monunting issues

[L&M]

I recently got my new horse home and he has been a star so far and has settled in really well. The only issue I am having is that when I mount he stands like a rock, but when I go to put my feet in the stirrups he tenses and shoots forward. This in turn throws me slightly off balance and makes him more tense and takes few walk strides to settle him down again.

When I tried him I did lose a stirrup in trot and he did rush forward then too, but as soon as I got it back he settled again. He is nicely schooled and very responsive to the leg so wonder if we are just having some communication issues....

Any suggestions - it is something I need to tackle as there are lot of gates on our hacking routes, and I need to know that I can get back on and regain my stirrups without panicking him!

Thanks

 

[Bug2007]

I think maybe there has been some kind of accident maybe, involving his stirrups being caught after mounting or someone digging in spurs etc....
Try to do some ground work moving the stirrups around pulling them a little away from him and letting them drop on his side. desensitise him to them a little.
Once you are on see what he does if someone puts your foot in the stuirrup for you etc..... just lots of work.

Last thing you want is to be put off balance when he spooks for example and then lose a stirrup then fall off as a result of him freaking at that rather than the start issue.

You'll get there, just lots of patience, try to get out of him what the problem is, if you listen he'll tell you.