Horse won't stand to be mounted from block - advice please

kyanya

kyanya

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The cob I've been sharing for a month now is great, apart from he's a paink in the bum to get to stand next to the mounting block. He'll walk up next to it and halt where you ask him, but when you jump up on the block to get on, he moves away so you can't get on, either by backing up, taking a step forward or doing a turn on the forehand. If I hold reins tight he goes backwards, if I keep them loose he normally puts his head down to see if there's any food around, or if it's grass he'll graze, but he'll wander off as well.

At first I thought he'd just be testing me out, but a month down the line he's just as bad, and owner confirms he's a sod for her to mount too. When I first tried him, I got a leg-up and someone was at his head (doh, didn't even consider why this might be!) and then the next time I rode him, before I agreed to share him, he stood next to the block on second time of asking.

The next time I rode him, I took him into the school and someone gave me a leg-up. The next time, I took him to the school and got on from a chair in there, but after trying for 10mins or so and wedging him between the wall and small bank. Next time I took him straight to the same place, thinking he must be OK there, and he played up again, so I took him out of the school to the mounting block on the yard, where eventually he let me get on. The time after, I took him straight to the block and it took 15mins or so for him to stand long enough to let me get on.

I tried insisting he stay stood still, making him walk in a circle back to the block if he moved, but it didn't seem to make much difference. I eventually got on from doing this, but it was while a lorry was coming up the drive - I think he was distracted by the lorry, and forgot about giving me the run around for a bit, as other times he's eventually stood still coincided with other things happening around him that could distract him.

Does anyone have any advice?
 
Have a pocket full of his favourite treats. Ask him to stand at the block - give him a treat. Then get on the block and ask him to stand - if he does, give him a treat - if he doesn't ask again.

Then take the next couple of steps - to stand at the block AND stand while you get on the block - then a treat. Put your foot in the stirrup - give him a treat. Step half-way up to mounting - and come back to the block - give him a treat. Then mount - and PROVIDED he has stood, lean forward and give him a treat.

Cobs are greedy sods and once he gets the idea that he has to wait for a treat, he won't move a muscle. Obviously make sure your saddle is girthed up properly, and that you're not sticking a toe in his ribs - or coming down on his back like a ton of bricks.

Once he has the message, only give him a treat from the saddle once you're mounted - and only if he's still standing!
 
My daughter had this problem with her horse. She solved it by making him move. She'd bring him to the block and set him up. As soon as he moved away, she made him continue moving, around the block with her staying on it. She made him hustle, holding one rein so he was going in a circle around it and pushing him with a crop.

After a few turns, she'd let off and when he stopped, she praised him and reached with her foot for the stirrup. If he moved again, same thing.

He soon got sick and tired of having to work every time he went to the mounting block and now stands like a statue.
 
mine did this.


i kept walking her round and round until she got the hint.... but not always got on...

some times id stand on the moutain block and pat her back/saddle/bum etc - then get off and patt her...

other times id put my foot in the stirrup then get off and pat her again etcc

few times she was realyl silly and got a smack but we have more of an understanding now with circling and she stands like a rock now. :)


eta - i dont agree with bribing with treats,,, takes one swift of the butt while getting on for them to spin round expecting a treat!! and your on the floor!!.
 
I'd have have someone stood holding the front end with a handful of grass then once your on board make him stand until YOU ask him to move, he'll soon learn!
 
Don't forget tack, back n teeth!!! :D:D:D:D

I have also tried the above - treats have a tendency to backfire now and again. The Walking Around technique seems to have the most lasting effect.

ETS: I've just remembered a friends pony who did this and even though he did eventually stand I always suspected it was something else. They called the vet and it turned out he was riddled with ulcers.
 
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Mine was just like this and we did the same as Janet-George has suggested. Got him to stand then gave a treat, stood on lower step then gave a treat etc etc.

Took the best part of 2 months but he got the idea and now (mostly) stands like a rock while you get on. He is a bit 'precious' though and just because he now stands at one mounting block doesn't guarantee he will stand at another one (cos THAT one might be a monster!) so you have to repeat the whole performance - luckily once he's got the idea for one block, he's normally pretty quick to suss out that even though its not the block we normally get on, and yes its in a different place, it really WON'T turn into a horse eating monster...
 
I have the most impatient, fizzy, neurotic, can't-stand-still horse going, but he'll stand like a rock next to any mounting block, gate, fence, bollard etc., because he knows he gets a biscuit once I'm safely in the saddle ;)
 
He is a greedy little so-and-so, so food rewards might be a good solution, providing the owner OKs it. Do you think the inconsistency between me giving food rewards for good behaviour at mounting block and owner not necessarily doing the same might cause him some confusion though? Or make him worse for owner who may not reward him with food?

Also, he already spins his head towards me at the mounting block, what would I do if he does this (or moves off) if I do decide to reward with food? Obviously don't reward, but do I walk him in a circle and re-ask him to stand, or something else?
 
I have had the same problem.

What I did was line him up at the block, and give him the option of standing still or moving.

If he moved, he gets taken away from the block and worked hard from the ground, then taken back over to the mounting block, which is where he can rest and is a nice place.

Then try to mount again. same thing as long as it takes.

Makes the right thing easy (stand by the block) and the wrong thing hard (working hard away from the block).


Just make sure there is a clear place where it is nice, and a clear place where life is hard!
 
Have you had his back and saddle checked? Mine started doing this, had his saddle and back checked and turned out he was sore in his back. He carried on doing it after his back was sorted, i think it became a bit of a habit, but now he knows it doesn't hurt he's as good as gold. Just a thought and would be worth checking.
 
I don't know if his back, saddle and teeth have been checked, but he's only my share horse and I don't really feel it's my place to be asking the owner if she's had any of that done.
 
My boy used to do this, and occasionaly now after 4 years will still spin his body away. I walk him back and make him stand, however, i have noticed that he is far more likely to stand next to the mounting block, if i walk him towards it so that he is next to it, i.e. im not in between him and the mounting block if that makes sense? Once he's standing still i walk around the front of him, give him a rub, and get onto the block. :D
 
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