Why Horses Rear: Understanding the Root and the Response
From Fear to Foundation: What to Do When Your Horse Rears
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Real Q&A from inside the Elevate Membership
Horse rearing question submitted by one of the Miles Made Elevate Members
Hi gals! My little 5 yo mare sometimes rears when I’m hand walking her. It typically occurs when she gets anxious. She will first try to crowd me and when I attempt to move her forehand out of my space she rears up…like scary high! My response to the rear is to let her land then move her feet, either in a circle or I move her haunches. Should I make a correction while she’s actually rearing? Is there something else I should do once she lands?
Full disclosure, I have not worked with her as much as I should have during the 9 months I’ve had her. She was started at 3.5 yo, then had 6 months off, and then was worked by a trainer for 3.5 months more before I brought her home, then she’s pretty much had 9 months off due to a riding accident and low confidence. So her working career has been extremely inconsistent.
She goes from appearing calm to surpassing her threshold pretty quickly. I’m really worried that this is going to happen while I’m riding her. Should I be concerned that this behavior may translate to the saddle? Do I just need to be more consistent, build better trust, and learn to read and communicate with her better? She doesn’t like moving her forehand even when she’s calm, so maybe I really need to focus on that.
When Your Horse Rears: Understanding the “Why” and What to Do About It
Ever felt helpless when your horse goes up instead of forward?
This post gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how we coach and support our Elevate members through real-life challenges just like this one. The video included below is a live coaching response to a powerful question submitted by one of our members, Mary Ann, about her 5-year-old mare, Willow, who began rearing during hand-walking.
While this situation is specific to Willow and Mary Ann, rearing is something many horsewomen encounter—often unexpectedly and without clear answers. If you've ever wondered, “Why is this happening?” or “What should I do right now?”, you're not alone.
Let’s start with what might be causing it.
🐴 Why Might a Horse Rear?
Rearing is rarely random. It’s often a response to pressure, confusion, fear—or pain. Here are some possible causes:
Unaddressed thresholds or fear triggers (such as walking away from familiar areas or into new environments)
Lack of consistent groundwork or unclear boundaries in quiet moments
Mental, emotional, or environmental overwhelm
Inability to move away from pressure, especially on a tight lead
Physical discomfort or pain, including:
Dental issues
Back, poll, or wither sensitivity
Ill-fitting tack
Gut health issues or ulcers
Emotional disconnection or lack of trust in the handler
Infrequent handling or long breaks from training
Accidental reinforcement—pulling back or giving space when they rear can teach them it works
✅ What Can You Do About It?
In the video below, I walk Mary Ann—and now you—through a layered, thoughtful approach that focuses on prevention, understanding, and rebuilding trust.
Here are the key steps:
Start with solid groundwork—make sure your horse can move out of your space when asked, in a calm setting
Set clear boundaries consistently, not just when there’s a problem
Practice sending your horse around you, not just leading them forward
Identify and respect thresholds—don’t push through the fear, train at the edge of it or even move away from it facing forward. Teach your horse they have a place to go other than just up.
Redirect calmly, not reactively—let the horse land, then gently guide them back to a spot (described in the video)
Be patient—progress might take 5 minutes or 2 hours; consistency builds trust
Always end with calm—how your horse feels at the end is what they'll carry into the next session
Inside the Miles Made Elevate Membership, women just like you submit questions, share their struggles, and receive personalized coaching to guide them forward. This video is a direct response to one of those questions—and a glimpse into the kind of deep, supportive, and practical training that’s available to all Elevate members.
✨ Want more coaching like this?
👉 Click here to join Elevate and take your horsemanship to the next level.
