Horse just won't stand still

[anniedoherty]

Help! The new horse is getting worse and it took me half an hour today before I could get on and that was with the saddler helping me! He said he had never seen a horse quite so determined not to let anyone mount. It is definitely not a saddle issue because saddler checked my current dressage saddle and pronounced it fine and I've just bought a nice new Bates Caprilli. Dentist is coming tomorrow so I will be able (hopefully) to rule out teeth problems.

My next step will have to be a back person but I am not sure who to call. Vet hasn't found anything so I need a second opinion. Any ideas? There are so many types of back specialist, just as for humans, that it is difficult to know who to use.

 

[carthorse]

Mine has been cured by a very good mounting block and lots of polos. He now stands really well.

 

[anniedoherty]

I have tried several other things without any success but will give Polos a go next! He seems to get very tense and his back comes up as soon as I do get on so I am thinking it may be a back problem but he also tenses up when I get off so I am not sure if it is just because he has had a bad experience in the past. It is starting to get me down though because I can't ride without enlisting someone's help every time.

 

[Skhosu]

If it's a back problem suspected i'd stop riding for a while to avoid the problem getting worse. I'd also get a physio out to see whats going on

 

[debradley]

It was my physio that found my horses back problem, he came vet recommended. How's your horse when you're doing the girth up (usually a sign of back soreness); does he not want to stay still? Would definately get back checked, it won't matter how many polos you give him, if he's in pain or anticipating pain he won't stand still.

 

[Shilasdair]

If he starts messing around when you are tacking up and fetch the saddle, then he's trying to tell you something about its fit. I know that the saddlers say it's fine, but in my experience even SMS saddlers have got it wrong...and I'd take it from the horse's mouth!
On the other hand, perhaps it's a sign that your horse isn't enjoying your rides....have a think about how he feels when you school/hack/jump etc. Is he fit enough? Could he be feeling insecure? Do you let him stretch and warm down afterwards? Is he cold backed?
You obviously are a caring owner, so I'm sure you'll find out what's wrong and fix it for him - good luck.
S

 

[ginnyspinner]

New horses often try it on - my mare did the same, and no, there was nothing wrong with her back or her saddle or her teeth!! We took her in the school and put two large jump wings together butted up to the fence and then placed the mounting block next to her. This meant she could not back away (which was our problem) Someone else stood in front, loosely holding the reins while I mounted. She was well rewarded, walked around, then I got off and we did it again - about 5 times in total, then worked her.
Next time we did it using an open stable door behind her bum with the block next to her and continued like this until I could just get on off the block with no-one holding her.

She is great now, can mount off almost anything alone without holding the reins - even off my friends trailer mud guard.
It takes lots of time and patience and it is VERY frustrating when the horse won't stand still. It is extremely rewarding when you get over the problem tho.

 

[Becky101]

I can definateley recomend the mounting block and polos strategy! however long it takes keep at it, even if some days you dont get to ride and you just get on and off a couple of times. Start off just walking round the mountain block in big circles, then stop and make the horse stand with you on the ground next to the block, next, standing with you stood on the block, then finally getting on. Go back a stage each time things go wrong and work back up to where you were again. Well it worked for mine .. she is a little star now, used to be a monster!

 

[Parkranger]

Ty has issues standing still - although he's much better than he was. I would just circle him and bring him back to the mounting block. It helps if you lead them up on the off side so that you can push them into nearer the mounting block, then quickly pass around the front and hop on.

Definately get a back person out - vets don't always pick up these things.....

 

[anniedoherty]

Thanks everyone. He's just had his teeth checked and they were fine so that's ruled out and all it leaves is his back check
next week.

I wonder if I am just unlucky - having two horses who won't stand still? Before you ask, they were both like it before I got them!

ParkRanger - I wish I could "hop on" like you but I am old and creaky and my hopping days are long since gone! Last time I tried hopping up quickly I ended up having physio for several weeks lol. Oh to be young again.....

 

[horsegirl]

I had this problem with my horse, he wouldn't stand at all and would move in any direction to get away from the mounting block swishing his tail and even raising his back leg. What we did was break it down into small sections and armed with a handful of carrot slices (you could use whatever your horse likes) and walked him to the block if he did not move when I stood on the block he got a piece of carrot, even the slightest move and he went round and back to the block. When he stood for that we moved on to leaning my weight on his back and then putting my foot in the stirrup and putting some weight on it and eventually mounting and giving him the final piece of carrot once onboard. You do need a helper to give him the treats but only when he stands still. It will take a few sessions but you should be able to cut down the steps so you can get on the block and put your weight straigt in the stirrup and then eventually straight up onto the horse. Just remember never to give him the treat unless he stands dead still and don't move on to the next step until he is standing for the previous one. My boy now stands for me to get on with no problems at all!

