Mounting problem

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sjward

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I’ve had my mare 7mths when I got her she would not be mounted at all, rearing up and spinning every time I tried to mount.(gypsy cob who’s been badly treated)
I’ve had a trainer out twice & things have greatly improved. She will now walk to mounting block, bring her haunches round and stand still. However, the second I raise my foot near the stirrup she swings her haunches out. I’ve moved on to putting my foot in stirrup but as soon as any weight added she’s off. I did once just leap on and she bronked round the school. On the odd occasion that she has, after about an hour, finally stood still & ive got on with her, standing still, she is perfect to ride. The trainer who helped me can’t come back to me for a few weeks so any advise from anyone here would be gratefully received.
 
Move the mounting block so she only has a narrow space between it and a fence to stop her moving her quarters away. When on give her a titbit from the saddle if she stood quietly. Dont let her move off till you ask. Worked for mine.
 
Get someone to hold her. Mount, treat, dismount, repeat. When she is good with that repeat with the holder just standing with her on a loose lead rein. Then without the lead rein. Then without the person. Provided there is not pain causing the problems she'll soon get the idea. I always have a little something when I get on and they soon stand like a rock waiting for it. I'm not as agile as I was so I can't be doing with fidgetty horses.
 
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Thanks. This is what we’re doing at moment but was trying for an hour and half today (3 x 30min sessions) and still didn’t manage to get on today.
 
sjward said:
Thanks. This is what we’re doing at moment but was trying for an hour and half today (3 x 30min sessions) and still didn’t manage to get on today.
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If you aren't getting on start with just leaning over her and treating when she allows that and build up from there.
 
Doing that she stands perfect while I lean over her. So frustrating. The split second a foot goes for the stirrup off she goes. Because of the bronking incident I don’t feel comfortable getting on without foot in stirrup I’m 55yrs and don’t bounce anymore I’d definitely come off if she did again and I had no stirrups.
 
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I had Mark Rashid help me sort a similar problem at a clinic. Lead horse to mounting block and praise/wither scratch. Line up foot and stirrup and the INSTANT she swings her bum away, or steps forward etc., jump off block and back her up half a dozen steps. Repeat - with mine,after about the fourth rep I felt him start to move, then rethink it and stand like a rock. He stands well still years later, it's his job
 
Try getting on off something high- so you are going down rather than jumping up, and if its high enough you can just slide your leg over the saddle rather than put a foot in the stirrup
 
JillA said:
I had Mark Rashid help me sort a similar problem at a clinic. Lead horse to mounting block and praise/wither scratch. Line up foot and stirrup and the INSTANT she swings her bum away, or steps forward etc., jump off block and back her up half a dozen steps. Repeat - with mine,after about the fourth rep I felt him start to move, then rethink it and stand like a rock. He stands well still years
later, it's his job
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I’ll give this a try, thanks.
 
I had one who was worried about being mounted, though not to the same extent as yours. He swung sideways as soon as I got onto the block. I used a bucket as a mounting block and just got off it and moved it to him each time he stepped sideways. It took about an hour the first time I did it before he stood still, and when I got on I just patted and immediately got off again. We had a few more sessions of the same but shorter each time. He's great about being mounted now.
 
stormox said:
Try getting on off something high- so you are going down rather than jumping up, and if its high enough you can just slide your leg over the saddle rather than put a foot in the stirrup
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Been trying this, second foot moves she’s off. Really is a nightmare.
 
If she is happy with you lying across her with all your weight on her back can you not then just put your right leg over and sit up, I appreciate it may be less easy than it might for someone in their teens but with practice it may be worth trying, you can then have a good contact on the reins and sit up quietly.
I have started and schooled a few tricky ones over the years and it really is a two person job if they are genuinely nervous as every bad experience or even the time they are evading you can be a set back, a few successfully sessions should get her established but at this stage you are almost compounding the issue by failing because you are alone and lack confidence, I don't blame you for the lack of confidence as a few of the worst falls I have had came just after mounting and without any real warning, so do stay safe and get help.
 
be positive said:
If she is happy with you lying across her with all your weight on her back can you not then just put your right leg over and sit up, I appreciate it may be less easy than it might for someone in their teens but with practice it may be worth trying, you can then have a good contact on the reins and sit up quietly.
I have started and schooled a few tricky ones over the years and it really is a two person job if they are genuinely nervous as every bad experience or even the time they are evading you can be a set back, a few successfully sessions should get her established but at this stage you are almost compounding the issue by failing because you are alone and lack confidence, I don't blame you for the lack of confidence as a few of the worst falls I have had came just after mounting and without any real warning, so do stay safe and get help.
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Thanks you are right my concern of the bronk is stopping me just leaning on her and throwing my leg over (physically I’m fit, flexible and in good nick!). This is what I did on the occasion when she bronked it just so happened that I managed to get my feet in stirrrups quick so didn’t come off. I have a very old hip/pelvis injury which means I’m quite unstable without stirrups and throw some bucks in and disaster. My trainer will be back soon enough so I’m sure he will help but I am very much appreciating yours & others suggestions. I am trying both on my own & with assistance but I think my calm, patient, take my time, reassuring manner needs to be more assertive and whilst I’m not frightened of her or her behaviour I physically can’t do what I would of 15years ago which would of been jump on, be strong and assertive when she bucked told her by my riding that her behaviour was unacceptable and got on with it. I highly recommend NOT getting older, anyone got a time machine??? ��
 
what has worked with my 2 fidgets is a variation on the backing up in that every time they moved i circle them several times quite briskly and tightly round the block, so fidgeting=hard work and standing still=total chill.

then toe in stirrup and go half way over, back on to block, praise, walk a big slow circle come round again and repeat.

only when you can do that first time eyes shut on a long rein do you progress to actually going all the way over. make sure you do half way house on both sides too (takes some coordination lol!!!)
 
Hallo2012 said:
what has worked with my 2 fidgets is a variation on the backing up in that every time they moved i circle them several times quite briskly and tightly round the block, so fidgeting=hard work and standing still=total chill.

then toe in stirrup and go half way over, back on to block, praise, walk a big slow circle come round again and repeat.

only when you can do that first time eyes shut on a long rein do you progress to actually going all the way over. make sure you do half way house on both sides too (takes some coordination lol!!!)
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Sounds like a good plan, I'll try this. Thank you
 
I tie mine up if they're being difficult to mount, put a headcollar on over the bridle, get on and off about 20 times without moving off. Then I run a rope through the tie ring and back to my hand and just slip it when I want to move off. Works well if you don't have a second person there to help.
 
Hallo2012 said:
what has worked with my 2 fidgets is a variation on the backing up in that every time they moved i circle them several times quite briskly and tightly round the block, so fidgeting=hard work and standing still=total chill.

then toe in stirrup and go half way over, back on to block, praise, walk a big slow circle come round again and repeat.

only when you can do that first time eyes shut on a long rein do you progress to actually going all the way over. make sure you do half way house on both sides too (takes some coordination lol!!!)
Click to expand...

yes I do something along these lines with the fidgeters.

I don't like pinning them in between things or getting people to hold them down because you're not actually dealing with the problem, you are just making it harder for the horse to react the way it wants to. Once you're on you still have the same problem to deal with tomorrow and if the horse has a bit of a flight reaction, you could be making it worse.

I'd set aside loads of time for this, don't bother trying to get on unless you have enough time to work it through until the horse is standing quietly. And then you have to have more patience than the horse has desire to fidget about. Don't let yourself get emotional or frustrated. I've had a few that were tricky to get on and with practice and routine they've all come round.
 
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