mounting problems

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margaretb

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Two things are causing me most anxiety with Poppy; putting her saddle on, and getting on her.

Bought her end of Jan, rode her once, lost confidence, rode her accompanied on Easter Sunday and since then have ridden her two or three times a week just for half an hour or so.

Fine to catch, groom, problems have started when I approach her with her saddle. Initially took off the girth as I thought that was startling her,now she moves away from me until I carefully place the saddle on her back, then she is fine, no problem. Bridle no problem.

I lead her to a step and mount from there. The first time I had help - ie someone holding the other stirrup whilst I got on - she was not happy, head in the air and rushed. After that ride I got off her and remounted and she stood quite calmly. However it has become something akin to the wild west in that as soon as I am on, she wants to be off, not what I want so I tell her to stand, then she has a little strop before we move off.

I think the problem is the person who is holding the stirrup for me on the other side - she is not used to it, and I know my son who holds the stirrup is a tad unsure and she picks up on that. I am so used to getting on a riding school pony who stood beautifully and I want Poppy to do the same.

Any advice on how to get Poppy to stand whilst I get on would be gratefully appreciated as this is now the thing that I dread. Once on we are making progress - slow but steady, and whilst she is not the confidence giving pony I had hoped for, I feel I can cope with her apart from getting on her!!

What I do want to say is that I am being firm with her cos I suspect she is a cunning madam,and knows full well she can play me up!
 
I hate to ask, but have you had her back and saddle checked, just to rule out her actions are not due to pain?
 
I too would suggest that you get her back and saddle checked my boy never use to stand still for me to mount of put the saddle on either i had his saddle re fitted and now he stands like a rock
 
We use polo bribe until they become de sensitised.Ask someone to stand in front of you and feed polo s whilst you mount then offer one at the side whilst mounted.Put your hand down and she should bend and take it from your palm .After couple of sessions ask friend to move away and offer polo if she has stood nicely. Worked on all horses apart from mine who is absolute nightmare even so she has still improved 100%.:D
 
What age is she?

My boy used to do this and it made me feel the same way you do, until I hit such a mental bock that I could barely get on at all. Got some advice off of the richard maxwell forum that definitely works - even if you need a bit of dutch courage to get you started! The recommendation is to mount 10 times a day for 10 days. That way you will both have been through the thing you like the least 100 times over in a very short space of time and it will no longer be such a big issue for either of you. Have a helper handy to offer carrot/polo to distract her once you get on to stop her walking off. If she stands then give her a pat, dismount and repeat, asking for a slightly longer stand each time. It does work. Good luck :) x
 
check saddle and back first. If all Ok there then a good trick is to lead her to block, stand there-(best if you can have one that she can circle while you stand on it for this stage) don't get stressed, dont get upset but everytime she stands you give her a nice rub behind the saddle, let her walk around you the rest of the time. Just keep doing that until she learns that standing=nice rub and a relaxed mum.I've seen this work on very stressed horses and pretty quickly they end up standing there. A horse that doesnt wait for you to mount will also not wait for you for other things, halting at junctions, transitions-you name it :) but it's generally easily fixed.
 
sounds like she is slightly cold backed! would get her saddle and back checked (they have often changed shape at this time of year). put saddle on and brush round it and do all the diddly jobs then get bridle on and walk around before you get on! would agree with the getting on off repeatedly! once all the checks have been done if you feel she is taking advantage then get really firm! good luck
 
Hello Margaretb,

Speaking as one who had a serious fall from a horse who refused to stand quietly, whilst being mounted - firstly please take care - I would hate for anybody else to suffer an accident.

It's hard to reply without knowing the animal. Just, make sure you are safe, if that means mounting block to make mounting quicker/easier, then do it, if it means someone holding on to your horse - then ask someone. Whatever makes sense for you and your horse, I hope you find a way forward with your problem.
 
I have a wintec gp saddle with adjustable gullet. I got it second hand and tbh I would like to change it so although my instructor said it was ok when I got Poppy I will look to get it checked. The vet saw her a couple of weeks ago and said she was ok. She is coming up to 9 next month. Has not had a visible season since I've had her (end of Jan), and the guy I got her from said she was not mareish, but I now thing what does he know?

