He won't stand still for me to get on???

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Scaty_Bird

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Hi all,

I may have the chance to have my old loan horse back but there is one issue that is sitting in my head.

He was quite keen to get going so wouldn't always stand still for me to get on. As soon as my foot hit the stirrup he would try to jog off. When I eventually got on he would then jog for a few circuits and sometimes go sideways into other horses.

I had his saddle, back and teeth checked when he did this and he had no issues.

Can anyone suggest a gentle way to encourage him to stand quietly and relax??????

Thanks!!!!!!!
 
I train horses for RDA work, and they HAVE to learn to stand like a rock while being mounted.

We do the old "until you stand I'm just going to keep getting off and doing it again" trick - every time he jogs off, or moves away from the mounting block before you're ready, bring him round again. He has to learn that the only way he gets to move off is by standing still - when he does stand, give him a big pat, tell him he's a good boy, and ask him to walk on.

You'll have to repeat this every time you mount, but after a while he will have realised that he has to stand still, and it will become habit. Good luck!

It is very do-able - I had an accident which meant that my legs didn't co-operate for a long time, and had to teach my idiot to stand for me, which he now does beautifully!
 
Some good advice from starzaan.

I'd make sure there is someone who is on the ground who can hold your horse whilst you get on so that he learns he is not allowed to jog off whenever he wants to.
 
Thanks everyone - gonna have to start packing sandwiches for the mounting block! lol
Bless him, think it'll settle, he's never horrid just ready to go.

Just out of interest Sharon - what do you do with yours?? Do you just let him get on with it? Has the problem got worse or stayed the same?
 
Horse walks off, spin in circles, in a calm relaxed manner, no shouting or aggression, just round and round, (this is the horse by the way, not just you! that would be quite funny but not really get the message across!). Then try mounting again. If he walks off, quick as a flash, jump off and gently but firmly pull nose round to touch saddle and off you go for a few more spins. Stop. Try again. Keep going 'til penny drops. I stand still, world is a nice place. I walk off, I have to spin round and round like a lemon. HHhhhhmmmmm, which will I go for???
 
PoppyAnderson said:
Horse walks off, spin in circles, in a calm relaxed manner, no shouting or aggression, just round and round, (this is the horse by the way, not just you! that would be quite funny but not really get the message across!). Then try mounting again. If he walks off, quick as a flash, jump off and gently but firmly pull nose round to touch saddle and off you go for a few more spins. Stop. Try again. Keep going 'til penny drops. I stand still, world is a nice place. I walk off, I have to spin round and round like a lemon. HHhhhhmmmmm, which will I go for???
Click to expand...

Hehehehe, that made me chuckle! He is the type of horse to say 'stuff this, I can't be ar*ed!'.
 
PoppyAnderson said:
Horse walks off, spin in circles, in a calm relaxed manner, no shouting or aggression, just round and round, (this is the horse by the way, not just you! that would be quite funny but not really get the message across!). Then try mounting again. If he walks off, quick as a flash, jump off and gently but firmly pull nose round to touch saddle and off you go for a few more spins. Stop. Try again. Keep going 'til penny drops. I stand still, world is a nice place. I walk off, I have to spin round and round like a lemon. HHhhhhmmmmm, which will I go for???
Click to expand...

I used to do this with my old ISH mare, it got to the point where I would take the reins over her head, stand on the mounting block and lunge her round it. That way when she stopped I was in the position to get back on almost immediately.
 
When I worked at a trekking centre, my favourite pony ( an ex-gypsy owned cob) had obviously been taught to go off immediately at the first sign of being mounted. Hmmm, trying to get her to stand still while trekking up a fell was just impossible, so I had to learn to get on while she was striding off as there was simply no stopping her. Left foot in the stirrup, right foot hopping along till I managed the leap. Not a pretty sight !

To avoid this, deffo follow the advice above :D sm x
 
I have just done this with my newly broken 3 yr old. as soon as my foot was in the stirrup she was off. i made her stand still and she had to stand with me next to her on the mounting block then we progressed to standing still with my foot in the stirrup then getting on (all in one session). If she moves you start again i did say to her we will keep doing this for as long as it takes for you to stand still. she now stands like a lamb and it took 2-3 sessions. I also make her stand still while i sort out stirrups etc so she doesnt learn that as soon as you are on she can go. I know some people dont think it important but i do-basic manners. I also keep an eye on it all the time and go back if she starts to wander off again.
 
Great advice all round. Had the same problem with Belle but I always have someone with me when I mount. When Belle stands and I am on, she gets a treat and a pat and then we go when I'm ready. She stands still well now (and doesn't get a treat now, except on the odd occasion).
 
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