Advice to get youngster to stand whilst i get on !!!

italylyns

italylyns

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I have been riding since i was 12 (now 37) and am very frustrated at the moment!

I have started loaning a horse (only 5yrs old ) who since being broken really hasnt done anything. My trouble is he wont stand for me to mount!
I have tried the constant circling him till he eventually stands but even then as i just get on he is moving away !!
I tried mounting between the railings and the steps so he can only go forward or back so its harder to go anywhere but he is unaware of items around him and steps on the steps (which are big wooden ones) and he is not mine and i dont want him to hurt himself.

Anyone got any ideas????
 
I am afraid its patience needed . You really could do with someone helping you from the ground to hold the horse . They need to control his head and utter the words Stand!! Stand still reminded by a small smack on shoulder when uttering these words. I lead mine to mounting block if they dare move I make them walk round again and I say "stand on it. " And they do.

A young horse will always try to walk forward if there is no one at his head. I think you need to find a willing person to hold his bridle while you just stand on mounting block, no getting on just standing there. When he does just stand there without moving then you can move to next step. Takes time- repeated words of stand and patience.
 
have you tried positive reinforcement ..... rewarding him to stand. ... going back to just asking him to stand at the block wind rewarding him, doing it several times and not even trying to get on. Proceed really as if backing for first time and dont do next step till previous one solid !

worked for me ;)
 
You have my sympathy, sometimes it feels as if they will never learn but he will.

Presumably you don't have a helper so my advice, based on experience with one obtuse horse, is to allow a lot more time.

In the first instance, don't make getting on board your objective. Instead the horse standing still next to the mounting block/step must be your objective.

When he stands there give him a pat/treat, then move him on, walk around and back again.

Position him where he needs to be (the same place each time, back him up if need be) make him stand/give him a pat move him on.

When that's easy, progress to moving yourself to the girth line before giving him a pat, moving on and around and back. etc etc. When that works, then progress to moving further away/behind.

It might take two or three sessions to reach the standing still objective. Until he can stand still, there's no point trying to get on; he won't have learned the lesson and you might get hurt.

My first session took about an hour (and I didn't even get on board), the next one was more like 45 minutes.

It's very frustrating but if has hasn't been taught to stand when you move behind him then he doesn't know that he has to stay there while you climb on.

Another bit of learning to pass on, is once they have got the idea you will at some stage have to periodically repeat the lessons.

Good luck. With time and patience he will get the idea.
 
I had this with my baby.

When you get on all you need to do is bend down and give him a treat/food.

Mine stands like a rock now.

Trouble is I'm still doing it and he is now 6 LOL.

My understanding is that some really professional riders do this too.
 
You are already doing what you need to do more of.

I wouldn't squash a horse into a corner to try and stop him moving as that is just dangerous and asking for trouble.

Having help would be nice to start with but it's not necessary.

The important thing is to reward the horse for giving you a response that is closer to what you want and make him think that the mounting block is a really great place to be. Think of this as a lesson for your horse and aim to take at least an hour doing it. You will probably only need to do it once or twice. You can do this with treats or without. I'd probably use treats the first time.

Lead the horse to the mounting block and halt. Pat him (give a small treat if you are using them) wait for a couple of seconds and lead him on. Rinse and repeat, increasing the halt time at the mounting block each time. Repeat this stage at least 15 times.

Next stage is the same but you step up onto the mounting block and wait there for a few seconds making much of the horse. Repeat and increase the time.

Next stage as above but gather up the reins. Don't weight a stirrup as the mounting process itself has to be fast and smooth in case of a problem. Repeat and increase the time.

The next stage is best with treats as it means the horse will learn to wait at the mounting block for a treat. Actually mount and sit smoothly and lightly in the saddle, absolutely no bumping. Give horsie a treat and move off in walk a few strides. Get off and repeat.

Honestly, if you make much of the horse at every stage and spend the time to do this properly you will have a rock solid horse for mounting. I have a mare who is a lunatic but she will stop and wait at a mounting block all day!

All the best ;)

Lol people post fast. Sorry for repeat advice.
 
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Tallante said:
You have my sympathy, sometimes it feels as if they will never learn but he will.

Presumably you don't have a helper so my advice, based on experience with one obtuse horse, is to allow a lot more time.

In the first instance, don't make getting on board your objective. Instead the horse standing still next to the mounting block/step must be your objective.

When he stands there give him a pat/treat, then move him on, walk around and back again.

Position him where he needs to be (the same place each time, back him up if need be) make him stand/give him a pat move him on.

When that's easy, progress to moving yourself to the girth line before giving him a pat, moving on and around and back. etc etc. When that works, then progress to moving further away/behind.

It might take two or three sessions to reach the standing still objective. Until he can stand still, there's no point trying to get on; he won't have learned the lesson and you might get hurt.

My first session took about an hour (and I didn't even get on board), the next one was more like 45 minutes.

It's very frustrating but if has hasn't been taught to stand when you move behind him then he doesn't know that he has to stay there while you climb on.

