How to get ex race horse to stand for mounting

[exracehorse]

Hi, having problems with new horsey, a TB from Newmarket, is obviously not used to standing while being mounted and absolutely hates the mounting block, is scared of it. When we put the saddle on, he starts to fidget, take the head collar off and then when we check the girth, stirrups etc,he goes around me in a circle, even when I hold him for my daughter to get on, as soon as she puts her foot in the iron, he rushes forward and gets himself all worked up, because he couldnt immediately leave the yard as I was fetching the dog lead to walk out with her, he started to panic a bit and went around in circles. Once he is off and walking he is fine, and a dream to hack out, the saddle is newly fitted and we had his teeth checked (that was a disaster, with him rearing up and flipping over, resulting in 3 facial fractures and months of box rest!) we have only had him 4 months and are only just bringing him back into work after his accident, just walking out. Anyone who has had an ex racer with mounting issues, then please give any advice, otherwise he is fab on the ground, very gentle, excellent to lead to the field etc and tie up. Its a bad habbit that we have got to break. Also, hates any pressure on his mouth and flips his head, he is in a french link snaffle, his teeth are now done (!) so, not pain there, he isnt used to contact and I think may have had a heavy had in the past from the jockys. He is un fit and is also not picking up his back feet in trot properly, but fine in walk, I guess we just need to do power walking up hills etc, he looks weak in the back to me and rather like an upside down horse, with little top line etc.

 

[iconique]

Practice and patience
It will take him time to understand what you are asking for. If he doesn't like the mounting block then get him used to it without trying to get on. If he starts to fidget when you put the saddle on then put it on, take it off and practice this, but reward him - every time he does something good praise him. He simply needs to learn what is good and what is not going to give him a reward (I'm not much on titbits and use a scratch or a rub instead, however when we had problems with one of our youngsters we used to feed her in her 'scary' areas)
Also with regard to contact and the upside down shape, don't worry this will come with time and correct work too, slowly not asking too much
Good luck.

 

[mightymammoth]

He sounds nice, have you got a photo?

 

[skint1]

I think you, your daughter and your horse would really benefit from contacting these guys:
http://www.ror.org.uk/

wish I'd known about them when we got our girl

 

[Spring Feather]

When mine come out of racing and I put them into riding horse training they've all been like this for mounting. I'm sure there must be some ex-racers around who don't do it but I've never had them.

This is what we do and it works for us so maybe worth a try. Always have a handler on the ground in the early days. The ground handler does not touch the reins or bridle but stands almost in front of the horse but slightly to the side to give the horse a way out if needed. The ground handler then firmly (not gently!) pats the forehead of the horse with an open palm. I've found that our racers will lower their heads when this happens. They generally stand quite still and the rider can mount. Almost immediately the rider mounts the horse I move out of the way. The rider does not take up a contact and allows the horse to walk about (because they are usually chomping at the bit to move by this stage). We allow the horse a few minutes to chill out, only in walk. Again no contact but just checking the horse should it want to move into a faster gait. Within about 5 minutes the horse is normally calm enough to have a light contact and start working for the rider. The bopping on the forehead seems to distract them and we do this for probably the first week or so then move onto having the handler on the ground stand to the left of the horses head. If you don't rush to this point then the horse usually stands as it did when you were in front of it. If this goes well then the handler can move slightly further away every time thereafter until the rider gets to the stage where he no longer needs the ground handlers assistance.

I would never put an ex-racer in the situation of being mounted from a mounting block in the early days. Best waiting until it is totally reliable to being mounted from the ground. Make sure your rider is springy and can lightly and in one fluid movement mount the horse without any fuss or scrambling around.

The above may sound like an odd way of going about it and it is very different from how I teach standing for regular riding horses however TB racers are not the same as regular riding horses so I find they require a little lateral thinking on your part.

 

[gunnergundog]

In racing yards the horses are normally pulled out and the jocks legged up as they circle around the guvn'or. Your horse therefore won't be used to: standing still for mounting, mounting blocks or anyone putting weight into one stirrup.

