Horse rears at mounting block

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Stushie

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I have just bought my new dream horse who I've had for 1 week. She is 5 rising 6, Dutch Warmblood mare and 16.3. I am not a novice and the horse did not do this when I went to try her before buying. Previous owners confirms no history of rearing. The horse does not have a bad bone in her body and I feel completely safe when I'm on her both in the school and out hacking. She just goes up when I'm trying to get her to stand next to the block - this is before I even step on the block or even gather up the reins or attempts the mount!! It's really bizarre! When I have my friend hold her still when I'm getting on we have no issues - it seems to be that moment of getting her into position when I'm on my own! She has no issues with me moving the block towards her and has we have no issues with mounting once we get her to eventually stand long enough for me to get on! Any suggestions much appreciated. No back issues or rearing at any other time - enjoys her work and is perfectly behaved under saddle! Thanks
 
A past training issue maybe? Someone has lost their patience when training her to stand at the block and she now associates it with that?

Have you tried other mounting objects - buckets, fences etc is the reaction the same.

Saddle fits? Maybe a saddle issue in the past?

Go back to basics treats may help make it a non event if she gets stressed ignore it refocus her and do it all in baby steps like backing a baby - lots of pats and praise when she gets it right.
 
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I'm going to try just that tomorrow - mounting from a different type of block in a different part of the school and see how we go. Saddle is fitted properly and her back was done just a few months back in her last home and no issues at all. She has been extremely well looked after (spoiled even lol) by a very experienced dressage lady who I know would not have done anything to cause this but she was imported from Holland in 2011 so who knows! She certainly doesn't act nervous or scared - it more like she does it just because she can! Tonight was the worse as I was on my own and she did it 3 times - and every time he got loose as I lost the reins when she went up. Got on eventually and rode beautifully but really want to put a stop to the issue! Thanks for your reply.
 
Are we talking hopping up or full hieght stand up?

How tight are you holding the reins as you lead her there - are you pulling and putting pressure on her lower jaw or poll?

ETA, what do you do with your whip when you are going to the mounting block? Trick horses are taught to rear when the whip is held at certain angles. An unlikely one here but I have seen people walking to blocks with their whips held up behind them like an aerial!!!
 
Try putting a pole on the ground next to the mounting block and walking her down the channel. I have also found polos to be helpful - one for walking up and standing nicely, then another when you are on. With a helper until she gets the idea.
 
Is it a new saddle, not the one you tried her in and she was ridden in at her last home? I would be looking at the saddle first.
Ditto the question about the reins being held tighter than she likes, maybe try a totally loose rein? Get her to accept a treat or two from you at the mounting block first, to distract her, maybe?
Is the block high enough for you to just step across or down? I think this is very important, especially with some horses.
 
No hopping - straight up - not quite vertical but enough to get loose. I'm leading her to the block on loose rein and asking her to stand which she does for 1 second then steps sideways and either goes up at that point or if not, does so when I try to get her to take a step forward back to the block. Reins at this point still loose and i don't try and pull her by the mouth, I'm more encouraging her to come forward. It's all nice and quite and she isn't stressing but still just goes up!! Definitely not out of badness - I don't feel nervous around her and don't think this is a naughty horse but don't want a habit developing. She has been moved to a completely different environment as I'm on a livery yard which is quite bust and she came from a lovely home where she was kept at home with one other horse - much quieter lol. She's going out every day and has settled remarkable well but still, she is in a new place and is a young horse!,
 
I will try poles - good idea! The saddle isn't new bu not throne I tried her in but saddler came out to to check for me and happy that it fits (my other horse is same siz and shape!). Also, she did the rearing the very first day before I had even been on her with my own saddle. I had considered that but genuinely know it is not the saddle. The mounting lock is a 3 step block which I usually get on from second step but have tried not being on it until she stands still and have tried being on it and trying - no difference!
 
