Tips on ants in his pants horse when mounting/adjusting stirrups

[sandi_84]

I know the general consensus is to feed treats as positive reinforcement for standing still but if my boy even thinks there's food on offer he gets all nudgy nudgy. Should I just continue with this and ignore the constant nuzzling?

Working up to being able to mount while out on hacks in the event I ever need to (unplanned dismounts for myself or hacking partners who may need legged up) and at the moment I'd not have an icicles chance in hell, I reckon I'd get a foot in and be scraped off on the nearest tree/gate/stander by

It's not badness, he's not trying to get me off or anything. It seems to be just rudeness/my fault for not teaching this properly sooner, it seems to have gotten worse recently especially when mounting on the yard because he knows that means a hack out. It's not always possible to take him into the school to mount as there are usually lessons on.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I know the general consensus is to feed treats as positive reinforcement for standing still but if my boy even thinks there's food on offer he gets all nudgy nudgy. Should I just continue with this and ignore the constant nuzzling?

Working up to being able to mount while out on hacks in the event I ever need to (unplanned dismounts for myself or hacking partners who may need legged up) and at the moment I'd not have an icicles chance in hell, I reckon I'd get a foot in and be scraped off on the nearest tree/gate/stander by

It's not badness, he's not trying to get me off or anything. It seems to be just rudeness/my fault for not teaching this properly sooner, it seems to have gotten worse recently especially when mounting on the yard because he knows that means a hack out. It's not always possible to take him into the school to mount as there are usually lessons on.

right this is going to sound very strange BUT with our exracer as soon as my sister as a foot in he is "Right off we go" the other day he didn't even wait for that and tried to walk on before she even got on him so she got off and just started walking him round and round and round the mounting block.....after the fourthish lap his let out a mashoosive sigh and she stood him by the mounting block and he stood still and waited until she was sat in the saddle with both feet in to walk off

would something like this help?

 

[Honey08]

Start off by getting on facing a wall, reducing one of his options for moving away, two walls if possible!

 

[sandi_84]

right this is going to sound very strange BUT with our exracer as soon as my sister as a foot in he is "Right off we go" the other day he didn't even wait for that and tried to walk on before she even got on him so she got off and just started walking him round and round and round the mounting block.....after the fourthish lap his let out a mashoosive sigh and she stood him by the mounting block and he stood still and waited until she was sat in the saddle with both feet in to walk off

would something like this help?

Sorry that made me giggle a bit, I can just imagine the thought process "Right off we go!... Oookay walking in teeny circles.... Och this is boring now mum"

We haven't progressed to mounting blocks yet, tried it the other day and because of the ants he wouldn't let me put it next to him so either I get a leg up or if there is no human fork lift available I use the fence or just put in a massive jump I think he'd just keep walking tbh though but it could be worth a shot!

Start off by getting on facing a wall, reducing one of his options for moving away, two walls if possible!

Love it! But if i'm out and about there isn't anything I can have him face, it's all dirt tracks and trees

Would you reccomend the treats and ignore the nudging?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

When I bought a Clydie who point-blank refused to stand still next to a mounting block, I got sis to help and we build a 'box' of straw bales. Sis stood outside the box, I led Clydie into box, used a bale as a mounting block, with sis holding horse and stirrup, made any adjustments necessary, gave a treat. Sis removed bales and we walked on. We moved onto a movable block and then to a fixed block gradually. Eventually that horse was so good to mount that after I had broken my ankle she literally bent her knees so that I could mount, the 1st time back in the saddle.
Current horse is playing up at the moment and sis is helping by standing by the block - she gives in straight away!

 

[sandi_84]

When I bought a Clydie who point-blank refused to stand still next to a mounting block, I got sis to help and we build a 'box' of straw bales. Sis stood outside the box, I led Clydie into box, used a bale as a mounting block, with sis holding horse and stirrup, made any adjustments necessary, gave a treat. Sis removed bales and we walked on. We moved onto a movable block and then to a fixed block gradually. Eventually that horse was so good to mount that after I had broken my ankle she literally bent her knees so that I could mount, the 1st time back in the saddle.
Current horse is playing up at the moment and sis is helping by standing by the block - she gives in straight away!