 

[Tempi]

Has he had xrays? How is he when you are riding? Is he relaxed and working from behind into a soft outline? Or does he resist you and have a choppy stride?

The 'humping' of his back when you are trying to get on makes me think hes cold backed - as thats what a cold backed horse i used to ride did when you tried to get on it.

I would get a physio out ASAP, stop riding him as he is obviusly in some form of discomfort/pain, get him x rayed (if you havent already) and go from there.

 

[Parkranger]

[ QUOTE ]

ParkRanger - I wish I could "hop on" like you but I am old and creaky and my hopping days are long since gone! Last time I tried hopping up quickly I ended up having physio for several weeks lol. Oh to be young again.....

[/ QUOTE ]

Believe you me, I struggle on myself - was using the term hop loosely!

when they move you need to keep circling and bringing back to the same place. not sure I agree with treats etc as if you've got a switched on horse they'll keep buggering around (in my opinion).

Try leading up on the opposite side of the mounting block - I know it sounds strange but Ty tends not to move out if I'm on the other side.....you can then move around onto the right side to mount.

 

[dixie]

Treats worked for me. I was on my own and didn't have any help and my 17hh youngster wouldn't let me put my foot in the stirrup, did everything but stand still. Polo method didn't work but I would put a couple of carrots in a feed bowl that hooked on the fence so he was muching whilst I got on. Cheating I know but eventually could get on with nothing in the bowl - he just licked it - to no bowl at all now.

However, saying that it sounds like it could be a back issue especially if he tenses whilst you get off, so definitely rule that out first.

 

[horsegirl]

I would strongly advise against using them as a bribe rather than a reward as the horse may learn the more he fidgets around the longer he gets to stand there eating carrots.

 

[luie123]

I would reccomend that every time you gandle your horse to ride or not you take them to the mounting block and ask hem to stand by it, and you on the mounting block. So your horse gets in the habit of standing there saddle or no saddle ride or no ride. Then even if they are in pain and you sort that out they will learn that standing by mounting block is something you do all the time and its scary. good luck

 

[anniedoherty]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to wait until the physio has been before I ride again. I don't want to risk causing him any pain if he is tender over his back. If no problems are found then I will know that it is just a behavioural issue and start trying to solve the problem in earnest.

 

[Theresa_F]

Agree with others - rule out pain, and the retrain using the reward for doing as asked, but not as a bribe method.

Chancer is being trained from the start to stand without moving by the mounting block. I still have an assistant, whilst I get on, and until I feel I don't need help, I will always have someone to assist. My assistant's job is to make sure he does no move over or back, I keep him still with a light rein contact as I mount. Once I am onboard he gets a treat as a reward. My plan is that he never knows to move away and evade the mounting block.

If all horses were taught to stand by a mounting block before they were backed and as part of the backing process, I am sure there would be a lot less difficult to mount horses.

Hope all goes well with you and your horse.

 

[ginnyspinner]

I can see why you would want to rule out pain etc before getting to the bottom of the problem - indeed, I did the same, but dollars to do-nuts, you will find there is nothing wrong with teeth, back, saddle etc. Just a bit of toddler type defiance - shoot me down in flames, but I went through the same concerns and fears and had a clean MOT - just a new and slightly beligerant horse!!! Good luck - let us know how you get on. xx

 

[ruthsimms]

Mine and OH's horses did exactly the same thing when we first bought them. My boy's teeth and back were checked and fine and eventually he just stopped doing it. My OH's horse relaxed when an instructor tried to get on and leaned over his shoulder with a dressage whip to 'tickle' him and get him closer to the mounting block.

You're doing the right thing though in getting everything checked out but it's more than likely to be him testing you.

 

[anniedoherty]

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I am very much hoping that it is just a case of him "testing" me. He is very good in other ways though so I really am wondering if it could be pain related or maybe a memory of a previous pain connected to mounting/dismounting because the saddle which he was wearing when I tried him out was pretty apalling. I will report back once the physio has checked him.