My mare won't let me get on now.

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dreambigpony

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My four year old mare has always been a bit funny with mounting blocks as she is only young and doesn't really understand them but today she was really odd. She didn't like it when I did her girth up (she's not in season) and then she wouldn't let me get on. I tried her with two different mounting blocks and just off from the ground and she was backing away from me. When I went to pull the stirrups down she was turning away and backing up. She wasn't being nasty, just very odd. We recently changed her saddle as her other one had been fitted incorrectly and this new one she works so much better in. Is it just a youngster thing where she's avoiding work?
 
You haven't had treats in your pocket recently have you? My girl has started this so she can check my pocket on my jods for treats!

Having said that she's always been fine in the past so I genuinely know it's a treats issue - with yours, it might be something more. Have you checked saddle fit recently?
 
SadKen said:
You haven't had treats in your pocket recently have you? My girl has started this so she can check my pocket on my jods for treats!

Having said that she's always been fine in the past so I genuinely know it's a treats issue - with yours, it might be something more. Have you checked saddle fit recently?
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That's very true actually, I did have treats in my pocket and she probably saw me put them in there. Her saddle is brand new and was fitted by a master saddler a few weeks ago.
 
Assuming some type of pain response is ruled out I would suggest having someone to help you get on.

Lead your mare to the mounting block and have your helper ready to stop her moving away. The helper should be on the opposite side of your mare to you and mustn't hang on tight to the reins. Usually just by standing there with a hand on her shoulder should help. Do NOT move the mounting block to follow her, she must learn to stand by the block. In my experience, this behaviour is not unusual in youngsters - especially if they have had a sniff of a treat in your pocket.
 
I agree, it sounds like she is worried about something. How long has she been back? How often are you riding and what do you do?

I have managed to solve a massive mounting issue with my rescue pony, but you need to be 100% sure there are no physical issues before trying to work on mental ones.
 
HaffiesRock said:
I agree, it sounds like she is worried about something. How long has she been back? How often are you riding and what do you do?

I have managed to solve a massive mounting issue with my rescue pony, but you need to be 100% sure there are no physical issues before trying to work on mental ones.
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Agree. If pain is first ruled out I would be thinking about the kind of horse she is and what she can cope with. If she's been backed for a while, the mounting block should be as normal as being groomed by now. I would be thinking, in the following order:-

Saddle
Back
Ulcers
Teeth
Feet

Then:-

How much does she enjoy her work? Is she forward and happy going into the school/on a hack?
How long do you ride for
What kind of work do you do?

I would always rule out pain first, but with youngsters, it really can be a case of they just get overwhelmed with the level of work they are doing but are too well behaved to show it when ridden, so will try to avoid being ridden to start with.
 
Mine does this - she's fine if you mount from the big (3-step) block, but if you try from the smaller (2-step) block she will go backwards or swing away from you. We found she had a SI issue so it was probably a pain response caused by mounting from a lower point and therefore having to put more pressure on one side of her back. She's now being treated and the vet wants us to keep riding so we have no option but to keep mounting, but I try to do it from the bigger block whenever I can.
 
I have found this absolutely normal for almost every horse I have broken. Once they understand you are on your own at the block, they start moving away to keep their head with you. I cure it by never treating from the ground and just repeatedly getting on the block until they stop moving away, using a 'stand' voice command with big praise when they stand still. It helps if you can move the block, not the horse.

I would be worried about the girthy and backing away behaviour in your mare though, I would agree with the checks that the others have suggested.
 
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If youre sure the saddle fits she is not sore and her teeth are ok. I had the same with my 4yr old a few months back. So I would give him.a polo each time I got on. And also done some work with the mounting block at the end only lessons so he was tried and.less likely to messy about after 2 weeks I can no park him next to anything to get on
 
I always use a high mounting block and get someone to hold the other stirrup down this ensures the saddle does not move. All mine stand like a statue even if they behaved like yours to start with. Am sure the behaviour is caused by the saddle twisting into the spine as the rider mounts, which will hurt, even if it moves back as the rider settles into the saddle. Best option is to be legged up, support yourself on your arms and settle slowly into the saddle, but we are not all Olga Corbett!
 
the key to this is the phrase 'she's never been good to get on'... that says to me that she's never 'got' it... back to basics I'm afraid... she has to learn to stand by a mounting block. put the mounting block about 4 feet from a wall. then walk her between the wall and the mounting block - a lot - til she's bored of it - really bored of it. then stop just for a few seconds in the right position - lots of praise and walk on... repeat about 20 to 30 times once she's chillin about a few seconds stretch it to a few more - and then while you are walking thru walk over the mounting block (requires a little athleticism if it's as high as mine). and then stop with you stood on the mounting block - for a few seconds. once this is OK. start lifting your right leg up and down on the mounting block... then reback with her stood there - lean across etc etc etc

it sounds to me that she doesn't understand what is expected of her...
 
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