Getting your horse to stand still

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Pinkatc

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My ex racehorse can be a pain to get on - even with someone holding him he swings his bum away from the mounting block, and it usually takes a couple of times turning him in circles to get him close enough. He's had his back, teeth and saddle checked and try are all fine, and he's lovely to ride once you are on board! I know TBs off the track are notorious for not standing as they are used to having the jockey chucked on in the walk, but does anyone have any tips to get over this? He is 16.3 and I'm 5'3 so hopping on from the deck isn't an option ;)
 
Spend time standing him by the block not just when you want to get on, treats can help, just take time with him, I prefer to not turn in circles but to teach them to move sideways if they are not near enough, then reward when they do stand.
 
Practice at the end of rides. Accept getting on with a bit of difficulty at the start of the ride but then at the end, after quietly walking off, hop off a few metres before you arrive at the mounting block, lead the horse straight along to it, stop, and get back on. Then walk round in a loop and finish. All very chilled and uneventful. Most horses will end up being as chilled at the beginning of rides after a few days. :)
 
Agree with be positive :) Don't blame the horse though they are never trained to stand still when they are babies :(
 
A lovely forum member taught my pony to stand still within an hour, she now stands still 99% of the time when asked as opposed to 0%! She did it by taking baby steps; first insisting she stood still until asked to move (no attempts to mount up), then standing still while fussing with saddle, then while moving round to other side, then next to mounting block, then while standing on mb (person not horse!), then getting on. Every single time the pony took a step forward she was made to take a step back and every single time she stood still she was praised and any 'pressure' taken away.

eg. Pony is asked to stand still next to block while handler stands on block, pony takes a step forward, handler asks for a step back so pony is back where she was, pony stands still, pony praised and handler gets off the block.

That's a very basic run down of course! Hopefully the lovely lass will come on here and explain better. Good luck with him! :)
 
Thanks everyone! I've tried having my husband hold a Likit whilst I get on but Benji swings his bum out anyway - literally takes one step sideways with his back end whilst munching away, little beastie. Some good tips here, thanks guys!
 
Mine does this it gives in, eventually. I don't use anything but patience and voice commands of 'Stand', not very forcefully. A friend did position him so his usual backward step was blocked by a wall, but I didn't want him freaking about being trapped so I never used this.

Try grooming him from the block so he gets used to you being above him before getting on: he's used to someone being legged up so it might be scary.
 
cinnamontoast said:
Mine does this it gives in, eventually. I don't use anything but patience and voice commands of 'Stand', not very forcefully. A friend did position him so his usual backward step was blocked by a wall, but I didn't want him freaking about being trapped so I never used this.

Try grooming him from the block so he gets used to you being above him before getting on: he's used to someone being legged up so it might be scary.
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I'm such a short arse I need to stand on a block to groom him Cinnamontoast :D
 
Pinkatc said:
Thanks everyone! I've tried having my husband hold a Likit whilst I get on but Benji swings his bum out anyway - literally takes one step sideways with his back end whilst munching away, little beastie. Some good tips here, thanks guys!
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Another thing to do it to put the block a few feet away from a fence or wall and lead the horse up to stand between the block and the fence to stop them from stepping away sideways like they can when there is just open space on their right hand side. :)
 
Keep walking up to the block, hop on the block, then walk off straight away. Then begin to pause, and build up the pause on the block. Every time he swings his bum away, ignore and walk. When he stands still, praise and walk off. Then begin to act as if you're about to get on, take the reins in your hand and put your foot in the stirrup, when he stands, praise. Keep building this up and then when you get on, praise. Lots of positive re-enforcement and time! I often practiced without even riding afterwards, just getting on, praising, then putting away again. My boy came from Ireland and was baffled by mounting blocks.. Now he's good as gold! Hope my description made sense.. :o xx
 
Sister had a 17hh Clydie who would not stand by the block. We taught her to by building an L shape with bales, walking her into the 'box' and then moving the bales away, while giving her a treat from on top. By the time we had finished this she stood like a rock and then after sister broke her ankle she would stand by the block for sis to dismount as well. It worked a treat for her. :)
 
VioletStripe said:
Keep walking up to the block, hop on the block, then walk off straight away. Then begin to pause, and build up the pause on the block. Every time he swings his bum away, ignore and walk. When he stands still, praise and walk off. Then begin to act as if you're about to get on, take the reins in your hand and put your foot in the stirrup, when he stands, praise. Keep building this up and then when you get on, praise. Lots of positive re-enforcement and time! I often practiced without even riding afterwards, just getting on, praising, then putting away again. My boy came from Ireland and was baffled by mounting blocks.. Now he's good as gold! Hope my description made sense.. :o xx
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Perfect sense! I'm investing in a bigger mounting block as my current two step one is a bit too small. If i'm a bit higher up it might make things easier!
 
Pinkatc said:
Thanks everyone! I've tried having my husband hold a Likit whilst I get on but Benji swings his bum out anyway - literally takes one step sideways with his back end whilst munching away, little beastie. Some good tips here, thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Have your husband hold his head [both reins and stand on off side] with his hand on the chest lightly, while you pop on the near side, do it quickly and put stirrups on as you ride off.
You may have to learn to jump on racing style, ie jump up on the pommel [breastbone] and swing legs over.
 
see, I have a similar problem... Ron stands perfectly at the mounting block at home (a set of stone steps next to the buildings!), but he's a little monster to get on away from home!

he's had his back pulled at some point in the past and won't let you get on from the ground... not usually an issue, and not one I'm going to force... we can climb on something, or we can get legged up, but in both cases he won't really stand and he wants to shoot off as soon as you're halfway on! But weirdly, he's better about mounting up out hunting than at an event, making me think it's excitement about being parked up with so many other boxes.

Take yesterday as an example... at the Point to Point as a mounted steward. We tacked up nice and calmly, and when ready to go I led him over to a fence, climbed on it, and as soon as he felt me gather up the reins he shot off... Friend led him back round and tried to move him against the rail and he nearly ran her over :eek: 3 attempts later I finally got on by flinging myself across a 3foot gap between the fence and him! and even then he was off in trot before I could get feet in stirrups or gather up reins. Once gathered up he stands quite happily and lets you tighten the girth or whatever.

must think of ways to deal with this...
 
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