I think that your problem is that you have a young horse who is a bit unsettled at changing yards but I would get her back and saddle checked just to be sure. I had a problem with my horse not standing at the mounting block after a period of box rest and we resolved this by treats and just some calm repetition. If you can get someone to help you and hold her then I think this would be wise as if she is standing straight up when she rears you are in a dangerous situation. Get your helper to hold her and give her a pat and a treat when she stands nicely. I would also get on and off 2-3 times after you have ridden as she is likely to be calmer then.
I think a lot of people underestimate how unsettled some horses can be by a change in surroundings and I hope that you can resolve this.
 
Yeah - I'm leaning towards that as the reason too - I'm going to be patient and use help for mounting as that works. I can worry about doing it myself once she has fully settled in and hope she learns through a positive routine and then gradually try it unassisted. I'm just glad that she had a great temperament and responds well to being patted and praised if you know what I mean! Ill keep trying and hope it resolves itself. Thanks for your advice.
 
We use a mounting block for all the initial workin backing horses and they are taught to stand at it before they are actually bitted! I would try leading her to the mounting block in a headcollar, unsaddled. If she doesn't object, get on the block, pat her, give her a treat - and lead her away. Repeat this several times and try leaning over her and patting her off side. IF you can do this, then have her saddled - but still in a headcollar. Repeat! I suspect the most likely cause for her problem is that in earlier times she was nervous of the mounting block and the rider tried to pull her there - on the reins - putting downward pressure on the tongue. That would send her upwards - she might even have fallen - and she associates the mounting block with 'nasty' things!
 
Good advice from Janet George, I would do exactly that. This is a similar method to how I have taught my youngster to stand at a mounting block.

Take your time and just practise getting on the block without getting on the horse. If she moves away the gently reposition and start again. It really should only take a few days.
 
I have one that just really dislikes a certain block, as in, its immoveable in one place on the yard. Cannot get her to stand there quietly.

She will however, stand by a brick, step, fence etc and let me scramble on.

Is there something rather upsetting about that bit of the yard? For mine, its the fact the block is in the entrance to a busy barn, with lots of noisy people around.
 
Agree with good advice from Janet George.
In a similar vein, I've used a little portable mounting stool before - have the horse standing in a 'safe place' (agree just in headcollar) and work on standing with her, getting on and off stall, lots of praises and pats for just staying still. Mine had the issue that he'd move....so every time he moved the stall got moved with him. It frustrated the hell out of him that it meant he wasn't controlling the situation by moving away....once that was nailed, went back to the mounting block proper and did lots of praise and pats without actually mounting. He's pretty much fine now, and I can mount from the block, fence, ground (that's a lie - if he was two hands smaller maybe!) etc.
 
I've seen an unerrupted wolf tooth cause similar problems, from the angle when you get on the bit touches the sore unerrupted tooth site.

Saddle, it fits another horse who is not exactly the same shape, so will not fit both exactly.

Did you inadvertently bump down on her back getting on and upset her?
 
My lad tensed up then took of bucking when being mounted, 5 years old too

We solved all problem in a few weeks with treats.
A treat for standing at block, a treat as someone was getting on then a 3 rd once rider on and sorted

We now just you 1 treat once rider on and sorted, he literally stands like a statue waiting for his treat sees u bending towards him turns takes his treat and tottles off happy as larry

He is now 6.

We will always give him a treat now when mounted .
 
Had a good night! Tacked up and then put a pressure halter on - led her into the school and to the mounting block using the halter and got to the block - walked around it a few times and asked her to stand and she had a mini rear but kept hold of her as she had the halter on and did it again - into position - stand still etc etc. she never reared again and I got her to stand by the block - I got on - rode away and got off again - did it again etc etc. until I no longer needed the pressure halter and got on by myself with my friend standing away from us!! Ill do the same each time until she settles but much happier tonight lol. Thanks for all your replies.
 
My 4 year old used to be a git at the block, to the point where I couldn't get on by myself, needed someone to hold etc. Was fine with leg up.

Then I sent him to a professional's yard for 1 week as I was going to be stupidly busy at work and we had no turnout at the time (1st week in Jan & being an accountant = year end plus with the rain the yard wouldn't let us t/o).

Anyway he was ridden every day by the YO who is qualified etc and a lot more experienced than me, and a happy bonus to him getting the attention he needed while I was busy was that he came back a different horse at the block!

So my advice would be to get an experienced instructor to help :-)
 
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