Please give your advice/opinion anything :)

You Wont Forget Me

You Wont Forget Me

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 April 2011
Messages
762
Location
Sunny Scotland
Visit site
:confused: I have a 4 year old warmblood X thoroughbred horse he's currently 16.2hh (expected to grow a bit more, hopefully) Anyway, he's coming along really well with his schooling and jumping but there's a problem, i can never get him to stand while i get on him, i have tried everything so any help and advice would be great :D
 
I had this problem with my munchkin.

He used to figet all the time. I got told to have someone else stood in front, and feed him, pet him, entertain him, switching around a few times, and then now he's fine!

So, literally everytime i got on, someone would give him a treat. Then after a while, every 3 times he would get a treat. Then we fizzled that out, so he would get a pat as i got on. And now, after only a few months, we dont need anything [=

Another method that also works is putting pressure on the poll. That makes them lower their head, and relax as you get on. I can understand as your lad is bigger, you might struggle with this method ;)

bexcy-bee x
 
Yep ditto about the treats and having someone make a fuss, have used this method on some that were very bad and they ended up standing still :)

I would also say may sure that girth is tight and stirupps down so that you can get on as quickly and calmly as possible, I see alot of people nagging and naggiing getting them to stand still for ages etc but the horse gets bored, and often becomes worse. Once he is standing still to let u get then gradually increase the time he has to stand still! Is also worth getting on and off a few times, like during the session, at end so that he not getting excited about work!

How are you gettin on? Ie leg up, mounting block or off floor? I would suggest mounting block if not used allready or if leg up and if you can just get person to leg you straight up so no counting as then horse isn't anticapating I always get legged up like this now ( used to have find a bloke at shows to do, so mum could give horsie treats as they always went quicker!) I'll quite often get on let them walk abit then make them stand still each time less walk!

Sorry this eneded up rather long, (can u tell i've had horses that have been bad to get on?) have you also had everything checked, back saddle etc? Oo and also try to land as lightly as possible in saddle and not pull in mouth or make work into a contact straight away!
 
agree with the above about treats.

my pony would do this when i was backing him so i got him into the habit of turning his head round to my foot once i was on him, when he did that he got a carrot or polo. it's the only time he gets treats. now as soon as he feels someone on his back he turns round for a treat, also if he gets nervous he stops and looks round for the comfort.
 
As above!

- don't make big deal about ages of standing (if necessary get on at whatever moment horse is close enough to block and circle straight back to it)
- treats (I did this alone so did the stretch around to foot thing, on each side for even bending)
- getting on/off (enough so it seems 'normal', not so much horse gets frustrated, listen to the mood on the day)

You should be fine :-)

(NB makes sure saddle fits well and whatever riding you do is fun and easy for horse for a bit to ensure this habit isn't due to pain/nerves)
 
Thanks everyone this helps a lot, tried the treat thing but that seemed to make him worse as whenever you took him to the mounting block he spun round to see what you had, he's some character, will try everything else tho and think i will consider having his back checked also, thanks again for the advice, much appreciated :D
 
I had this problem with a mare I had and in the end a couple of times a week i'd tack her up walk to the mounting block, get on, walk away from it then get off, then back to the block, get on, walk away get off. so it became very boring and made her realise that it wasn't exciting
after about a month she was fine
 
Am having a similar problem with my new horse.

He just won't stand still for me to get on. I'm pretty sure that it's because he associates mounting with pain due to ill-fitting saddle combined with much heavier rider in the past (his previous owners actually said that was probably the problem). It's easier if someone will hold him but usually I'm on my own.

He doesn't so much fidget as walk away from the block, he'll go backwards or sideways, including towards me over the mounting block. Once I'm on he's totally fine and doesn't move an inch (in a relaxed way - not a tense way).

He's had a new saddle fitted and I have noticed that the wither twitching he was doing a lot of when he came has gone so I think he's better in his back but obviously still associates mounting with discomfort.

It can take me up to ten minutes to get on him in the school. I usually take advantage of him being momentarily distracted by something to get on and leave the reins slack as gathering up the reins is too clear a cue that I'm about to get on.

I will try the treat when on trick as that may help though he's never really been given treats and I don't want to develop bad habits (he's just turned 6).

Don't mean to hijack post but my problem is so similar it's not worth starting another thread about it!
 
