Mounting issues?

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Stormhillpilgrim

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Hi all, I am having problems with mounting my boy. I have had him 8 months and he has improved but is still a bit of a pain.
Basically when I take him to a mounting block you'd think he was going to be shot to look at him, he buries his nose in my arm and drags behind me like a kid on the way to the dentist!
I then stand him where I want him, get on the block and he swings his bum out. We can go round and round the block for ages before he gives in. I then get on and he humps his back and skips off, almost like he's going to buck (which he has before but not for ages thank god - as that hurt!).My saddler said try lunging him first as he may be cold backed but, this sometimes works and sometimes doesn't? I can't find any rhyme or reason to it as I have tacked up and got straight on before, no problems whatsoever, other times lunged 10-15 mins first got on at second attempt fine! Then lunged 10-15 mins, round and round we go - on and hump off again!
He's seen physio, chiro & vet and no back issues that can be detected. I am starting to think he's just tempremental and taking the mick but, can only push so far because of the humping and has bucked me off in the past (when I first got on him after buying him - whoop!)

Any ideas or advice as to what could be going on or what I can try that I haven't!

P.s - after the bucking incident, did lots of ground work (was limping 6 weeks)and have a fab relationship with him now, also only myself and the stable owner can ride him - he will chuck anyone else off and is 100 times better with me than anyone else!

Thanks in advance!
 
OK, mine started doing that at competitions and when out at different places. My instructor told me to simply back him up by hand then walk him forward to the block and try again - and to repeat till he understood he would be asked to go backwards if he would not stay still. It worked! wish I had been told that a long time ago.. getting on at competitions was, while not at all dangerous, blooming annoying. Only took my boy a couple of "goes" and he stopped doing it.
 
I'm sure you will get lot's of ideas on this one but when I 1st brought my boy home he was a right pain when I wanted to get on. We have a movable mounting block (looks a bit like an upturned bucket!) Every time I'd go to put my foot into the stirrup he'd step away from me. I'd have to have someone to hold him and I'd just quietly moved the block and try again, maybe doing this over and over again for 15 mins or so till he'd eventually stand still and I'd get on! I Was sure he was just taking the P*** but my instructor was convinced that if I made a big deal and bullied him I'd make the situation worse. She was right, gradually the number of times I'd have to move the block got less and eventually I didn't need anyone to hold him. After about a month of my persistence he was standing stock still while I mounted. I think I bored him into it lol! Another thing I found was that he absolutely hated the taller fixed block that we had as he seemed very unhappy about me standing over him. Might be something there that helps. Good luck. x
 
Hi. I had a similar problem when I first got Saffy, she wouldn't stand to be mounted and would try and push you/handler out of the way and was generally very bolshy. She loves having her withers scratched so my OH would hold her and scratch her withers while I got on - not using the mounting block to start with. After a few times she learnt to stand still, then we gradually reintroduced a mounting block. We eventually found out that she had a poorly fitting saddle in the past and associated the mounting block with pain. As you have only had your horse for 8 months this could possibly be the same - maybe he has previously associated people getting on with pain. Saffy is now perfectly behaved and will stand beautifully but it took a while and her back can still be sensitive - she put on a bit of weight in the summer and wasn't happy with her saddle at all. We now have a saddle with a changeable gullet so can adjust it according to her size.
 
My chap went through a phase of moving away either just before I stood him up to the block or just as I stepped on it. All physical issues were eliminated.....so I made him move around alot (almost trotting around me) every time he moved when I didn't want him to. He soon realised that it was easier just to stand still than expend unnecessary energy and is now well behaved for most of the time. If he forgets himself, I just make him move and he then remembers!

May be try that, if you feel safe doing it?
 
Thanks for all your advice guys.
I will definitely try asking him to back up etc and take as much time as needed.
Unfortunately he is too big for me to get on from the ground so I will have to continue work with the mounting block.
Thanks again. :)
 
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