him on it today I rode him for the first time today and he reared up with me on him. I am really shocked that he did that he has never reared in his life I feel like I am doing something but I'm not sure what please could you help me and recommend some more videos please

What about rearing when asked to give the front hoof. This is a situation where I‘d want him to stand still - on three legs. It is not a medical issue, pain or something. It is a very firm way of saying „I don’t want to.“

im 4'10 trying not to get hit by my horse when shes rearing up on the ground. i was suggested to do ground work but thats the thing she rears up when doing ground work. my only fear is getting hurt, i know i need to toughen up, but shes been aggressive since i've had her. she did come from a bad home, but i jut dont know what to do. Alot of horse trainers make it seem easy. im not giving up i just need a better training plan thats all.

Hello Warwick, I'm not entirely convinced about this. One of our yard horses does small rears at the yard gate because he doesn't want to leave the yard and hack out on his own. After a few minutes of rearing and running back he will go and is perfectly OK for the rest of the hack. I have always known rearing as being a big no no, dangerous (that's why people wear hard hats in the show ring when leading in hand (after a few human deaths) and a way a horse expresses separation anxiety/ back pain/ fear. Falling off backwards from the rearing horse is also incredibly dangerous (I broke my arm years ago this way.) Your thoughts?

War I could giveshelp I really need

This is very logical, though there are other times say when you enter a pasture and a horse runs over and THEN rears, right? I wasn’t there, this was a relative entering a friend of mines pasture to do something unrelated to the horse. I don’t want to fix that problem(not my horse, lots of more issues than just that) but I would want to know WHY that horse would do that. Why would he run over just to tell the human “No”. ?? Is that just aggression?

I can't entirely agree with this... when my horse was much younger (about 2 years or so) I was leading him and he reared and struck me in the back...

My horse did this today when I tried to lunge him turned and reared at me.

I get worried because yesterday my horse reared and landed on my arm with his hoof (it hit me) it really hurt so yeah..

Yep. I usually just ignore it. If you make a big deal out of it, rearing becomes their “go to” move, not ideal.

once i was leading my lesson teachers ottb and he reared (because he didn't wnat to move, he was being himself) and he hit my back, i fell overl aughing and he just stared at me, my friend was scared though

2:15 Why do horses do that with their head, I've always wondered?

It's important to rule out a physical issue -- how do you decide when it is and isn't physical?

They rarely walk forward on their hind legs

Injuries do happen. I was just at my barn and the person bringing the horses in had a green horse rear and come down on his arm. This is not the first time. The horse gets wound up as it's feeding time. This horse is brought in first but makes no difference. Horse gets super energetic at the same time it wants to move forward as it wants to get out of the gate.

Ok, I don't have to sell my mare for just for rearing on the line, but what about being pissy and kicking out as she goes by? She looks like she wants to kill me. I always keep turning her and working her until she starts paying attention to me, but I would love to see what you do in this situation. It looks to me like she is bratty and very buddy sour. We do the circles right next to the buddies and she seems angry about having to work.

i was training a colt and he reared and accidentally hit me on the head.

Now when it rears in the air, then you have a problem

I had a horse rear up while I was on her and I thought it was the most fun thing ever! I enjoyed it so much and it looked really cool. If you have a good seat a rearing horse is no biggy. On the ground though... I think I see what you are saying though. Rearing with legs held bent in front is not a big deal but instead a form of balking. You aren't talking about rearing up while the hooves are striking out. Makes sense to me :) By the way my mare stopped rearing when she realized I enjoyed it and it would not stop me riding her (in winter only, she never reared in summer.)

The tuber sacrale of the pelvis seems abnormally prominent. Anyone check that's not the cause of the rearing first. Watch him when the handler flicks the bag at him; he steps differently each time. A good indication that HB should be investigated.

Man I am scared of horses who are just standing there, I have a fear of them had it since I was a child.

Isn’t that detailing what the horse is doing not why it’s doing it. Also if it persists on the ground isn’t it likely to do it when ridden?

Hey Warwick, I don't fully agree with a rear meaning they don't want to move, as I've dealt with a mare that actually would rear AND back up... so technically she would move, just not where I wanted her to... I understand about not needing to be afraid of the rear, which I learnt from experience, but not all horses rear with their back legs planted because they don't want to move 'at all'

What about when they spin around, face you and then rear? There's a horse at my barn that does this frequently it's quite scary.

A horse can KILL you with his front feet....they use those feet for defense...!! I was always taught it's not the back of the horse you have to be careful of, it's the FRONT..!! And, then there are those occasional headbutts.....again, the FRONT of the horse..!! So, when I horse rears up, I am immediately on my guard......!

I'm confused about this video. He didn't teach me how to stop horse from rearing up. It's still dangerous and you could get hurt.

Rearing has nothing to do with coming from an abused home breeding or any other excuse, it's a reaction to the moment, weather a motorbike going by , dogs or just youth, then we as people and we take a half step back and we just told the horse that is the correct behavior, dont hug horses dont let them in your space be a good leader give direction dont freeze up and let them take it away from you, its everyday handling , once you put your brave on its gets easier everyday and you become believable to your horse, my filly reared yesterday because she didnt want to walk that's it , then gave me both back barrels , maybe spring time testing to see if I'm believable. I did wack her right between the ears with the end of the lead rope while she was up in the air, got in her face , and believe me we walked another mile on foot , head down politely and she believes I'm a good leader, trust yourself, just a halter and lead rope , will she try it again? maybe , but I'm ready ,

Why didn't Warwick show us what he did to cure this horse from rearing up when being led ? Easy enough to answer that. He didn't fix the problem or wasn't able to do anything to stop this horse from rearing. How do I know ? I was given this horse ( yes, I know, free horse and one of his many problems) a few months after this filming. He still reared. Personally ( my opinion only).Warwick probably re-inforced the bad behaviour . I'm not very confident of his methods; but, he sure can tell a lot of stories.

Horses rear buck bolt bite kick, it's a horse.

I don't understand getting upset by a horse rearing. When my horse is feeling fresh he rears, prances, snorts and bounces. Once we get to work he's eager and forward. I don't see this as a problem. He is simply a lively energetic little guy with amazing athletic ability. He's also a showoff, especially if there's a mare he hopes to impress.

last week my horse reared up on my daughter who was standing at his shoulder. She was scared and moved, i was able to make her understand A, why he reared in the first place & B that he was aware she was standing there and even moved over away as he came down. In short, he wasn't rearing up because of her.

To be honest I would rather have a rearer than a bucker , if your horse does both I feel for you 😂🤷

Warwick get to the point too long winded! What is the correction for rearing?😨

Why haven’t you provided a solution? All you’ve done is waffle on about other people’s reactions. This is problem solving.