Mounting and dismounting on youngsters

W

Welshie Squisher

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 October 2011
Messages
614
Visit site
Hey all,

I've 2 youngsters my daughter and I are working with.

One is a pain to mount, absolutely fine once on, he happily gets on with his work.
He's very smart, has picked everything up first time, but this has it's downsides.

When mounting on day 3 or 4 of being backed, my daughter was fannying about and not getting on with it, he got impatient and swung his rear out, well he clicked instantly she then couldn't get on and we've had it ever since.

His butt swings out or he walks an extra step forward, we circle, we do it again and again and it's frustrating. This has only been happening for a few days, we're day 8 in to training today.
I'd like to get it sorted asap, he's a good lad and I'd like to keep him this way!

It's a common problem I know, how did others resolve this issue?

Many thanks :)
 
flirtygerty said:
mount in a place where if he moves his quarters out
he meets a wall or fence, standing still just takes patience
Click to expand...

This. Hem him into a corner.

My mare does this and I know it is my fault - she is 16.3 and I have no choice but to mount from ground as I am on my own at yard and she won't stand next to mounting block. I tend to touch her with my toe when I mount and she has now started moving away. The only way I can stop it is by hemming her in the corner and trying my best to not touch her with my foot. Mounting block won't work at all unless someone is there with me (very rare) as she just walks off when I put my foot in the stirrup.
 
Set aside a whole day to retrain him. It shouldn't take more than an hour but if you allow a whole day you'll be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't take that long.

You have to be 100% consistent. If ever you get fed up and give in, you're just teaching the horse to persevere longer and longer every time.

Tack him up, lead him to mounting block. Wait there 5 seconds, polo, then walk him away for a minute or two. If he moves away before the 5 seconds is up immediately walk him in a small circle and stand him back at exactly the same spot at the mounting block for 5 seconds. Every time he moves away before the 5 seconds is up - and I mean EVERY SINGLE TIME - immediately walk him in a small circle back to the exact same spot. Expect him to get worse before he gives in, ie he may try moving away immediately or more actively or the other way or backwards etc etc etc. Same action every single time - walk him in a small circle immediately and back to exactly where you were before. Don't get cross or shout or whack him however much your patience is tested!

At some point (and it WILL be less than a whole day) he WILL wait 5 seconds. Immediately, polo, walk him away. When he's got the hang of the 5 second rule, start extending it until you reach 10 seconds, then 15, then 20 etc. You may get a temper tantrum every time you lengthen the wait but same procedure, ie walk him round in a small circle to the exact same place he's just left, no shouting, no smacking, just silence and walk him back.

Pretty soon he will be waiting until YOU tell him he can move, with no problem (coz he'll be bored out of his skull and he will have realised a) the rule never varies and b) he's the only one doing any work). At that point, mount him while he's standing quietly at the mounting block. If he stands quietly, polo from the saddle and immediately dismount and walk him away for a moment or two. Repeat a few times then end the session. If he walks off before you're on, hop silently off and immediately walk him round in the small circle and put him in exactly the same place at the mounting block. I promise you this works. You may have the odd relapse in the first few days after retraining but be 100% consistent and pretty soon it will never be a problem again. I did this on my own with a stubborn Haffie I had. It took UNDER half an hour and was never a problem again. Good luck x
 
Thanks for the ideas, we'll try both.
Think we'll also try mounting from a small portable block that we can take to him rather than using the main mounting block.

Bed time now, I'll check back tomorrow for any other suggestions :) x
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
Set aside a whole day to retrain him. It shouldn't take more than an hour but if you allow a whole day you'll be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't take that long.

You have to be 100% consistent. If ever you get fed up and give in, you're just teaching the horse to persevere longer and longer every time.

Tack him up, lead him to mounting block. Wait there 5 seconds, polo, then walk him away for a minute or two. If he moves away before the 5 seconds is up immediately walk him in a small circle and stand him back at exactly the same spot at the mounting block for 5 seconds. Every time he moves away before the 5 seconds is up - and I mean EVERY SINGLE TIME - immediately walk him in a small circle back to the exact same spot. Expect him to get worse before he gives in, ie he may try moving away immediately or more actively or the other way or backwards etc etc etc. Same action every single time - walk him in a small circle immediately and back to exactly where you were before. Don't get cross or shout or whack him however much your patience is tested!

At some point (and it WILL be less than a whole day) he WILL wait 5 seconds. Immediately, polo, walk him away. When he's got the hang of the 5 second rule, start extending it until you reach 10 seconds, then 15, then 20 etc. You may get a temper tantrum every time you lengthen the wait but same procedure, ie walk him round in a small circle to the exact same place he's just left, no shouting, no smacking, just silence and walk him back.

Pretty soon he will be waiting until YOU tell him he can move, with no problem (coz he'll be bored out of his skull and he will have realised a) the rule never varies and b) he's the only one doing any work). At that point, mount him while he's standing quietly at the mounting block. If he stands quietly, polo from the saddle and immediately dismount and walk him away for a moment or two. Repeat a few times then end the session. If he walks off before you're on, hop silently off and immediately walk him round in the small circle and put him in exactly the same place at the mounting block. I promise you this works. You may have the odd relapse in the first few days after retraining but be 100% consistent and pretty soon it will never be a problem again. I did this on my own with a stubborn Haffie I had. It took UNDER half an hour and was never a problem again. Good luck x
Click to expand...

Wow - I am going to try this tomorrow - thankyou!! :)
 
Crossed posts box_of_frogs.

Sounds good, I will try this at the weekend. I confess to getting cross with him today, it didn't help, but he was driving me mad :(
So yes something that prevents would be my ideal solution :) x
 
Excellent advise from BOF - my young Arab was doing similar, but was including tigger bouncing as soon as my ass was in the saddle ;). I spent a few sessions just working on him standing still and me getting on, just as BOF describes, and it worked a charm

Patience and calm are most definitely the keys to success IMO :)
 
I did the exact same thing with my youngster who was terrified of the mounting block. I cannot mount him without it. I also use it for dismounting. He is now so good that I park him next to the block, gather up reins and get on all unaided. He does not move until I tell him too. Same with dismounting. All it took was time and patience and I laugh at the amount of people who think its amazing that he does this...
 
Have someone at his head, stand him next to a wall/fence. Lean weight into the stirrups both sides - whilst still on the ground. Keep the weight on them if he moves - person at head will block him going forwards by just standing there. Do this on both sides until he doesn't fidget. Praise.

Then, put one foot in the stirrup, and just stand in the stirrup with the one foot. Don't get on properly. Remain standing like that until again, he stops fidgeting. Do this quite a few times, on both sides and just keep repeating till he stands. Praise.

Then once he stands for the above, when you're standing in the one stirrup, quietly swing your leg over so you're sitting on him properly. Again, stay for a few seconds, praise, and get off again once he's stood quietly. Do this both sides, until he stands. Praise. Finish off.

And just keep doing it, they figure it out quickly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top