First canter was not as planned...

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Equi

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My mare is not used to a mounting block, but has got better. I can get on. But she then loves to go the opposite way to the one being asked and steps on the block, scaring herself. This is only our fourth ride, and my fourth ride in a good year so excuse the position! Took two circuits to stop but that was okay - shes a good mare really :) Think i will be rethinking the mounting block.


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She's very smart...

But I agree with the above - if she's consistently unsure of what's expected of her at the mounting block, she needs to go back to basics and have this dealt with before pushing on - if her response continues to escalate, either of you could get hurt, or she could scare herself properly off ridden work.
 
I am a bit confused? Is the canter around a direct result of you mounting from the block? If so, I completely agree with the above posters. This is very dangerous and will lead to one or both of you being injured. I am assuming you have done all the usual checks?

I had a similar problem with my gelding. He was terrible to mount due to pain and fear caused in his previous home. He too, took off and ditched me when I first had him and mounted. It turned out he had a wolf tooth, which once removed, really helped with the mounting problem.
 
If she's consistently tearing off as soon as you get on (not sure if that's what's happening but that's how your post reads), then it sounds as though mounting is the issue rather than the block. It suggests either a past or present pain issue that she associates with having someone on her back. Please have her back, teeth and saddle checked before one of you gets hurt. If those rule out any issues, then take her right back to basics and deal with this issue before progressing.
 
No no no she stands perfectly still at the block, no issues there - shes not a bolter if she gets a spook in general. She just knocks the block (its a stool with steps not a wooden one) and that spooks her cause it falls into the legs but she doesn't buck or anything. Shes been fine the other two times i have got on and walked away from the block properly, she just hits it with her big old feet sometimes if shes no standing 100% she just needs to learn to walk off straight rather than try and turn to the outside lane as it were! The stool is probably not the best block, its not very stable lol

Shes had the back, teeth and tack done in the past two weeks, so there is no issues physically just a bit of rejigging our method :)
 
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Oh also this is a walker not an indoor, so two circuts is two circles in a walker and i let her trot for a bit cause it was comfy lol
 
Lovely mare but as above posters have said, I am also a bit confused. It looks like you've lost your stirrups in the pictures and (as you said) lost your position, too. How old is your mare? Was this her first ever canter under saddle? Perhaps if she's unsure or inexperienced, some lessons with a good schoolmaster could get you back into it if you've been out of the saddle for a while?
 
equi said:
Oh also this is a walker not an indoor, so two circuts is two circles in a walker and i let her trot for a bit cause it was comfy lol
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Hmm. It just doesn't look like you're setting her up to succeed. You need a stable block to jump on from as it's not fair to knowingly risk her reacting (understandably) to that sort of stimulus, and it just doesn't sound like she's ready if she's fidgeting, standing on the block and panicking. However far the distance she travelled, the pics show a worried young horse and an unbalanced rider hanging on her mouth (even in trot) with stirrups flapping. It's just not an ideal start, really. At the very least you should have a neckstrap on.
 
Get yourself a proper plastic mounting block so she does not get frightened if she touches it as they will not fall over. If she has too many scares mounting you will regret it. Please take care.
 
Shes 9, and had the summer off but her owner did get her going again, just she can mount from the floor whereas i can't. I do need a better mouthing block. Shes not fidgeting sorry if thats not clear, when i asked her to move on she caught the stool and it fell over, panicking her. Which it would most horses i assume! I need to work on my riding, its been a while but i'll get there. I was thinking about a neck strap but worried because of the neck shape it would just come up and end up strangling her!
 
equi said:
Shes 9, and had the summer off but her owner did get her going again, just she can mount from the floor whereas i can't. I do need a better mouthing block. Shes not fidgeting sorry if thats not clear, when i asked her to move on she caught the stool and it fell over, panicking her. Which it would most horses i assume! I need to work on my riding, its been a while but i'll get there. I was thinking about a neck strap but worried because of the neck shape it would just come up and end up strangling her!
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So she isn't walking off straight? Or you aren't standing her up straight before you get on? Easily rectified, but definitely something to re-think.

A neckstrap won't strangle her and it will save her mouth...
 
One of those two, its hard to tell when i'm not looking at her legs. I'm going to try hay bales instead, then she can see them a little better and can't make nois and get it on her legs. I'll give the neck strap a go too, thanks :)
 
Please don't use bales, if anything goes wrong, she could get her foot through the baler band. I suggest that you get a plastic block but until then, instead of your helper taking photos, ask them to stand ready to move the mounting block away from your horse's legs as soon as you are aboard. If your horse doesn't fidget, she will stand still until the block is safely out of the way. She is a gorgeous girl. Do you have an instructor?
 