I would like to think she is trying it on - yesterday when I went to catch her, for the first time ever she went in the opposite direction, so I thought stuff you and walked in the opposite direction and sat and watched her out of the corner of my eye. It wasn't long before she walked up to me and stood whilst I caught her up and led her out of the field.
 
I personally have never had much luck with the fit of wintec or similar types of saddles ! Secondly unless your instructor is a qualified saddle fitter then go and have it properly checked and fitted along with a qualified back person to check for any misalignment / sore spots/ muscle wastage etc etc etc ! If all 100% then reeducation is the key word ..
never get upset or angry. take your time - I have found it alsways best to have the mounting bloc in the middle of the yard where they can circle round but not shoot off forward. When she stands still praise her and gently mount sit slowly and very softly. stay for a minute then dismount give her more praise and a polo, redo several times and always end on a good note - put away feed , large haynet = good experiance. It is difficult without seeing the horse and not knowing her but what ever be safe - take it slow and smile on the smallest of improvements. You know your horse better than anyone - Good luck
 
Thank you all for your advice and comments. I shall take on board what you all say and adress the issues gently and calmly. I owe it to Poppy as she is a sweetie!
 
cellie said:
We use polo bribe until they become de sensitised.Ask someone to stand in front of you and feed polo s whilst you mount then offer one at the side whilst mounted.Put your hand down and she should bend and take it from your palm .After couple of sessions ask friend to move away and offer polo if she has stood nicely. Worked on all horses apart from mine who is absolute nightmare even so she has still improved 100%.:D
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I always offer an edible reward from the saddle. We have had 2 horses that were difficult to mount. In both cases we boxed them in so that they could not move off. With the first we stood her alongside a wall facing a gate The second horse (a Clydesdale) had to be walked into a box made of straw bales 2 high. The person on the ground dismantled the box as soon as the rider was in the saddle.
 
Also, it's worth taking into account what type of horse she is. My lad can come straight out of the stable quite hyper, he is only 4 and a very sharp, quick thinking horse. On cold windy days, if I'm on my own, I give him a little lunge to get rid of some of his excess energy as he is just so keen to get going that it doesn't seem fair to ask him to stand still straight off.

Today I used the advise in Horse and rider magazine of backing him up every time he took a step back or away (so it was like it was your idea he didn't stand still), then leading him back to it, giving him a rub when he stood quietly, and it seemed to work well for him. After a few times he was standing quietly and I just hopped on and off with my reins completely loose, he didn't move a muscle until I asked him to. I was very proud of him! In between each go I just did some long rein stretching work in walk.
 
I had a saddle that the saddler said fitted Tiggy. Tigs started turnign her bum on me when she saw it coming :(. Had the saddler check again, said it fitted; Tigs continued to turn bum on me. Had another saddler out, changed saddle, Tigs stopped turning her bum :D
 
margaretb said:
I have a wintec gp saddle with adjustable gullet. I got it second hand and tbh I would like to change it so although my instructor said it was ok when I got Poppy I will look to get it checked. The vet saw her a couple of weeks ago and said she was ok. She is coming up to 9 next month. Has not had a visible season since I've had her (end of Jan), and the guy I got her from said she was not mareish, but I now thing what does he know?

I would like to think she is trying it on - yesterday when I went to catch her, for the first time ever she went in the opposite direction, so I thought stuff you and walked in the opposite direction and sat and watched her out of the corner of my eye. It wasn't long before she walked up to me and stood whilst I caught her up and led her out of the field.
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I also have Wintec saddles and have had increasing problems putting the saddle on and girthing up. We went from fine, to slightly concerned as I approached with the saddle, to flat ears, tail swishing and trying (half heatedly) to bite me as I girthed up. All seemed ok with the saddle so we changed the make of numnah and that helped but he still was not happy. At this point I got the chance of an identical spare Winec, but with CAIR, it also came with a gullet one size wider and so we tried him with the new saddle and BINGO.

I have not had the nerve to try him in his old saddle with a wider gullet as my OH (who has many years experience) is of the opinion that the CAIR has also made a difference.

Fit a wider gullet and if the saddle still fits OK, give it a try.
 
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