The Dreaded Mounting Block

It has been ascertained at RDA that mounting is the most stressful time for the horse/pony. Now, granted some of our riders have a tendency to land a bit "heavily" which we try hard to discourage, but it does stand to reason that even with an able bodied rider, if great care is not taken to land gently and carefully, the horse will start to resent the process.
 
I've had my horse for a couple of months. In that time I've found she's needed a bit of physio and has got grade 2/3 ulcers which we are treating. Given these two things she's only in very light work at the moment. I am not quick, fit or athletic and she is large, although so far seems gentle, especially when you realise she has ulcers and needed physio attention

Anyway because I am slow she'd often walk off before I was quite ready, so I tried giving her treats to stand at the block, don't think she'd had treats before because she really liked them BUT it kind of backfired because now she'll stand alright, but in quite the wrong place! She turns her quarters and just stands there looking expectantly at me. and there's no way I could make that leap! :) . so I've had to go back to the drawing board with her.

What I learned about her in our early syringe wrangling days is that eventually she responds well to the path of least resistance, the right choice being the easy one, i myself am the same!, So I've been doing some ground work with her, getting her to stand while I walk away (in the school) then getting her to stand at the mounting block exactly where I need her to, then if she swings round to face me we go round again and again. I believe that each time it will get quicker because it's much easier to just stand there than it is to go round in circles and she's smart, she'll figure that out. My friend showed me this method and her horses are both very good to mount in all circumstances, main thing is to be consistant in what you're asking and patient, it's all very relaxed and non-adversarial.
 
Skib said:
I have never used treats. Because Rashid never did. It makes me feel mean as I am usually the only rider on a yard or RS who doesnt - but the horses dont seem to notice. Horses are very mysterious creatures. Because someone observed that the current horse moves towards me when she sees me.
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I'd never had a food motivated horse till my last one, and clicker training changed his world (and mine) very positively. He would actively seek to do things to gain a click, versus having to be asked. And he would do things much more enthusiastically, especially for high value treats.

He had PSSM so his diet was very low NSC, and sugary treats were out. I clicker trained him with pretty boring treats TBH! Then, when I found out he'd have to be PTS I said sod it: all molasses-laden sugary goodness for you now! That last month, things I'd clicker trained him to do well went into overdrive and he was incredibly enthusiastic. Things he'd been a bit slow to get became perfect! He was such a brilliant, trainable boy.
 
My boy was a prat at the mounting block, as soon as i would go to mount he would walk off or spin his bum away. Sometimes it was a saddle or sore back issue but even when these were sorted it became a learnt behavior. If i had someone there i could usually mount fairly quick but if i was by myself it would take ages... like 20 mins.


My trainer had this sorted within one session. What i had to do was get control of his legs, so a bit of ground work moving him, changing directions ect. Then i would ask him to stand a few strides away from the mounting block. I would then mount the block. Id stand at the top and use my energy to ask him to walk to me and pull him into my belly button. When he did this he gots lots of love rubs ect. If he didnt want to come and stand nicely i would stay on the block, pick up my schooling crop (not to tap him but to make my arms longer) and make him move, back him up, send him left send him right. Make him realize if he didnt do as i asked it was more work for him. It took about 4 attempts and now 6 months on, if i stand on the block and say come get me Strawberry he will march to me and stand like a dream. He gets one shot, if he faffs around he immediately sent away and made to move. He hasnt been ridden for 2 month but the other day i stood on the block to see if he remembered what to do and he came straight to me.

Also i dont mount with my foot in the stirrup, i just throw my leg over him from the mounting block, i think he much preferred this as i can land gently rather than pulling him buy having all my weight in my stirrup. I dont think id ever mount a horse like that ever again.
 
I agree re lots of what has been said - back to basics, repetition of moving her back to the block, moving her feet when she moves away, etc etc. I will also add, once on board, ALWAYS pause, for a minute, 2 minutes, a few seconds, and give her a scratch as well if you like. Vary the time. And here's the key - sometimes move off the block backwards, or shoulder first, or sideways. Again, vary it. get her right out of the mindset of moving off the block, make the block the relaxing easy place to be.
 
I'm just wondering if your injury unbalanced your body and your horse doesn't like the way you feel on her. I mention this because I had a serious riding accident that misaligned my body and my horse reacted badly to me when I got back on. I had quite a lot of physio to straighten myself out before we were back on an even keel.
 
I trained mine to 'wait' for treats, mountain block, standing in the stable while I grab something.
It was easy to train as he'd do anything for a minty treat! It is handy as I can get him to stand next to anything.

It is odd though how suddenly she won't stand still and use to previously..
 
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