It was a video, there is noone else here with me. Good point about the twine! I have one yes, but i only have this walker nowhere else to ride so i wanted us to get used to each other before i took her somewhere new to ride which the instructor said is better than a new horse, new arena and new rider (as in me riding the horse is new to her) i'm getting a lesson on a RS horse just next week with her.
 
equi said:
It was a video, there is noone else here with me. Good point about the twine! I have one yes, but i only have this walker nowhere else to ride so i wanted us to get used to each other before i took her somewhere new to ride which the instructor said is better than a new horse, new arena and new rider (as in me riding the horse is new to her) i'm getting a lesson on a RS horse just next week with her.
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sorry..bit confused..so who was filming??
 
Its all i have unfortunately, yes. Its that or walk up and down my drive way :) I won't hack until shes more settled and i'm used to her more.
 
OP, in all seriousness, you are heading for a nasty accident. Please don't ride your horse again alone until you have sorted these problems and gained confidence and respect for each other. What would have happened if you came off and injured or knocked yourself out?

Use the space to do some groundwork and get to know each other.
 
HaffiesRock said:
OP, in all seriousness, you are heading for a nasty accident. Please don't ride your horse again alone until you have sorted these problems and gained confidence and respect for each other. What would have happened if you came off and injured or knocked yourself out?

Use the space to do some groundwork and get to know each other.
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It was a little spook, that could have happened to anyone anywhere, no matter how well they know the horse. I am alone and i can't have someone there all the time its just the way it is. The problem was the mounting block, she is perfectly fine other wise and we had a lovely ride after this, I appreciate your concern, i do, but it was a freak thing and i think a different mounting block will solve it. I was silly to use the one i did, it is not suitable. We have been doing lots of ground work, and a lunging and leading out. Shes a big puppy :)
 
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I suspect like Flyingcircus says you are using a round pen?

Personally, I wouldn't be trying to get on without someone there who can hold her, talk to her and reassure her until you are on properly.
In the first picture your horse looks very tense and confused. You are leaning forward, (appreciate you may have lost your balance when she moved off) your leg is saying go and your hands are saying slow down. Unless you get some help and a different mounting block (not bales) it could become a vicious circle and you'll both lose confidence in each other.

Good luck
 
equi said:
It was a little spook, that could have happened to anyone anywhere, no matter how well they know the horse. I am alone and i can't have someone there all the time its just the way it is. The problem was the mounting block, she is perfectly fine other wise and we had a lovely ride after this, I appreciate your concern, i do, but it was a freak thing and i think a different mounting block will solve it. We have been doing lots of ground work, and a lunging and leading out. Shes a big puppy :)
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Yes all horses can spook at anything...but I have to disagree it was a little spook as you said she did 2 laps...im sorry but I work alone and have brought on my own youngster who is 5 now and if she reacted to the mounting block touching her legs by running off then I would go right back to groundwork basics until she did not !!

what will happen if your out hacking and something touches her legs when you are mounting( if you have had to dismount) then is it acceptable to have horse run ?

I would not continue anymore until you have addressed this as these little problems always seem to escalate to larger ones very quickly ... shes gorgeous by the way
 
Tiffany said:
I suspect like Flyingcircus says you are using a round pen?

Personally, I wouldn't be trying to get on without someone there who can hold her, talk to her and reassure her until you are on properly.
In the first picture your horse looks very tense and confused. You are leaning forward, (appreciate you may have lost your balance when she moved off) your leg is saying go and your hands are saying slow down. Unless you get some help and a different mounting block (not bales) it could become a vicious circle and you'll both lose confidence in each other.

Good luck
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Whilst I think the comments about your position are a little harsh (not many look perfect when their horse takes off unexpectedly), I do mainly agree with this.

No one is saying you need help forever, maybe just a few sessions where you could have an extra pair of hands to work on maybe desensitizing her to things touching her legs.
 
equi said:
It was a little spook, that could have happened to anyone anywhere, no matter how well they know the horse.
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I'm sorry, I tried to walk away from this thread but... It really isn't about the spook - it's the fact she careered around a round pen twice before you regained control, and the fact you're balancing on her mouth, leaning up her neck and have swung your leg back (and "on"). I don't have your lack of recent saddle time, and I do have experience of starting youngstock (and ones that turn out very nice too), and I wouldn't get on without a neckstrap or in the conditions you describe... You're just asking for trouble and nobody here wants to see you, or your horse get hurt.
 
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