| Every year horse owners experience serious | | | | only serve to increase the chances of injury for |
| injuries or even tragic deaths while riding their | | | | both the horse and rider. If we are supposed to |
| cherished equine companions. One of the more | | | | ignore natural bodily reflexes what should we do |
| significant causes of rider injury is a rider being | | | | instead? |
| tossed from a rearing horse... or worse, caught | | | | First, when you sense your horse's front hooves |
| underneath a horse that reared so fiercely that it | | | | leaving the ground make sure that you lean |
| flipped over on top of the rider. While sometimes | | | | forwards, not backwards. This will increase both |
| injury is extremely difficult to avoid due to the | | | | your balance as well as your horse's, thereby |
| spontaneous and powerful nature of many rears, | | | | lessening the chance of the horse actually falling |
| all too often the problem is actually made worse | | | | over. You don't want a horse that weighs around |
| by inexperienced riders panicking and inadvertently | | | | 1000 pounds landing on you. |
| increasing the chance of injury. | | | | Second, thrust your hands forward so that there |
| When an inexperienced rider is rudely jolted by a | | | | is absolutely no direct rein pressure against the |
| rearing horse he often panics and tightens his | | | | horse's mouth. Do not pull back on the reins no |
| body. This is a natural reaction... when we perceive | | | | matter how much your instincts shout to do so - |
| an impending and unavoidable blow, our body | | | | I guarantee you'll gain no security or balance from |
| unconsciously stiffens and braces for the impact. | | | | doing so. Let him have his mouth and only apply |
| When atop a rearing horse, a surprised rider will | | | | direct rein pressure after he has all four hooves |
| often recoil a bit and stiffen towards the | | | | back on the ground. |
| hindquarters of the horse, which is a critical error | | | | Finally, if you feel like you are losing control then |
| because the rider drastically throws off what little | | | | it's generally better to take the cautious way out |
| balance he has, almost assuring that he will be | | | | and dismount rather than try and ride the rearing |
| tossed. | | | | out. Consider wrapping your arms around the |
| The second critical error inexperienced riders | | | | horse's neck as you lean forward, then slide off |
| make is using the reins as a form of security. | | | | his side as he rears. The moment you hit the |
| They feel their body being thrown backwards so | | | | ground you want to back up so that the horse |
| they grip the reins for dear life and try to use | | | | doesn't step on your feet when his front hooves |
| them to "pull" themselves forward and back into | | | | land again. It's best if you can keep hold of the |
| the saddle. Again... this is a natural knee-jerk | | | | reins as you perform this maneuver, but if you |
| reaction, but it's also a critical error. | | | | have to let them go entirely and get out of |
| When you yank the reins of a rearing horse you | | | | "Dodge" then do so. Your bodily safety is the |
| drastically increase the likelihood of the horse | | | | most important consideration. |
| losing control entirely and flipping over or falling | | | | Hopefully you will never be surprised by a rearing |
| down... with a good chance of you being caught | | | | horse, but it doesn't hurt to practice quick |
| underneath. Keep in mind that when a horse | | | | dismounts in your spare time such that if you are |
| rears, he is already off balance. When you yank | | | | ever faced with the situation you'll better know |
| the reins backwards sharply, you'll only make it | | | | how to handle it. In addition depending on your |
| that much more difficult for the horse to resume | | | | breed of horse you might consider jumping him a |
| his balance. In addition you'll very likely harm his | | | | bit. While a jump has nowhere near the potency |
| mouth and cause him immense pain, and the | | | | of a strong rear, it can teach your body how to |
| shock of the pain could very well make the horse | | | | respond when a horse's front hooves leave the |
| "freak out" even more! | | | | ground. |
| So we now know that the two natural reactions | | | | Copyright © Jeffrey Rolo, 2007. All Rights |
| people often make while on a rearing horse will | | | | Reserved. |