Aw! What a sweetie! I love stories like that, just goes to show how fab horses are

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Sorry that made me giggle a bit, I can just imagine the thought process "Right off we go!... Oookay walking in teeny circles.... Och this is boring now mum"

We haven't progressed to mounting blocks yet, tried it the other day and because of the ants he wouldn't let me put it next to him so either I get a leg up or if there is no human fork lift available I use the fence or just put in a massive jump I think he'd just keep walking tbh though but it could be worth a shot!



Love it! But if i'm out and about there isn't anything I can have him face, it's all dirt tracks and trees

Would you reccomend the treats and ignore the nudging?

lol, it was quiet funny to see this 16.2 fit tb doing tiny circles round the mounting block

try putting the mounting block next to him when he is tied up or just sit on it and feed him his dinner/bucket of hay/polo so its not a scary thing. then progress to standing on it next to him then get off it and do something else etc

how about walking him up and down the bit where you want to get on, then try to get on if he tries to walk off....walk up and down again he will get the idea that its easier to just stand still. to be honest even tho i have used treats in the past as have seen no way else to get horse to do something i don't like using them as a aid but thats just me.

ignore the nudging, if you do want to give a treat only give when he isn't expecting it....i.e just standing doesing

 

[amandal]

It really is practise, practise, practise. If horse moves away they are put back, time after time until they stand. I always insist mine take a step back before they are allowed to move forwards, that way (hopefully) they dont get into the mindset that once rider is on board they can move off xx

 

[sandi_84]

lol, it was quiet funny to see this 16.2 fit tb doing tiny circles round the mounting block

try putting the mounting block next to him when he is tied up or just sit on it and feed him his dinner/bucket of hay/polo so its not a scary thing. then progress to standing on it next to him then get off it and do something else etc

how about walking him up and down the bit where you want to get on, then try to get on if he tries to walk off....walk up and down again he will get the idea that its easier to just stand still. to be honest even tho i have used treats in the past as have seen no way else to get horse to do something i don't like using them as a aid but thats just me.

ignore the nudging, if you do want to give a treat only give when he isn't expecting it....i.e just standing doesing

It really is practise, practise, practise. If horse moves away they are put back, time after time until they stand. I always insist mine take a step back before they are allowed to move forwards, that way (hopefully) they dont get into the mindset that once rider is on board they can move off xx

I'll definately persevere, thank you for the advice!

 

[Suziq77]

right this is going to sound very strange BUT with our exracer as soon as my sister as a foot in he is "Right off we go" the other day he didn't even wait for that and tried to walk on before she even got on him so she got off and just started walking him round and round and round the mounting block.....after the fourthish lap his let out a mashoosive sigh and she stood him by the mounting block and he stood still and waited until she was sat in the saddle with both feet in to walk off

would something like this help?

I find this works too, with certain horses that are just impatient to be off - I just stand still on the mounting block loosely holding the rein nearest to me breathing normally and not even attempting to get on, not saying stand, nothing. After a few minutes (can take quite a few minutes!) this type of horse generally does a big sigh and that's it. The next time there is far less walking round, less the time after that and so on.

I wouldn't do it with a horse just out of training though

 

[Mo-Jo]

I rode a big fidgetbum who would not stand for anything. I tried the natural horsemanship way of walking in a circle around the block every time he moved, but to no avail. Found another (harsher) technique on an american trainer's site where every time he moved you bring the inside rein right back (big loop in opp rein) so he has to walk in a really small circle around you with his neck bent uncomfortably. As soon as he stops you drop the rein. He got it in one session to the point where I didn't even need rein contact to mount.