Mounting Issue

[welshcobabe]

Hello

I have a 7 year old shire x only 15 hands but built like a tank he is a gem to hack out not much bothers him. I am in my 60's and not as agile as I once was so I use very nice mounting block that my other half made for me. Sometimes he will stand and there will be no issues. Other times in a very quite way he will just step away just enough so that I can not reach the iron. He is not unhappy or upset and sometimes I do believe he almost has a smirk on his face. This can go on for a good ten minutes, I keep calm I dont shout I just keeping getting up and down on the stool to lead him in to the correct place. In the end he just stands just right I get on no problem some treats and lots of praise and off we go and have a lovely ride. His tack if of the best quality and well fitted and checked as his back. To get off he stands beautifully while I jump off it is almost like a game to him he knows I wont give up so do you have any tips as to what I am doing wrong ? I have done ground work which he perfects with ease and stand like a rock I do feel he is taking the mick he even waits till I am on the top step looks at me and moves just out of the way. Am I just destined to add another 10 mins onto my ride but worst of all I can not get cross as that big sweet face is almost saying so what you going to do now mum it is his only fault the rest is a breeze. Should have also said a very solid block it can not be moved. Thanks in advance . Quick picture below of us both for reference.

 

[Ifmpw]

When he walks off, take him from the mount block and make him circle around you for a few circles,
have the mount block positioned so you have him in the best place possible i.e. facing a fence and a solid wall on the one side (probably the right)
Then represent him to the mount block make him stand square then just make him stand their, put some weight on the saddle with your hands, pull down on the stirrup leather, if he moves, take away from the block, make him circle and then represent to the block. Put weight on saddle, and in the stirrup, if he stands still, mount and loads of praise - even treat from the saddle. Do not move off, make him wait, scratch his withers, check your girth, faff, possibly treat again and then walk off.
May take a few sessions but he sounds smart so will realize standing at the mount bloke is easier than doing a tight circle.

 

[Skib]

I used to mount my lesson horse from the plastic mounting block while the RI was finishing the previous lesson.
I led the mare to the block and stood her there. If she moved as I put my foot in the stirrup, I got off the block and led her in a small circle round and back to the block and stood her there again. I repeated if necessary. Walking that short distance proved to be enough added effort that she stood at the block to avoid it.

Cross posted but it worked for me. This was a Mark Rashid solution which he later abandonned or improved because he said it put the rider to the trouble of walking a circle with the horse, whereas one could remain standing on the block and oblige the horse to circle round the block. Since the first, simple way worked fine for me and the mare I rode, I contnued to mount that way for as long as I rode at that particular yard.

Even now, more than 20 years later, if the share horse wont stand at the block for me, I get off the block and lead her in a circle round and back to the mounting block.

 

[Ceriann]

Mounting etiquette is a big issue for me as had a really bad fall mounting from a boulder out hacking. I simply treat mine after every mount - one mint. If I need to re enforce the ask, I will devote a few sessions to just getting on, feeding a mint and sitting there until horse is bored (rests a leg). I’ve done the represent but in my head positive reward for good behaviour is the best way to get buy in rather than give in.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I agree , treats are the nest way for positive reinforcement . Practice is the key. Do it several times before even getting on properly then eventually he will just wait , they learn quickly that if they dont stand still , no treat

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

You could teach him to step toward you from the ground with a dressage whip by putting it over his back and tapping on the offside until he steps, then once you are on the block you can use this to get him to step back toward you. It was the beginnings of how I taught Dex to line himself up at the block. You may need to start on that offside and teach the queue by getting him to step away from you, then translate to moving toward you if he finds it hard.

ETA: not to worry you but the first signs of my horses navicular was stepping away from the mounting block, happy as ever to ride, no visible lameness for a while... so if there is any niggling doubt at all, best to get a lameness workup

 

[pistolpete]

I spent a very productive afternoon in my ponies field teaching him the only way he’d get the treats in my pocket was by standing next to a mounting block. Hungry highland would come running to the block after that day! They are so smart. If there’s genuinely no reason he doesn’t want to be ridden this should work. I am concerned though if the behaviour is new or if it escalates.

 

[paddy555]

Hello

I do believe he almost has a smirk on his face.

one of mine did this when he first came with both OH and me.
I knew his previous owner would never had allowed it and he didn't have navicular or anything so he was trying it on. I just looked at his face and could see the smirk. To him it was the best few minutes of fun in the whole ride. We had it lots of times when I had to get off for gates and back on.
Never gave him treats just ignored it and carried on and he became like a rock. Obviously the fun got very boring when I didn't rise to the occasion.

he is a very beautiful horse.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I've taught 3 ex racers to stand stick still using this method. Can be done initially tacked up or not. Walk to mounting bloke as usual. Ask him to stand, lean over amd offer a treat on the off side. Just keep repeating. I had one extacer that used to take me up wards of 30 mins to get on. I took him in the school, in just a head collar, and practised this until he stood stock still. I never had an issue getting on after that. They all just stand and wait for their treat!

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Lots of good ideas above. 10 mins isn’t really that long. I’d actually time how long mounting takes. Don’t rush things. Once you see it actually improving you’ll feel very positive and practice harder. Good luck.

 

[Gloi]

I do the same. Treat when mounted. They soon stand on a loose rein waiting.

 

[Kaylum]

Try from the offside was well. We do everything from the nearside and it makes horses very one sided. When I was teaching we mounted, dismounted and lead from both sides. It also helps your muscle memory as well.

 

[welshcobabe]

Many thanks for all your great ideas I shall just keep going he is worth it at the end of the day if that is his only vice, as we hacked back yesterday he had three deer running in the woods at the side of us and he looked after me a treat you can not have it all.

 

[cauda equina]

I do the same. Treat when mounted. They soon stand on a loose rein waiting.

Mine are the same - giving the treat is like letting the handbrake off