Mounting block problem

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Gorgeous George

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Ok I hate to admit it but my George is not perfect
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!!! He won't stand at the mounting block, he will walk up to it but he will then swing his back legs away so you can't get on. If someone stands the other side of him he is fine (but there isn't always anyone there), and if you get on in the school using a blok he stands stock still?? I have tried moving the mounting block, I have let him sniff it, I even put some treats on it so he's not scared! All most peculiar, just wondered if anyone could help, or had hints/tips for when I'm on my own as he really does need to learn that it's ok.

Thanks
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Where is the mounting block in question? On the yard, as you say he will stand by a block in the school?
Is it one you tend to use more if you are going out hacking for example? (You can see where this is going, can't you? lol)
 
Do some work with him inhand. Practise getting him to work inhand with an outside bend, so you can control his quarter. If you can teach him to leg yield inhand, even better.
 
I would suspect he's not scared...he's clever! He's learnt that swinging his back legs out stops you from getting on!

I could be completely wrong here, but can you hold the reins when gettign on so you get a slight bend in his neck, so his head is bent slightly away from you, making it physically more difficult for him to move his back end away? please somebody correct me if this is a bad idea though.
 
Who's perfect LOL
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Such an annoying thing, I tried this and it worked for mine, no guarantees though!

First be in a mind set of calm, positive persistance with time to spare
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Have a schooling whip or similar to hand and as you walk up the mounting block steps just make contact with the whip on his quarters on the off side(presuming you are mounting from the nearside LOL) and maintain .If he stands say stand or wait or whatever you say! Or if he swings his quarters out will he respond to the 'move over' request? I did have to repeat it a few times and she will still sometimes try and pull a fast one but it is now a case of usually 100% success or if not defo on 2nd attempt.
Good Luck
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I am assuming he has no problems and is a crafty bugger.

I have spent months training Chancer to stand still and square when being mounted even before he was ridden, and not move on until told. Initially I did have a helper so he was never allowed to swing out.

Very occasionally he does swing out and I push him over firmly and tell with with a growl to stand up. If this does not work, I will put him in a tight circle and keep on and on until he does stand. I will never mount unless he is exactly how I want him.

He does get praised and rewarded for standing right first time and has soon caught on that first time mount = minty cube.

Think you will have to put in some time - only do this when you do have time eventually he will get so bored he will stand. If you don't have time, put up a jump, get a person or anything you can do to prevent him. If he keeps swinging out, a sharp smack on the side and firmly pushed over often does the trick with naughty horses.
 
Everyone does things differently, but for my guys when they first come and will not do something that I expect them to do......I will do it and do it and do it until they stop moving away.

I would take the horse to the mounting block, go to get on, if he moved away, I would move HIM back to the mounting block and start again. I do this every single time until they understand that they are not to move. If it progresses from this in that I can finally get on but he moves away.....then I dismount and start the WHOLE process again.

I don't believe in moving things to suit the horse, or placing these things close to a fence or a wall or any of the other things suggested; I wish to be the one to give the askings and I fully expect my horses to do as they are asked. I never pander to them - my messages are completely clear - and the horse always gets the idea in the end.

Yes it can be incredibly boring doing these things over and over again, but it works! One big thing - please do not get upset with him, don't raise your voice and each and every time you ask him to stand, quietly say the word "stand" in a positive but firm manner.
 
Yes I think in this instance crafty bugger is the right description!! I always use this block when I go out for a hack so maybe it's excitement? I have some time this evening so I will put on my patient hat and try some of your suggestions. I think that whenever I am leading him somewhere I will lead him up to it and get him to stand, even if I don't get on.
 
I really don't think dear little George has a problem with the mounting block as such, I think it is more an anticipation problem & the fact that he doesn't fully understand what the word 'stand' means! lol

I agree completely with what Tia has said (as I usually do - God, I'm so dull! lol) & would follow her advice!
You can also practise your 'stand' as a separate issue & we have been working with this on the Baggage too, as she is clearly a little unsure that it means 'now', 'today', 'until told to move off'! lol

Here is a pic of MD practising her 'stand & wait' with her cob, so don't worry about looking like a prat whilst doing it!
He was not allowed to move until told & she could eventually get pretty much all the way round him, out to the end of the lead rope at the front etc., even if poking him, prodding him, fiddling with her clothing, anything!

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Practise both away from the mounting block & beside it & don't be in too much of a rush to leap on if he does stand still, it's not a race & he must learn to wait for as long as you want him to!

Try & keep the fact you are going 'out' quiet at first, so he is not building up the excitement levels in anticipation of a hack - maybe take him into the school for a few minutes first, so he is never sure what it is he is about to do!

Good luck!
 
Would just like to add that I have a similar problem with my ex racer, but its common with them as they're used to having their riders thrown up whilst moving and not having to stand to be mounted. Mine likes to face something, be it door, gate, fence, lorry whilst being mounted from a portable block!
 
Had problems like this with my new horse. I put his right side up against a fence and placed the mounting block by his side. He thought he could back up but soon stopped that. It's worked and he stands 9 times out of 10 now. Some horses just get too excited but it's all about teaching your horse basic manners and this could be a sign that he's taking the mickey - on the other hand it could be a sign that he's telling yousomething's not right. If you're happy that he's physically fine then you need to nip it in the bud and insist that he stands. Play about over the weekend when you have time and make sure you are very positive in your praise when he does something right and ignore it when he doesn't.
 
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