STANDING STILL FOR MOUNTING

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Bert&Maud

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My new horse arrived two weeks ago and so far he's been brilliant, apart from being a bit tricky to get on! He's 5 1/2 and seems to have been given a good start by his previous owners - he was only broken at 4. I can no longer mount easily from the ground, so use low wall or bank by the yard, and an old beer crate on the school. So I lead him to the crate/wall or whatever, and stand him by it, but as I go to put my foot in the stirrup he swings his bum away so I can't reach, or walks backwards! Anyone got any useful tips to nip this in the bud? It's years since I had a young horse and I'd forgotten how many tricks they have in their tool box!
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Dont worry - my youngster was driving me crazy with this, and she's grown out of it with persistence and patience - as Shilasdair says just keep leading him back to where he should be. I wouldnt do the polo bit tho, just praise.

I worried I caused it with mine by teaching her turn on the forehand! (as I get on, there is pressure on her side and I think she was trying to be a good girl and do her party piece!) never mind!

It is very frustrating but it is def solvable, just not quickly, but it will come right :-))) And once it does, its v nice...
 
Get someone to hold him so he stands whilst you mount then give him the polo from where you're sitting. Get off and do it again. Only give him the polo when he stands still.
 
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Keep walking him back to the original spot...and when he does stand still, get on as lightly as possible...and lean gently forward and give him a polo...

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Ditto. However long it takes, keep taking him back to the original spot until he stands.
 
my youngster does this sometimes too- and yes I just keep walking her back round to the correct spot as many times as necessary. I just have to keep being patient- but it is improving!
 
Merlin was the same when i got him.... and would shoot off as soon as you did get on.... Nice!!!

Practice and patience is what is needed. Get someone to hold him for a few turns, and keep praising him all the time he stands still....

Getting off was a bit of a lottery but now (after 3.5 years) he is sooo good. He will stand while you fiddle, no longer walks off and when you want to dismount he sidles up to the mounting block and gets into just the right position for you to drop off onto it
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No more stingy feet!!!
 
Mine will go sideways, backwards, or forwards when trying to mount from the ground. He finds it tremendously amusing...
 
Thanks for all the suggestions - quiet perseverance is obviously the way forward - easier said than done sometimes, especially when it's pouring and blowing a gale. Polos not an option, this is the only horse in 40 years that doesn't like them! Pity as I managed to acquire a box full just before I got him!
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Polos not an option, this is the only horse in 40 years that doesn't like them!

[/ QUOTE ]I'm sure another small food treat that he does like will do just as well!
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I've used the polo method before and find it very effective!
 
I agree with the others and vote for the polo trick.Often its worth just putting a riding day aside and just practise this for half an hour. Then its done and you just need to reinforce the behaviour and don't let it slip. Do make sure that it isn't an uncomfy saddle/sore back first though thats making him step away

My horse hurries keenly over to the mounting block when he goes in the arena now as he knows that usually (but not always) he gets a treat. He knows he must stand still and square wherever I put him, and stay there even if I let go of the reins totally and move round his body or even away from him e.g. I may want to pick up a back foot etc. In my last livery yard hooves had to be picked out on entering and leaving arena so learning to stand nicely where put and not wander off to the nearest nice patch of grass even when not restrained was a good skill to have. Kind of like teaching a dog to stay. You could incorporate a stand or stay command with this training if you like as its always useful being able to tell them to stand and for them to understand that if they do, something nice will happen (a polo) as opposed to the word stand being a threat of a smack coming if theres non compliance.


Only give a treat when he does exactly what you want though. You may have to break it into lots of little stages. You won't get the whole behaviour 1st time. For example 1ststage may be a square halt - polo. Then only 10 second square halt with no figiting gets a polo. A figit means no polo and you walk in a circle back to the box and start again. Next stage foot in stirrup - stands still no figiting - polo. Then on and so forth.

He willl try different tactics until he works out the correct solution which is a good bonding and trust exercise in itself. Eventually you will get to the stage of actually getting your leg over his back and your weight onto him. It may be preferable to have a helper to assist this stage to hold him still or stand in front of him so he can't walk off - just so he understands easier he has to keep standing when weight is placed on his back. Getting it into his head quicker is better when putting weight on his back as youdon't want to hurt it or to pull at his back muscles. Once you are on - polo!!!! Best to alternate sides polo comes from so he isn't more flexible on one side than another. He will then be inclined to wait for your signal to move off as he will hope if he keeps standing he will see your hand reach for your pocket.

I always like to accompany a treat with a special word. For me its simply good boy. Every time he gets any sort of treat I say good boy to him in a certain tone of voice. So when I'm riding and I want to let him know he's done well I can say good boy and he KNOWS that what he did was the right thing. Of course I also try to indicate woith the pressure/non presure of my aids that's it the correct response but its a kind of double whammy and leaves him in no doubt as I am not rider extrordinaire. Same principle as clicker training except clickers aren't easy to click and ride with.

Not everyone agrees with treats and with some horses that mug you this may not work - though the mugging in itself is a different problem. This is just my method - there are prob loads of people with diff methids that work really well from them. As with anything take the b its you like and work for you. Sorry if I'vce been long winded!
 
When our 17hh ShirexClydesdale wouldn't stand by a crate for my sister to mount we built walls with straw bales. two bales in front and two more at right angles to the first two, to make an L, walked her into it and then put the crate in place, she now stands like a rock, we also gave a treat when she did as asked, and still do.
 
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