That's exactly why they are treated when I get on, if they don't stand or they fidget, no treat otherwise I found they turned around like you say
 
You Wont Forget Me said:
AshTay that is exactly what my horse does lol, i dont know if its just a young thing as he's only 4 hopefully he'll grow out of it but think i will try the treat when on thing too :)
Click to expand...

Might be worth asking someone to have a look at your mounting technique to make sure you're not inadvertently pulling him about in some way (i.e. spending too long "hanging" on one stirrup or landing too quickly/heavily/off-balance). I try not to land in the saddle straight away (treating him asthough he was cold-backed though I don't think he is as he's fine as soon as I'm on).

When I use the mounting block outside the yard before a hack I'm able to just swing my leg over without putting weight in the nearside stirrup. He does seem to be happier with this (even though I know it's probably very bad practise) which again suggests to me that it's a discomfort associated with the saddle being pulled to the side during mounting.
 
Don't overcomplicate it, he's only young, and he probably just hasn't figured it out yet.

Obviously get the necessary checks done just to rule out any probs, but at that age, I doubt it is to do with ill fitting tack/back problems.

Im really against using tit-bits, as it just encourages nibbling and biting and not doing anything without having food! Especially in babies.

If you can, get someone on the ground, to hold him and re-inforce your aids. You need to be clear in what you want from him. When he goes to move away, say 'stand', firmly but calmly, and get your person on the ground to hold him and make him go back to the position he was in to start with. either backing him up, or circling him round. Eventually he will get the message!
The person on the ground needs to stay quiet, as if there are too many people talking it tends to confuse them. Don't nag either, say it once and mean it.

Also, to avoid spinning away, try and get him near a fence, so he can't swing out away from you, if he does this.
Once you are on, walk away calmly for a few strides, dismount and try again.

Eventually he should get the point, and he will know that 'stand' means keep still :)

Good luck, I'm working with a horse that has had a past trauma when mounting (think he was hit or kicked hard), he's coming on well!
 
I had this problem with Billy! I never tried the treat method as Billy dosent eat treats! :p

My problem was he turned his back end out when I was trying get on, so the solution was simple ;)

I made a barrier about 1m in from the wall of arena (which we use to get on) which was 2 blocks and a pole to block him from turning. (basically it looked like = )
I got on and repeated till he was bored! Then I moved on got on from various places around the arena, alternating sides getting on and then I got on using anything I could outside of the arena in the yard!

2 sessions of that (about 1hr each) and he is pretty good at standing still, still perfecting :)

Oh, and make sure both feet are in the stirrups before sitting in the saddle :)
 
Do you lunge him? My mare learnt the command stand from that and she's always been an angel to get on. Maybe do some ground work to reinforce what you are asking of him then hopefully you can transfer it to ridden work.

Personally I wouldn't use treats as it makes them expect something everytime. I'm afraid I never give treats, voice treats (good girl\boy) work so much much better along with a scratch or pat :-)
 
My welsh used to do this, and I have to say the treat method worked, well a treat!

I only use treats at specific times, and yes he does expect something when I get on, or when I take his bridle off, but as they are the only times he gets them, he doesn't hassle me for them other times.

I also used a very calm 'stand' command. And face the head rather than the tail when getting on from a block, so I don't poke my toe in his side (he is very responsive and this would make him move)

This means that whatever happens, wherever I am, I can get on safely. Even if he is being a tit out hacking and I get off to walk him past something, as soon as I get the reins in my hand to get back on, he is like a statue!

Yours is only young so I would give it time, and really try not to get annoyed withhim - only makes it worse!
 
I would suggest having a helper give him the treat sorry not sure if you have a helper or are giving him the treat yourself, and this is why he is spinning around? And yes I know that giving them treats could encourage nibbling etc but I personally think they should learn that a treat is only given when you want and is not allowed to lead to nibbling, after a while he shouldn't need the treat all the time anyway! I used to have one that cantered off when you got on was v talented but also nervous from doing too much straight away and anticiapating a telling off grrrr, the best way with him was def a treat given my mum, who also held him with a short lead rope whilst someone gave me a swift leg up, the treat distracted long enough and with time we had longer and longer to get on, to the point he was normally fine all by myself alltho occansionally still got worried but would only walk off a bit. The short lead rope was so that my mum could keep hold incase I didn't get on the saddle but so that he also didn't feel restricted, I only held the reins by the buckle until he settled down, and then my mum would take off the lead rope (was short enough it couldn't get caught by his legs)

and another good tip is about facing his head when getting on, thinking about how I get on I basically do this, perhaps at a slight angle, never really thought about it much before.
 
