Help with halt/mounting

[Trish C]

Hi all, apologies for yet another question (or two!)

I'm having trouble training Monty to stand still when I'm getting on... been working with him on clicker training it for nearly two weeks but he's very inconsistent - one day he's ok and the next he's 'forgotten it' (or is just being a wollox) again. Any other tips? I can just about get on by myself (with a very long build up) in the yard, but not in the school. And when I say long build up, I mean like 20 mins... when I've only got 30mins to school at stupid o'clock in the morning, this isn't practical

Also, he doesn't have a halt and it's driving me mad! He's perfect in hand, never bargey, when ridden he doesn't bolt or bomb off, or even spook, and will stand still when he wants to, but I just can't get a halt out of him without fighting for it. We've started lunging and it's the same craic there, really struggle to get him to halt. He'll half-halt nicely undersaddle, but we can't translate that into a regular comfortable halt

Any suggestions for halt on the lunge and under saddle, please? And training him to stand still for me to get on!

 

[soloequestrian]

I had one given to me who was very difficult to mount. I'm certain he had issues with his saddle before I got him. I put him in a Balance saddle, and spent a number of sessions over about two weeks just getting on, sitting for a bit, and then getting off again. It took me about the same time to get on as it's taking you to begin with, but as he realised that the saddle didn't hurt, it got easier, and now he is happy to stand still.

 

[Headpiece]

You need to teach him to do a one rein stop.

You can teach it on the ground first in a headcollar or halter. Flex his head around to his girth area - keep up the pressure until he does it, this make take him some time and he may move around, but dont stop until he puts his head by his girth with his feet still. Do this both sides. (lateral flexion)

Then switch to doing it in a bridle, that should be plain sailing.

Then, when you want to halt, sit down in the saddle and pick up one rein and flex his head to his girth - he will not be able to walk forward. You will have stopped.

I think there is a lot of stuff on u tube showing this, go and have a look.

 

[LouS]

With the mounting you need to set aside some time so you don't have a time limit on it. I've got a little mare who is super sharp and had some back/tack issues when I got her, as soon you even lean over her she's off like a rocket.

Luckily I've got a mounting block on the yard and in the school. So every day when walking past it I go up on to the mounting block and get her to stand where I want her and lower her head, lean over her, jump around etc, as soon as she moves off I correct her and she now stands still. Haven't actually got on her yet since starting to retrain her, but when I do I will get on, then get straight off, and on and off and on and off, until its the most mundane thing in the world to her. You have to be so consistent with it, not even one hoof is allowed to move, bring him straight back.

I've put a lot of groundwork in place with this mare and I can make her move laterally towards me from a tiny cue and she is absolutely super now. I would use the same sort of method when riding. My gelding is very green and he has trouble halting when hacking etc, he tosses his head and lurches forward etc. I just insist and as soon as he stands the pressure is released. They've just got to learn. Be firm and consistent and it will come with time.

Good luck.

 

[blitznbobs]

I concur with the last poster. I had this issue as I'm naughty and let my horses wander when I get on (I actually find it easier to get on a moving horse -- too much pony club as a kid I suspect!) - until I realised that the judge would be riding my pony. From that day on he has to be stood still for a minute before I get on and still for at least a minute when I'm on. If he moves even an eyelash he is corrected and made to stand for longer. It took me 3 days to get him standing by a mounting block still as still can be. It's about insisting on it. No compromise. no discussion.

Bx

 

[JoPo]

Hi there

Sorry to hear you're having problems. My best guess is that this is a balance issue for him and that the two problems (halting and being mounted) both have the same root. If this is the case, he'll need to learn how to rebalance by shifting his weight back over his body. You can do this from the ground or from the saddle. From the ground, carry a stick in your outside hand and slowly move it up and down way out in front of him and then slowly move it in towards his chest. Try not to pull back or down on the lead rope though because the 'opposition reflex' will kick in and cause him to lean forward into the headcollar which will shift his balance forward again through his head (not what we're looking for). Instead, give a small up and back signal on the rope and then release (not a continuous pull).

When you're riding, put a long neck strap on (or purchase a TTEAM balance rein from www.ttoutchtteam.co.uk) and when you want to halt lift the neck strap up so that you can feel a contact with the base of his neck, raise it up a bit further to signal a halt and then release it gently. The release is the point at which he'll come back into balance. You may need to repeat this over three or four strides depending how out of balance he is, but with each signal and release he'll come more into balance.

Both of these exercises will teach him to stop from the chest, not from his head.

If I haven't explained that clearly, send me an email and I can talk it through and send you some pictures to explain it better.

Good luck

Jo Pogson
TTEAM Practitioner
www.tteamperformancecoach.webs.com

 

[Trish C]

Thanks all, some very interesting ideas.

Oddly he stands still to be mounted from the ground (I can't do this though, and even if I could I prefer for sake of their backs/saddles not to), it's only with an a bucket/block/step he's an arse... think it probably stems from his time as a trekking horse where all manner of clowns were climbing up and down him, as does the halt I guess - he's used to halting when the horse in front of him on a trek halts! But he's very good in every other way, straight off the leg (which I was very surprised about for an ex-trekker/riding school horse)

JoPo, that's very interesting, when you refer to 'balance' are you refering to the same sort of balance that we look for in riding? He's a bit odd in that he's very well balanced to ride, but he occasionally 'falls over' when I'm picking his off fore hoof out (never the others). Mentioned this to the vet who couldn't find any reason for it and cleared him at vetting, doesn't effect his ridden work as far as I can tell, has nice even paces etc.

I'm finished up in my day job this after this week (but then away for a week inc Badminton, woo!) so after that am going to put SERIOUS hours into the standing thing. May start grooming him whilst standing on bucket/step as well.

He's got a beautiful soft mouth so I want him to halt from my seat... last thing I want to do is mess up his mouth since he takes such a lovely, soft, immediate contact at the moment. Will try some/all of these ideas anyways and hopefully see improvement soon - thanks again!