You need to habitualise him to all of these, but give your daughter a leg up in the meantime in order to work him.

 

[RachelFerd]

Definitely agree with Spring Feather that lateral thinking is required when mounting with ex-racers!

I've got three at my yard - one lad is now completely fine with the mounting block and never made much of a fuss. My mare will not stand at a block, but happily stands to be mounted from the floor (although occasionally this is also too exciting, and I revert to getting a leg-up for safety's sake). The grey lad stands like a rock at the mounting block, but panics as the rider puts the foot in the stirrup - so instead I stand him at a block and then vault on from there. He is becoming better with putting my foot in the stirrup, but I generally vault on.

We've lots of racehorses at work (well, it is a racing yard...) and some are fine to mount, others require a leg up and to be on the move. Its not something that gets drummed into their early education, and therefore its a hard habit to change. They do become very institutionalised into the way things are done!

I also think it is part of the nature of the TB to come out and be ready to work.... TOO ready to work!! Many of them have such a 'busy' nature that standing at the mounting block while the rider fannies around is just not something that can be fitted onto their tight schedule!

 

[Holly Hocks]

When mine come out of racing and I put them into riding horse training they've all been like this for mounting. I'm sure there must be some ex-racers around who don't do it but I've never had them.

This is what we do and it works for us so maybe worth a try. Always have a handler on the ground in the early days. The ground handler does not touch the reins or bridle but stands almost in front of the horse but slightly to the side to give the horse a way out if needed. The ground handler then firmly (not gently!) pats the forehead of the horse with an open palm. I've found that our racers will lower their heads when this happens. They generally stand quite still and the rider can mount. Almost immediately the rider mounts the horse I move out of the way. The rider does not take up a contact and allows the horse to walk about (because they are usually chomping at the bit to move by this stage). We allow the horse a few minutes to chill out, only in walk. Again no contact but just checking the horse should it want to move into a faster gait. Within about 5 minutes the horse is normally calm enough to have a light contact and start working for the rider. The bopping on the forehead seems to distract them and we do this for probably the first week or so then move onto having the handler on the ground stand to the left of the horses head. If you don't rush to this point then the horse usually stands as it did when you were in front of it. If this goes well then the handler can move slightly further away every time thereafter until the rider gets to the stage where he no longer needs the ground handlers assistance.

I would never put an ex-racer in the situation of being mounted from a mounting block in the early days. Best waiting until it is totally reliable to being mounted from the ground. Make sure your rider is springy and can lightly and in one fluid movement mount the horse without any fuss or scrambling around.

The above may sound like an odd way of going about it and it is very different from how I teach standing for regular riding horses however TB racers are not the same as regular riding horses so I find they require a little lateral thinking on your part.

This.

Mine have all been like this. There is a knack to just almost getting on in the split second that they stand still and then let them walk off with no contact. What I have done with mine once I've got to know them is let them walk a few steps and then ask them to stand - if only for a millisecond. Then increase the amount of time that they stand still for, even if it's only for a second. Eventually you will get on, let them walk only a couple of steps and then ask for stand.
One thing I would not advise is getting someone to hold the horse still while you get on. If you stop the forwards movement, the temptation can be for the horse to go up - something you don't want to even start. If you do have anyone holding the horse when you get on, make sure they let go the instant you have your foot over the other side of the horse to let it go forwards. My mare was not good to get on, so I got a friend just to hold her for the instant that I mounted and then she is experienced enough to just let go straightaway, but I would always be wary of asking just anyone to do it as their temptation is to hold on to them!!

 

[Carefreegirl]

Re being scared of the mounting block, when you're out and about on the yard - not riding could you put a bit of food on the mounting block as a treat ? He has a little munch, walks away, no dramas. I got mine 2 weeks out of training and gave her 6 months off to unwind and this was a little trick I used. She's always been fine to mount from a mounting block, gate, wall etc -usually whatever is closest to what I've fallen off at

 

[Renvers]

firstly congrats on your new horse - there is tons of good advice here to help you. Ditto the ROR link and also the Ex Racers Club for advice on any 'ex-racer' specific issues.

