Pony Won't Stand Still!

J

JAK

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OK, so BB is pretty good in a headcollar & since the change of bit, it is now possible to actually come to a complete standstill from a walk but if you need to get off & then remount, she is a complete c*wbag!

Marches about, twirls on the spot, slams into you, everything! Previous loaner apparently never asked her to stand still ever, just hauled herself back into the saddle from any pace & ignored the behaviour but MD finds it REALLY irritating!

Any good tips, bearing in mind pony is the sort to simply run you down if you start getting at all heavy-handed with her!
She is very bright though & picks things up very easily usually!
(Anything remotely to do with lungeing etc. is out of the question, as she is downright dangerous on the lunge!)
 
I'd be intrested in finding the answer to this problem as well since I have two horses and they are both a nightmare to mount. With one I think is just sheer bloody mindedness beause he is very dominant and likes his own way and with the other it seems to be tension caused, presumably, by someone in his past getting aboard roughly.

Getting someone to hold them both works up to a point (although new one still swings his bum away from the rider) but I don't feel that they are learning to stand by themselves if they are always held. Standing in a corner has never worked for the first horse either since he just moves backwards instead.
 
That IS the only way to get on, so just persevere with that do you reckon? Progress is VERY slow, maybe she's not as bright as I thought?

Should add, she enjoys being ridden once MD is on but (I know this sounds bizarre!), it's almost as if she is 'conditioned' to act like a prat whilst you're attempting to GET on?
 
I know what you mean Clementine, there is indeed a degree of walking backwards etc. even with her in the corner! It's absolutely infuriating!

MD has got several neddies to stand by the mounting block when they wouldn't before but this little mare is another story! lol
 
I sure will - I'm tempted to go for the direct approach & just poke her repeatedly in the chest with the end of a riding crop until she learns what 'Stand, stand, ****ing stand!' means but that's not very PC or NH is it?
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I think a 'word' could be a good idea though........? Have to think of a reward she'd actually WANT though, or it'd be a bit meaningless maybe?
 
I know what you mean. I have to confess that I did have success with first horse of mine using let's say, non NH methods - although nothing too severe 'cos that's just not my way. Trouble is, he's now been on box rest for two weeks and has gone back to his "old self", perhaps understandably. Today my OH lunged him for the vet and, hoorah, he is sound but he was an absolute devil on the lunge and reared up with his forelegs flying at OH's head several times. It was a bit scary tbh and I was glad that OH elected to wear a hat today.

Have you tried clicker training? I know that some people have had succes with it for mounting problems and I think I am going to try it with horse number two as he seems a lot more straightforward, if you know what I mean.
 
Not sure I could bring myself to clicker train her - I have heard so many of the wretched things going off over the years in various dog clubs, I feel the very sound of one now may send me into a temporary frenzy of hysteria, possibly the wrong mindset for training something in a calm & positive manner!
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Could well be the most obvious solution though, as they are very good in their place & one of the most effective ways of installing a conditioned behaviour!
I just find them REALLY annoying, I can't help it!
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JAK throws herself on floor, hands over her ears, sobbing loudly! Wicked Clementine!

OK, not quite that bad, just grew to hate the sound of them after a while! You'd go to club some nights & all you could hear was 'click......click......click' every 3 seconds!

30 minutes of this & you begin to think that a clicker would make a highly effective modern day replacement for Chinese water torture!
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we had one the same and we trained him with a combination of mints when he stood still we would ask him to stand and he would get a mint and so on if he didnt he had to trot or canter round arena then asked again and guven mint even if he did it for just a few seconds but only while still if he wouldnt off he went agin i hope you get the idea he soon learnt what was expected of him good luck
 
Yep, will stock up on mints then, as a special 'training treat'! lol

Took MD about 5 minutes to get on yesterday, as the pony flung herself every which way! She didn't seem to be preventing MD from getting on as such, more like her brains had just dropped out & she went straight into 'And we're off!' mode!
 
ive been interested in this thread as similar problem so im definitely taking some of this advice, tried in the corner trick but to now avail. i have found that the less people around the better but if he decides to walk off, its keeness with him nothing else, then ive no chance really as he is so strong but the strange thing is when we come back i can untack him stood stock still and not tethered, madness.
 
Well, we will be starting a re-training programme tomorrow, so will let you know how we get on, what works & what doesn't!

It's got to be sorted, as MD wants to go out alone now & if she ever had to get off for some reason, she could be in real trouble & I don't consider vaulting on to a trotting pony particularly safe out on the roads!
 
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