horse horrible to tack up and mount

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narkymare

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Hes a bloshy cob, we have worked so much on his manners - have weekly lessons and hes doing brill but when i put his saddle on and start to tighten girth he moves, lots. Its a treeless saddle with a girth i do up side by side hole by hole each side.
In the school he will let me mount perfectly - no problems - but in the block its different, buckets about - hes a cob, thinks food - as soon as i lead him to mounting block, near taps and soaking food ive lost him - any tips????
 
Could by cold backed, so give him time with saddle, but it sounds like you are rushing himl. Old saying 15 minutes of patience is worth 2 years on horses life.
 
I am not too sure what happens at the mounting block to cause a problem. Is it that there are buckets of food around that he tries to get to? If so remove all the buckets and pop them out of sight. If there are any empty buckets left, let him investigate first, decide there is no food to be had and then try the mounting block. You can then reward him with food for standing still by the mounting block, but break up the activity of mounting into small steps and reward for each step of the way. If he is better in the arena, take the mounting block in the arena and work with it there.
 
I would just take your time with the saddle. My girl pulls faces if I tighten her girth up straight away so I put on the saddle and bridle get myself ready then lead her off the yard to the mounting block - by that time she's happy to stand with no fuss while I tighten the girth.

Regarding the food at the mounting block I would just take him somewhere else to get on rather than dealing with the issues of him not wanting to stand still and behave when there are oh so tempting buckets of feed around.
 
i had a pony that was a nightmare to get on, he would shoot off once on his back. this was dangerous so i got him into the habit of once i was on his back he had to turn his head round and i'd give him a treat. he picked up very quickly that someone getting on him is a good thing and he gets a treat if he turns his head around and he stands rock solid until i ask for him to move on.

as for the tacking up maybe take it a bit slower (not sure how long you take to finish doing the girth up), i know you said you do it hole by hole alternating between sides but maybe put it up one hole and then put your hat on or chaps or something and then go back and do another hole.
 
One of mine was a real fidget when being tacked up, pulled faces and swished his tail having his girth done up etc. It was because he was used to someone rushing to tack him up, being rough girthing up etc.

We have just taken our time, being very calm around him, gentle, not giving him a reason to be uncomfortable. He has learnt very quickly that it is nothing to fear and stands beautifully.

When mounting, we found it better to take a mounting block to him, and then he started planting if we got on in the yard and rode to the school, so rather than create a battle, we lead him to the school and get on there. We will very soon be able to get on in the yard again, with no battles.

I always think it is better to set yourself up to be successful, rather than heading for a battle you might loose.
Remove any buckets that might distract, continue taking your time tacking up, and being gentle as you are doing already. Be patient, and if he moves around, quietly move him back to where you want, and continue.
If you are calm, quiet and focused, I am sure he will very quickly understand what is expected of him, and relax.
 
thank you so much everyone - i will do his girth even slower and mount in the school rather than battle with the hay bins - i cannot move them, the mounting block in the barn is right next to the tap where there are huge buckets of soaking hay - ty for lots of good advice :)
 
And you are all so right about the rushing - we do lots of group hacks now with other liveries and yes i am i a rush to get him ready so people arent waiting for us, i do know i get stressed too knowing we have to be ready quickly as others are - i never thought - this must make him stressed too !From now on if we arent ready we arent ready!
ty again - oo i feel guilty now !!!! xxx
 
You could try taking him to the mounting block without tacking up and get him to stand quietly next to it. Cover the hay nets with a tarp. When he will stand nicely stand on the block and lean across him bareback. You may find it easier to separate the tacking up issue from the mounting block issue.
Or,
I use an old kitchen chair as a mounting block, it's light enough to move with one hand and can be taken anywhere!
 
ty so so much to everyone who replied and gave advice on my post.
Just wanted to let you all know today we hacked out and i did a completeley different tactic - i arrived much earlier than everyone else and tacked him up in his own stable, not the busy yard with everyone rushing around , and so i was much much slower and relaxed.
I wasnt stressed - noone watching - and neither was he.
I placed his saddle on, put girth to 2nd hole each side while i mucked out, moved it up a hole each side while i filled his haynets - then bridled him and then another hole each side.
It was just all so totally calm and nice - ok he had to wait half hour before others were ready but he didnt mind - was munching.
I pulled his front legs then tightened it up slowly before we got to the mounting block and he was just brilliant - ty so so much for your tips :)
 
Hi. I had a problem with my new horse, putting saddle on and doing girth. Turned out if had stomach ulcers. If has been treated now but still gets very irritable, so I do the girth on one hole, then walk him about before doing it up a bit more. If had never been mounted off a block and he was confused, not really understanding what I wanted from him. I got I brilliant set of wooden steps from IKEA for ten pounds. Perfect height and light so I stand him in a safe place, give him one treat and get on. Only gets a treat if if stands and if soon caught on.
 
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