Mounting block help

W

Windy day

Member
Joined
26 January 2025
Messages
17
Visit site
Had new boy 4 months and he is a saint apart from mounting
Walks to block stands,then moves half step back, turns into you etc just enough so you can't.get on
Have tried, treats, bowl of feed, pole on ground behind him
Stands OK if someone is stood at head they don't even need to hold him
Once on he stands still to check girth etc
Any surgestions to help with the standing still at block
 
repetition is key, also is he anticipating pain, not being horrid here, but be carful you don't yank, shout, or bang down in the saddle, or is his saddle slipping and pinching? if all of that is clear then i would firstly stop putting any pressure time wise to mount and and simply go right back to basics and repeat the process until he gets it. , for me it would be lead to block ask to stand, give treat, move away, then back to the block ask to stand, climb the block, give a treat, walk away, present to block, lean over saddle and treat, move away from block, represent, put weight on the saddle, if he moves no treat represent, if he stands give treat. mount, then give a treat.
repeat as is necessary,
 
I went to man Mark Rashid clinics over the years and he showed two different ways of mounting, that is of teaching a horse to standstill at the block.
In my second year of riding, I used to arrive at the outdoor schhol while the previous lesson (over running) was still in progress and I was left plenty of time to mount at the mounting block by the gate. The school was a considerable way from the yard and I jad already led the mare out of the yard drive, along a stretch of road and turned right up a long drive to the school. This period of leading is relevant. At my first lesson I was shown how to lead and control the mare from the ground using a long schooling whip and the bridle and was then left to do it alone.
In much of riding, one learns things by doing them.
At that point in his career, Rashid taught that making a horse work (expend energy) was something the horse prefered to avoid.I led the horse to the block, put my foot on the step, but if the mare moved, I got off the block, led her round in a smallish circle and back to the block and tried again.
At my early lessons, this took several tries. But she soon learned and from then on I had no problem mounting. And being able to mount her with no one holding her, turned out to be useful later on when I hacked her solo and needed to dismount to avoid Police car activity.

Rashid later in life demonstrated mounting where one remained on the block and circled the horse round the block. I have always ridden at yards where the block is close to a fence or wall, making this impossible. I have always used his first method successfully and it is what I still do. It suits me better to take a quiet, competent, non confrontational approach than to antagonise the horse I am about to ride.
 
I have always used giving a treat as a way to ask for stand when mounting. The treat must be given on the off side though so the horse, if it's going to try and turn for the treat, turns into the mounting block, not away from it. It has worked on w nightmare tb's out of racing.
 
As above..patience and repetition..I taught my mare to move her bum back to being parallel to mounting block by tapping the offside hip with my whip and saying over. She also stands still after I’m on and I do treat her once girth done. Daughters mare sometimes walks on or swings around and daughter stays on the mounting block and uses the reins to reposition her, mare is inconsistent in the waiting period once mounted but it’s a work in progress lol.
 
What is he like standing still away from the mounting block?

That's a good place to start imo - in some neutral place, say 'Stand' (or some other command) walk a step away, if he stays immobile return to him and give a reward (I have used clicker training for this)
Gradually increase the distance you move from him and the time you leave him until he can reliably 'park'
Once this is established away from the mounting block it should be easier to get at the mounting block too
 
Assuming you have checked everything that could be pain related - eg saddle fit, girth fit, how you are mounting, back pain etc then do an Internet search for "Richard Maxwell mounting block". I have used this method successfully on a few horses and it is the one method that has consistently worked with them all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top