Horse too clever for my own schemes!

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Tickles

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As part of the 'mounting anyhow anywhere' plan (will update on the vaulting once we've done a little more - thanks for the advice & vid link!) I thought we should learn mounting from the 'wrong' side for keeping even and options open. Tried lining up with a block in the school. Unsuitable Chestnut Arab looked very sceptical and as soon as my right foot touched the stirrup he carefully shuffled himself around keeping nose towards block so that he was lined up for mounting from the 'correct' side. Dashed horse too clever for me!

Tried a few times and got to the stage of being allowed to lie over from that side so we'll get there but he isn't at all convinced just yet...
 
I'm sorry, but LOL at the clever horse
grin.gif
 
my horse does that! :P I try to mount from both sides just to keep stirrup lengths even and it takes me twice as long to mount from 'wrong' side as she keeps turning so her otherside is closest to me!
 
Can you use a small mounting block, sturdy bucket or step while your teaching to mount from the wrong side- that way you can move the block instead of keep turning the horse around.
 
Random-ranch: that is exactly what I was doing! We ended up doing a little dance...
me: position block on 'wrong' side
him: look sceptical
me: climb on to block
him: look even more sceptical
me: foot to stirrup
him: turn around to be on 'right' side
repeat from the top!

At least with dismounting he doesn't have as much choice :-)

He is a bit nervy about being held which I'd get someone to do otherwise. Think I'll just have to keep on with the fuss & treats for standing on the wrong side then leap up a bit faster and hope he doesn't freak!
 
Very true! It is so hard to be annoyed at anything he does when it is sooo logical! (We've been doing some anti-spook training for the electric gates but tbh it *makes sense* to be scared of large metal objects that suddenly move of their own accord!)

Obviously we shall have to credit vallin's mare with some sneaky Arab breeding way back...
 
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