help with getting pony to stand when getting on ...

[Holly27]

Hi guys
my sis has just took on a 14 hh pony from the rescue center
shes 16 yrs old but wasn't backed till she was 11 and then not ridden again till last yr so she is very green and acts like a nutter very fizzy , my sis is tiny 5 foot and is 31 yrs old , been ridding yrs .
the problem is sky will not stand still when mounting she runs as soon as foots in stirrup !
we have had back and teeth checked and saddle checked all is fine
is it just a Case of repetition , or are there any great tips she can use
thanks ......
I'm sure she will get there shes very patient and asks her to halt again and again but then i give up and go hold her as we would never get of the yard Te he

 

[Halfpass]

I'll get my OH to post a reply when he gets in. He had a very similar problem with his horse but he'll explain better. Its taken sending the horse away for 4 weeks and 4 more months to get him to a point where he can just get on.

 

[claireross]

My horse would never stand still, but it was him being bolshy not scared of anything else. One day I set aside an hour and just stood in the yard trying to get on. First he would walk off as soon as I picked up the reins, so I turned him around in a big circle back to were I was getting on. We did this repeatedly until I got to the point that I could get on without him walking off.

It did take 45mins the first day, followed by a couple of 20min or so sessions, but if you try being consistant and turn them away everytime they move eventually boredom will set in and they will stand still.

My horse still doesn't like standing still, but I refuse to throw myself on if he's moving and now it only takes one or two attempts before he will stand still

 

[barrymeningen]

Standing still is the very first thing I teach a horse when I am backing it, I will not get on a horse that will not stand still.

I use a rope halter under the bridle with a lunge line attached to it, I don't want to be pulling on the horse's mouth.

I will go into the arena and position the horse where I want it, if it takes a step forward I push it back a step (it is important that you are quite firm but do not scare the horse-the amount of pressure you need depends on the individual horse), once the horse steps back I reward it by releasing the pressure on the halter. I may need to repeat this several times depending on the horse and sometimes one step back is not enough but I will rarely push a horse back for more than 3 or 4 steps in a row. I believe in giving my horses a choice with everything I ask them to do, they can (in this instance) stand still and I will be nice to them or they can move and I will put pressure on. Therefor when they are standing the lunge line is slack and there is no pressure on the halter, I am not holding the horse still it is choosing to stand still, as soon as the horse moves I apply a measured amount of pressure, the horse soon learns that the best decision for it to make is to stand still. I will not get on the horse until I can walk all the way around it without it moving, make sure though that you face your horse at all times otherwise the natural thing for it to do is follow you. This usually takes about 20mins to teach a young horse but you obviously have to allow much longer for an older horse because the negative pattern of behavior is already established.

Sorry that this is so long winded, I could have gone on for a lot longer about the importance of pressure and release and partnership but I've tried to summarise as best I can.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ravenwood]

New Pony tried this on with us and had a little tantrum everytime daughter got on. After consulting with owners, we knew that she was being naughty and not in any pain (back, teeth etc).

I spent a couple of mornings where I, once tacked up, just walked her in hand around the carpark a couple of times, back to yard and leant over the saddle, then repeated. I then tried to get on and if she started, I got down and walked her round again and lean't over the saddle and continued this until she stood with boredom. When my daughter tried the next weekend, I made her walk pony around first and back to yard etc and she has been good as gold ever since.

She was just trying it on but realised it was too much hassle to bother with in the end!

Another friend of mine gives her horse a treat from her pocket everytime she gets on so the horse always stands still until it gets its treat - not too sure about this one though as inevitably I would run out of treats!

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
Another friend of mine gives her horse a treat from her pocket everytime she gets on so the horse always stands still until it gets its treat - not too sure about this one though as inevitably I would run out of treats!

[/ QUOTE ] I've used that method in the past and it works a treat! (Sorry for the pun!

) Not everyone will approve of the method though - some people are totally against treats - but personally I don't care as long as it works.

 

[K27]

I would get a helper on the ground to hold the horse with a piece of soft plain rope looped thru the bit so that its not actually attached and also get them to hold the stirrup whilst the rider is getting on. If theres any doubt, get the rider to lean over the saddle before actually putting the foot in the stirrup/getting on board, until the horse is standing calmly and accepting the rider. I would do this every time that the horse is ridden, even if its for a few months or more- patience I'm afraid!!. I used to have a horse that used to flip without any warning when I was getting on, which I think was a memory thing due to being broken in badly or rushed when he was a youngster before I got him. A horse can learn not to stand still very quickly so I would advise getting the problem resolved , as soon as possible to avoid further probs/ nasty accidents!.
One of my horses is very sharp and I always get someone to keep hold of him when I am getting onboard, I wouldn't have it any other way! . I always use a mounting block that is tall enough so that you are not pulling on the horses back/saddle. Good Luck though!