Another bit of learning to pass on, is once they have got the idea you will at some stage have to periodically repeat the lessons.

Good luck. With time and patience he will get the idea.
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I'm glad this worked for you but IMO you have to be very careful not to make somethink like mounting into a bit issue.
 
I'm glad this worked for you but IMO you have to be very careful not to make somethink like mounting into a bit issue
Click to expand...

i think what was meant was to take the time it takes for him to "get it" that he is rewarded for standing still and it might take that long. If its done in stages too its easier to identify if there is physical plroblem rather than just a lack of understanding / training issue.
 
My new youngster had this problem. When I had managed to get on I would return him to the mounting block, make him stand, using a voice command as well & rewarded him the instant he stood still.. Got off a repeated the mount again, if he stood to the voice command as I got on he was rewarded again. I mounted him three times for every hack for a week, he stands like a rock now, I get on, he gets a reward & we move off. You have to be consistent, calm & patient.
 
Cluck said:
You are already doing what you need to do more of.

I wouldn't squash a horse into a corner to try and stop him moving as that is just dangerous and asking for trouble.

Having help would be nice to start with but it's not necessary.

The important thing is to reward the horse for giving you a response that is closer to what you want and make him think that the mounting block is a really great place to be. Think of this as a lesson for your horse and aim to take at least an hour doing it. You will probably only need to do it once or twice. You can do this with treats or without. I'd probably use treats the first time.

Lead the horse to the mounting block and halt. Pat him (give a small treat if you are using them) wait for a couple of seconds and lead him on. Rinse and repeat, increasing the halt time at the mounting block each time. Repeat this stage at least 15 times.

Next stage is the same but you step up onto the mounting block and wait there for a few seconds making much of the horse. Repeat and increase the time.

Next stage as above but gather up the reins. Don't weight a stirrup as the mounting process itself has to be fast and smooth in case of a problem. Repeat and increase the time.

The next stage is best with treats as it means the horse will learn to wait at the mounting block for a treat. Actually mount and sit smoothly and lightly in the saddle, absolutely no bumping. Give horsie a treat and move off in walk a few strides. Get off and repeat.

Honestly, if you make much of the horse at every stage and spend the time to do this properly you will have a rock solid horse for mounting. I have a mare who is a lunatic but she will stop and wait at a mounting block all day!

All the best ;)

Lol people post fast. Sorry for repeat advice.
Click to expand...

This is what I did with my youngster who when she arrived would stand like a rock while you got a leg up but hadn't a clue about mounting blocks. And really didn't know what to make of the solid and immovable disabled friendly one on our yard.

She now stands like a dream at the big mounting block without the need for a helper. Next project will be standing while we use a moveable step but I hope that now she understands a mounting block this will be easier!

We didn't need to repeat loads, just did it a few times every day.

I tended not to try too much at the begining of a ride when she was impatient. Then I would have a helper and make it easy but when we got back I'd get on and off several times. I would also practice standing by the block on the way to and from the field.
 
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Some great advice so thank you. Patience eh!

He lets me walk him to the block, its as if the moment i gather the reins to mount he moves. Its like he knows if he moves i cant get on!

Will try the treat thing as he loves his grub! Sure with a bit of practice he will be fine :-)
 
I also discovered this problem with my 5yo who I have on loan this summer, and I usually ride when there is few other people around, or when nobody is able to give me a leg up. I found she would stand at the block for me to mount some days, but other times she would move away as soon as I got it next to her, or i would gather my reins and she would back up, or walk on. One day I decided to give her a mint before I mounted, and she stood like a rock for me to mount while she chewed on her mint, I did this for a week, and lots of pats for rewards once I was on :) and now she stands to mount the majority of the time, although sometimes requests a mint before I get on!
 
I had this same problem with one of my youngsters, the minute i got hold of the reins he would side step, as he is 17.1 I couldnt get on. It probably took about 6/7 weeks of continuously standing by the mounting block everytime he sidestepped i circled him and went thru the process again until i could get on. Then I started getting on without taking up too much rein and fairly quickly and smoothly. Now I can stand him by the block take up the reins and quickly hop on and hes good as gold. I think if you take too long to get on it gives them the chance to think about it.
 
I had this problem too with a loan horse.

First i tried in hand like you have done - making the horse move in circles and then bringing back to mounting block to stand with a small tasty reward.

This worked but just like you when i came to mount she strode off so using a long line i made her move off again as soon as she stood for me to mount she received a treat and a neck rub.

Once sat on her i used to do carrot stretches which encouraged her to stand for longer period of time whilst i was mounted as i used to have to wait a lot for the person i was riding with - she was took forever to get ready for a hack!!

I am sure with patience and rewards you will get there :D
 
scarymare said:
I had this with my baby.

When you get on all you need to do is bend down and give him a treat/food.

Mine stands like a rock now.

Trouble is I'm still doing it and he is now 6 LOL.

My understanding is that some really professional riders do this too.
Click to expand...

I did this with mine - worked a treat!
 
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