How Can I Get Him To Stand?

TheresaW

TheresaW

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Can somebody please help me. I've had Ollie since last may, and he is going really well when I can actually get on him, but getting on is a real problem. He just will not stand still, walks backwards, swings away from me, you name it. He sometimes can be a pain to put his saddle on as well, but that has improved a lot. His back has been checked and his saddle as wanted to rule out pain etc, and all is fine. It has been suggested to try treats, but am not sure that would be good in the long run. He is always grabbing my coat as it is looking for titbits, and I don't want him getting nippy. He is very smart, which I think is half my problem. As soon as I am on, he is absolutely fine. He understands walk on, stand etc when I am on him and responds really well to voice. I do practise making him stand when I turn out, bring him in etc, and again, good as gold.
 
I'd try some work on the ground tack him up (you in hat etc like you were going to ride) and put a lunge line on so you've got him, move to his side and stay there if he moves follow him I wouldn't say anything just try and stay level with the saddle, when he (eventually stands still even if of a second to start with) give him a scratch on the withers and walk away- so his rewards are a quick scratch and the 'pressure' coming off, and repeat. I would set a side an hour plus with no intention of getting on. If he picks it up quickly perhaps lunge a few circles and try again. And next time perhaps replicate getting on more I did this with my horse he was a great big thing which I could only get on from the floor by lowering my stirrup so him fidgeting was a nightmare.

Worth a try if your happy there is no pain- good luck!
 
Amymay, trying from the ground and a mounting block.

Thanks Nikcscott. That's how I've managed to make progress tacking him up. Have given myself plenty of time and just stood patiently beside him with the saddle until he stands, tacked him up, taken him for a walk and then untacked him again.

I'm lucky he's only little so can get on from the ground when he'll eventually stand still. :-)
 
I second niksCscott. I had this with my old horse who would actually try and run off as soon as you got your foot in the stirrup and for a while I had to try and wedge him in a corner or between jump wings to get on.

The other thing is practice! Once goose would stand relatively still to get on (this took a very long time) I would go in the school and walk or trot about for about 5 minutes and then get off and just kept repeating this for 5 or 6 times until he eventually stood. Bit of a pain but it was very good for him in the long run.

Good luck with it, it is so frustrating!
 
I have had this issue with my mare. I found that making the mounting block, and being mounted generally, a pleasant experience, it taught my horse to keep still!

For example, whenever I lunge my horse, I always start and end the session by leading her to the mounting block, lining her up as though I'm going to mount, but instead spend a couple of minutes giving her a scratch on her neck, back and croup! She loves it!

I transfer this to mounting by continuing to give her a scratch with my left hand whilst I get on!

I also find that giving her a treat as I get on keeps her still. I give her a small piece of Kendal mint cake which had the added benefit if making her mouth full of saliva and her but taste nice! As she only ever gets this as the mounting block, she has learnt that standing still here means she gets her favourite treat!

It's not easy teaching a bad mounter to stand and tbh I think far too many people don't train their horses well enough in the early stages of their backing process. To start with, I always had someone stand at my offside stirrup so it was hard for her to swing away and moved the mounting block so it was facing the wall so she couldn't walk off.

Good luck :)
 
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