Horse That Rears

What Is Rearing?

Rearing occurs when a horse lifts both front legs off the ground simultaneously, raising itself onto its hind limbs. A horse rearing to any height is displaying a dangerous behavior — even a small rear can escalate quickly. When a horse goes vertical, the rider is at severe risk of being struck, crushed if the horse falls backward, or thrown violently.

There is no "mild" rearing problem. Any horse that rears under saddle or in hand requires immediate professional evaluation and intervention.

Why Horses Rear — The Root Causes

Understanding why a horse rears does not mean you should attempt to fix it yourself. But understanding the cause helps you communicate clearly with the professional you hire.

Pain-Related Rearing

Pain is the most commonly overlooked cause of rearing, and it's the first thing a veterinarian and saddle fitter must rule out. Horses cannot say "this hurts" — they say it with their behavior. Common pain sources include:

• Saddle fit issues — pressure points, bridging, tree angle mismatch
• Back pain — kissing spines, muscle soreness, subluxations
• Dental pain — sharp points, wolf teeth, bit contact on sore areas
• Ulcers — gastric ulcers are extremely common in performance horses and cause forward aversion
• Hind end pain — stifle issues, hock arthritis, SI joint problems
• Bit pain — incorrect bit, poor fit, rough hands

Training-Based Rearing

If pain has been ruled out, rearing is typically a response to pressure the horse has learned to escape from by going vertical. This often develops from:

• Over-facing the horse — asking for more than it's capable of
• Conflicting aids — leg on, hand blocking, horse has nowhere to go
• Escalating pressure without release — frustration erupts as a rear
• Previous rider or handler who taught the horse that rearing works to stop pressure
• Fear — a horse terrified of something ahead may rear rather than move forward into it

Rank/Defiance-Based Rearing

Some horses — particularly stallions or horses who have been allowed to get away with increasingly dangerous behavior — rear as a dominant or defiant act. This is the rarest category and requires the most experienced specialists.

What NOT To Do

The internet is full of dangerous advice about rearing. The following are things that can get you killed or seriously injured:

• Do not hit the horse between the ears — this can cause the horse to fall backward
• Do not pull back on the reins — pulling back on a rearing horse shifts weight to the hindquarters and makes the rear worse
• Do not use a tie-down to "prevent" rearing — a horse that rears against a tie-down can flip itself
• Do not continue riding — every successful rear teaches the horse that rearing works
• Do not attempt to train this yourself — even experienced trainers approach rearing horses with extreme caution

What You Should Do Right Now

If your horse is rearing, these are the immediate steps:

1. Stop riding the horse. Put it on the ground until a professional has evaluated it. A rear that doesn't injure you today may injure you tomorrow.
2. Call your veterinarian. Request a full lameness and back evaluation. Ask specifically about ulcers if the horse is in performance work.
3. Have your saddle evaluated. A certified saddle fitter should assess fit on that horse before anyone rides again.
4. Contact a problem horse specialist. Not a general trainer — someone who specifically handles dangerous behavioral problems.
5. Document everything. When did rearing start? What was happening? What changed? This information is critical for the trainer and vet.

What a Professional Will Do

A qualified problem horse specialist will approach a rearing horse systematically. The process typically includes:

• Full review of the horse's history, training background, and onset of the behavior
• Ground evaluation before any mounted work
• Communication with your veterinarian about pain findings
• Assessment of saddle fit, dental work, and overall health status
• A progressive training plan that addresses the root cause — not just the symptom

Timeline varies significantly depending on the cause, severity, and the horse's history. Some horses resolve in weeks; others with deep behavioral conditioning require months. A professional will give you a realistic assessment.

Finding the Right Specialist

Not every trainer is equipped to handle rearing horses. When evaluating a professional, ask:

• How many rearing horses have you worked with?
• What is your process for assessing the cause?
• Do you work with the owner's vet and saddle fitter?
• What does your liability/insurance situation look like?
• Can you provide references from clients with similar horse problems?