I used Michael Peace's method which works with my cheeky clever boy, because treats make him mouthy.
First I make sure stirrups and girth are sorted as he doesn't like to wait.
If he moves away from the mounting block when I go to get on I give him hassle, walking him quickly in small circles. I growl, and tell him he is naughty.
Then I try again. Repeat growling, walking in circles if he moves away.
If he stands still and lets me mount he gets a big fuss, loads of praise and rubs on his neck. Then we get on with our riding.

He soon learned! If he does move from time to time I only need to circle him once and he gets the message. It certainly works!!!!
 
noblesteed said:
I used Michael Peace's method which works with my cheeky clever boy, because treats make him mouthy.
First I make sure stirrups and girth are sorted as he doesn't like to wait.
If he moves away from the mounting block when I go to get on I give him hassle, walking him quickly in small circles. I growl, and tell him he is naughty.
Then I try again. Repeat growling, walking in circles if he moves away.
If he stands still and lets me mount he gets a big fuss, loads of praise and rubs on his neck. Then we get on with our riding.

He soon learned! If he does move from time to time I only need to circle him once and he gets the message. It certainly works!!!!
Click to expand...

I didn't know it was Michael Peace's method but I do the same thing with the circling. I believe it makes them dizzy and they HAVE to stand still. Anyway, 100% cure so far!
 
I had same problem with my youngster, it became a habit to swing bum away, I had someone stand on the off side for months, and I found it better to walk off straight away. I always swing in to the saddle , no foot in stirrups, he got out of it eventually. It is not a good idea to make a fuss, I don't like treats, can't see the point.
 
noblesteed said:
I used Michael Peace's method which works with my cheeky clever boy, because treats make him mouthy.
First I make sure stirrups and girth are sorted as he doesn't like to wait.
If he moves away from the mounting block when I go to get on I give him hassle, walking him quickly in small circles. I growl, and tell him he is naughty.
Then I try again. Repeat growling, walking in circles if he moves away.
If he stands still and lets me mount he gets a big fuss, loads of praise and rubs on his neck. Then we get on with our riding.

He soon learned! If he does move from time to time I only need to circle him once and he gets the message. It certainly works!!!!
Click to expand...

^^^^
My horse was a nightmare- he had had a badly fitted saddle and associated mounting with pain. It took me 2hours the first time I rode him to get on board:eek:

Over time we got it down to 10mins of half-hearted faffing....yesterday I got on first time, no probs. Caught him, tacked up and mounted within 15mins. Hurrah! ( I've had him 7 months- he's 5 but very green and babyish)

I line him up next to the fence and swing my leg straight over his back, I don't use the stirrup at all. Plenty of praise, reassurance and yes- treats.:D
 
My little TB used to do this.
So I had one person stood infront of her and one stood by her hindquater so she couldn't walk backwards or swing her bum out. But they never held her as I found someone actually holding her stressed her out. Once I was one I would make her stand for a few seconds then walk away so she learnt eventually to stand still whenI got on and to stay stood until I said we would walk on. Hope this helps :)
 
Thanks for the advice everyone, the past 2 days i have tied a knot in my reins (so he doesnt feel me picking up the contact as thats when he always moved) and held my whip on his far side to stop him swinging his bum around and it has worked great, been able to get on first time so hopefully he'll keep it up and get better :)
 
We bought a 6 yr old Clydie mare who was horrendous to get onto. We used to walk her into a 'box' made of straw bales (2 high). Helper stood outside the box with treats and I put a portable mounting block outside the box, walked up it, onto the top bale, put foot into stirrup and on, being careful not to poke her with my toe and to land very lightly. This worked beautifully, so much so that when I broke my ankle 3 years after we got her she stood in the open field for my first ride after the pot came off, with her legs bent in all directions to make herself as small as possible (she was 17hh), so that I could get on as easily as possible. We always give every horse a treat after mounting, before we move away from the block.
Our horses are NOT nippy because they know that if they were, they would get nothing (at least I presume they know that, I've never had to tell them).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top