|Won't stand still to get on

blitznbobs

blitznbobs

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 June 2010
Messages
6,824
Location
Cheshire
Visit site
Hi,

whist I am totally in love with my new pony and think he's a star he's got one rather annoying habit ( other than wallowing in mud) and that is he won't stand still while I get on. Now whilst this p*sses me off a bit it doesn't bother me that much apart from having to get on from the floor rather than the mounting block which I do prefer (cos I'm lazy and think it's better for his back) My Mum is a different matter. She struggles to get on from the floor and really needs to use the mounting block...

How do I get him to stand still by the mounting block - doesn't do anything dangerous just swings his bum away... Any good tips

THanks
 
I would just walk him to the mounting block and when he swings away just push him back and say "stand". Don't try to get on until he is stood still and maybe reward him with a polo. It may take a while but he should get the hang eventually.
 
Ditto Mattilda, but it does take 2 of you, and patience, to do it! Also helps if you can put the mounting block somewhere where he's more boxed in, so nowhere to go.

At my old yard, had to get on from the fence, and the 1st method worked with my mare who was a divil at just shunting her bum over just enough!
 
mattilda said:
I would just walk him to the mounting block and when he swings away just push him back and say "stand". Don't try to get on until he is stood still and maybe reward him with a polo. It may take a while but he should get the hang eventually.
Click to expand...

ditto this - well apart from the polo - I'm afraid I don't believe in 'tit-bitting'.

The horse we currently have would not stand still at first. It only took about a week to train him to stand next to the mounting block. We were firm with him, and made him move his quarters back over if he swung them out. Also had the person on the ground stand right in front of him to prevent him walking forward.

We continued this with making sure he stood still whilst stirrps and girth were fiddled with, and after about 2 weeks he started to get the idea and now he stands stock still until you tell him to move forward.

Basic good manners IMO.
 
Similar as already said. Takes two of you though. Stand horse at mounting block and one person on the ground feeds sweets/pony nuts while the other gets on. If pony moves sweets are stopped and he is put back into place. Keep going until pony has stood still and rider has mounted. Then rider once on board gives sweet to pony also. Eventually the ground person gives less sweets and finally can disappear totally. But the rider will always give the sweet once onboard, pony should not move until the last sweet has been received. Had to do this with my pony when i first got him, now he stands like a rock and will not move until he has received his sweet from me on board, he then knows he can move. Good luck
 
We have had to block more than one horse in to teach it to stand still. One Clyde mare, we had to build a box of straw bales, 2 deep, and walk her into it. My sis stood outside the box holding the mare while I used one side as a mounting block, we taught her to stand while I sorted out stirrups and girth, then gave her a treat from on top. Eventually she would stand anywhere for me to mount. Are you absolutely certain that the saddle fits? I think we were struggling with learned behaviour from an ill-fitting saddle in a previous home.
 
same sort of thing, but with my mare i just gave her a tap with my whip on her shoulder and put her back in position and tried again, didnt take long, lol. i personally dont giv treats, other than after ive rode, and then its only a carrot, lol, otherwise they expect them all the time!!!
 
Agree about getting back and saddle checked, that is why the one I had to re-train was moving off. We did it alone so when he walked forward we'd just go round again. Same if he moved whilst I was getting on. Then a treat (pol-sized carrot ring, little bit of apple, polo, pony nut, whatever) each side bending round his nose to one of my boots. Eventually he worked out that standing still was quickest way to get treat.

You can use a lunge whip like an arm extension of you're stood near the head and they swing their quarters out, that way you have more hope of getting on before they do it again. I've only done that to sort of shove then back over, definitely nothing scary for them.
 
Thanks for the tips... he's got no issues with his saddle and back (I've issues with the saddle so saddler is booked for tuesday anyway.) He works like a trooper and swings thru' his back really well and tbh this is his only quirk. He stands perfectly still if you get on from the floor. It's just the mounting block that he is difficult with and just swings his bum about 1 step away from us so you can't reach the stirrup...

Bx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top