Your boy sounds great and having good ground manners will help you a lot. He will have been taught a certain way of being mounted whilst in training and mounting blocks are probably new to him and he doesn't know what he is being asked to do. So, as with a youngster introduce the block and this new way of mounting gradually and with a great deal of patience.

My TB was the same, we took it slowly, always with someone on the ground and we could spend 30 mins calmly learning about standing still by the block, and then with me moving up he block and finally mounting from the block. TB's are smart and once they get the idea they will do as you ask.

Mine will now stand perfectly and only move off when asked to,so it is achievable. Good luck

 

[humblepie]

Have been lucky with new one in that straight out of training he stands at the mounting block and waits until I am sorted which is just as well as I am far too old and creaky to get on any other way. However the second week he did start moving his quarters away which is a pain when you are on your own so I moved the mounting block to stop him doing that.

Anyway as everyone has said time and lateral thinking. With mine I think he finds it straight (even though he is fine with it) that someone is alongside him higher than he is, so I spend a while walking round him whilst he stands at the mounting block, patting him, and then when I am on the mounting block again I chat to him whilst he stands so that he gets used to me being higher alongside him.

With a friend's horse which had been out of training for years and still had no manners, the feeding by the mounting block worked.

It is just endless patience and repetition.

 

[JustMe22]

Haven't read whole thread so apologies if I'm repeating stuff.

It may sound silly but try mounting from the block by just swinging the right leg over, i.e. without putting her foot in the iron first. I've found this often helps a bit. Mine used to do exactly the same and getting on was a right mission as he would not stand even vaguely still for any length of time whatsoever. Lots of practice and although he still often takes a step or two forwards when I get on, he's easy enough to mount without problems

 

[humblepie]

Re read my post and realise the bit about the friend's horse having no manners was a bit harsh! That was a horse that was out of training for years and was just rude. Yours just doesn't understand yet.

Good luck.

 

[bumblelion]

My exracer used to be the same. At first (when I was much more agile!) I used to hop on off a fence, getting him used to standing as he was never keen on a block neither! I always had to ride when there wasn't anyone else about, so had to make do with tackling it myself! I never put a foot in the stirrup, just swung my leg over, holding the reins but with no contact and let him walk on as I got my stirrups! He never got particularly stressed, just used to swing his hindquarters around and throw his head about a bit by the block, whereas off the fence he'd stand patiently until I got on! Within a few months, he'd stand at the block, however after 5 years of owning him, he still walks off as soon as my bum hits the saddle!
Perseverance and patience are the key, and not to put too much pressure on them!

 

[exracehorse]

Thank you guys for all your prompt replies. I do have photos, but as a new member, dont have a clue how to upload them! - Advice pleaes! - We have lots of experience with different ponies/horses over the years but, never had a TB let anone a x racer but, he has such a fab personality that we decided to buy him, he is a poppet, although a baby at times, only just getting over problems with turnout, another story. Shall practice all the advice given. I did speak to Rowena at the ROR (I googled the site) and she was fab but, at that point we had only just bought him and and this was before the accident that prolonged his bringing into work. Its not just an annoying habit but frankly quite dangerous, he goes from being a dope on a rope to quite anxious as soon as the saddle is put on his back and he knows he is going to be ridden so I guess, its a long process. Its difficult when there are others at the yard watching you when you have a horse literally threatening to go up when you try to hold him while your daughter gets on, i shall definately not hold his reins in future though, I thought I was doing the right thing.

 

[Lolo]

I would also ask if anything else stresses him before the saddle? Reg hates being stabled for too long (he now lives out 24/7!) and goes really uptight and threatens to rear (he never does though). He is also a mover when you mount, although he'll now stand unless he's feeling slightly on edge.

Initially, Al just had to be super agile and get on in the split second he was still and let him walk forwards and do whatever just so he could work out that being mounted wasn't a cue for stressy things to happen. He's a proper polo addict, so once he was still he got stuffed with polos and lots of praising. He gradually twigged that being mounted was no big deal, although he does have his days!