Tips for training horse to stand when mounting

Toffee44

Toffee44

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Me and Samba are now turning into quite the match made in heaven (cannot believe I just said that). She is now walking, trotting and did a little canter on a hack. Soooo pleased with her. Not cantering in the "school" yet.

However one issue. Getting on is still a hop skip and a jump affair. Its ok if mum is about she can hold her but shes not always there.

Samba seems to move back and put her head in my chest as soon as I mount the mounting block. I have tried keeping my foot in the stirrup but this is very hard with a ponio who walks INTO said mounting block.

Have tried standing her face on to the gate, it worked, I got on and she decided we were going left, OVER the mounting block and she ended up on the floor, didnt panic just got up and we went off riding, special girl.

Any one got any ideas I can try?? I only have a plastic mounting block at the moment hence why she can walk over it. I am sure its something obvious but I cannot think. With Toffee I spent half a hour with my foot in the stirrup and she soon gave up and stood still, Samba has a little bit more spunk to her though.
 
mine used to move off all the time, it was quite easy to correct, but required patience. I was leading him to the block, as soon as he was standing still he got a bit of carrot and pats, as soon as he moved off we just walked around it and tried again. so standing=carrot, moving=back to square 1. hope it helps? mine got the point from 2nd day :)
 
Hmm she gets a treat when she stands before I get on the block maybe I could try giving one if I can stand near her saddle area. She stands still once im on its the foot about to go in stirrup and move she does. I think its just her being green. Every thing saddle etc is ok.
 
I did a similar thing to the above but without the carrots.

I lined her up by the block and if she moved (even one hoof) I put her back where she was meant to be. I did have a half hour session the first time, so I did some practice with a pole in the ground. I walked her over the pole and asked her to halt with her front hooves one side of it and her back hooves the other side (so the pole was under her tummy). I then was able to get her to halt with only one hoof over or three hooves over. If she moved, she was reversed back to the position I wanted. I also increased the time that she needed to stand before asking her to walk on again. :)

I now have a horse that is fantastic to mount. One other thing, when you mount, make sure that you aren't stabbing her with your toe. :)
 
I used to give mine a treat when i got on, as i was normally on my own . After being off work for 18 months to have a baby i hopped on her and the first thing she did was look round for her treat!
 
Ditto faracat ..... I also make a point of not moving off as soon as my bum hits the saddle, I'll sit there for a while admiring the scenery and generally faffing and moving around in the saddle until I decide to move. If horse moves off on it's own, which she doesn't, I would bring her back to the original position and faff around some more, repeating the exercise for as long as it took for her to stand still and chill on a loose rein.
 
I put my horse between the mounting block and a wall and after a few days of this he stands no matter where the block is but he does lapse sometimes and I have to go back to trapping him between block and a wall :D
 
Oohhh....I can answer this one;)

My arab could not be mounted...at all. Spinning around, rearing....I had to launch myself into the saddle....not good. Once on, he was fine.

Its taken me about a month of just standing him next to the block and rewarding him. Then standing me on the block and rewarding him if he stood still. Then doing the same with tack on.

Over and over again......reward him if he does it right, if he moves reposition him.

Now....he will stand still by the block or fence and let me mount, once on board I praise him again and give him a treat and only then let him walk off. If he tries to take a step I halt him then make him walk on.

Takes time and patience and being consistent.:)
 
Hello from a fellow fidget bum horse owner!

Sounds random but my horse does this and we've tried all the above which most of the time works. But....sometimes I send him away, I will stay standing on the mounting block and if he decides to walk on I take my foot out and make him walk on around the mounting block and reposition him. He soon gets fed up and stands still. I also then sit there for a minute or two and then send him on quietly.

Sounds weird but works for me!
 
I am gonna get a more robust mounting block me thinks. Coz she flattened mine hte other night falling over it stood on it today and it aint that sturdy lol. Hmmmmm wonder if boyf can make one, he is a wood worker after all :D
 
Allover said:
I used to give mine a treat when i got on, as i was normally on my own . After being off work for 18 months to have a baby i hopped on her and the first thing she did was look round for her treat!
Click to expand...


I tried 101 different things with my 5yo and this was the only thing that worked. Literally after about 3 tries of the treat method he was standing next to the mounting block like a rock - also had his back teeth sadlle etc checked too so try and get this done (if you havent already) good luck
 
I did the same with my horse with the treats. Started with someone holding him and giving him a treat, then just stsnding there, then a couple of steps away and then hiding round the corner and only coming out once I was on, then a friend giving him a treat from her horse. He always had to stand still until he got the treat. Now he's great and we're even managing to get on and off on hacks - unheard of until 6 months ago!
 
Yes, treats are the way - and patience - mine took two weeks to get the message.

I now mount and he stands stock still - knows what's coming!! I then get the Polos out (nice rustly paper!) and I then put the polo in my hand by my foot and he does his 'carrot stretch'. Then the other side and while he is chomping, I put my gloves on etc. and then off we go!!

Just routine - over and over again - it will happen.
 
eva said:
mine used to move off all the time, it was quite easy to correct, but required patience. I was leading him to the block, as soon as he was standing still he got a bit of carrot and pats, as soon as he moved off we just walked around it and tried again. so standing=carrot, moving=back to square 1. hope it helps? mine got the point from 2nd day :)
Click to expand...

This is what I did, but with polos. Now she literally lines herself up at the block and then looks at me for a polo before I mount, then she'll move off !
 
Passage... said:
I tried 101 different things with my 5yo and this was the only thing that worked. Literally after about 3 tries of the treat method he was standing next to the mounting block like a rock - also had his back teeth sadlle etc checked too so try and get this done (if you havent already) good luck
Click to expand...

Yep, that's how I got my 4 yo to stand as well. I'm rubbish at mounting and he really used to stand up. Now as soon as I'm on I give him a handful of food. Mind you he's five and I'm still doing it!
 
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