wont stand still to mount.

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aspirit

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Recently my mare has started moving as I get on, to the point that im having to throw myself on ! I have always used a mounting block and although she used to do this at one block she was generally ok elsewhere. It has got worse and worse and is a real battle now. I have tried different direction etc and as I am mostly on my own im struggling.
 
Can you get a mobile mounting block? Pop it in the open, bring her to it, if she moves calmly circle the block twice. Ask her to stand again, if she moves repeat. Once she is standing put your foot in the stirrup, if she moves repeat.

Allow yourself plenty of time to do this every day. Keep calm, no eye contact, the aim is to get her to realise that by not standing she has to do really boring circle, far harder than just standing still for you to mount.

It is really important to allow enough time to work through this, repetition and always insisting on her standing every time is the key. Boring but it will be worth it - but do check that her saddle is not pinching etc.
 
My boy does this too.. waits for you to get on the mounting block then swings his bum out so you have to LEAP on! I will follow the advice on this thread also :)
 
Put the mounting block in place so your horse has to face a wall or fence when mounting he then can't go forward.
 
will probably be shot down in flames but my mare gets very excited and used to rush off before I was quite in the saddle and unfortunately I came off and hung on to her so she got really scared. I then got a friend to hold her but she got really upset, so friend gave her mints and she stood still as she was concentrating on mints as she doesn't normally get treats. this worked very well and I now don't need friend and get on and she waits to get a mint once I am on. I had previously tried the other methods but had no success so im happy that this worked for me as I am a mature rider with dodgy hips and cant afford to risk coming off again. hope this helps to see another option...good luck
 
splashgirl45 said:
will probably be shot down in flames but my mare gets very excited and used to rush off before I was quite in the saddle and unfortunately I came off and hung on to her so she got really scared. I then got a friend to hold her but she got really upset, so friend gave her mints and she stood still as she was concentrating on mints as she doesn't normally get treats. this worked very well and I now don't need friend and get on and she waits to get a mint once I am on. I had previously tried the other methods but had no success so im happy that this worked for me as I am a mature rider with dodgy hips and cant afford to risk coming off again. hope this helps to see another option...good luck
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I think this is a really good way, no point in unnecessary battles and stress
 
My pony has a serious, deep ingrained fear of being mounted from something that happened to him in the past. I rescued him knowing about the problems. I have tried all sorts to get him comfortable with mounting, and while he is now much better, he is still very nervous. To avoid a fight I take a handful of pony nuts, place them on top of the mounting block, where he will then stand to be mounted while eating the nuts. Not the best way granted, but I have tried so many other things without a massive amount of success, and this works for us.

I would guess pain is the cause if it is a new problem.
 
Olliepoppy said:
Good point! Which is why I will be following the advice on this thread :) I don't actually leap, more a bit of a flop across but will spend time teaching him to stand still
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I have to say it is one things I love about my mare, I stand on a mounting block and she moves herself over to it, it did not take too long to teach and is something I have to allow some time for every once in a while-being patient is the key. stand on the block and keep the horse moving till it is a bit closer to you than it originally was then let the horse relax at that place, then get off the block and move away do something else, repeat repeat repeat and with time the horse will stand next to the block. I taught my mare to wait when I am on by giving a polo before we moved off. it is only the rider of handler of a horse that can create a pause and you can only do that by being patient and allowing it rather than rushing the horse.

good luck
 
Once you are certain that it is not due to pain or discomfort (which is the main reason for deterioration of a behaviour that's previously been fine), have a look at the Hannah Dawson approach. It is similar to the suggestions above involving polo mints, but is more systematic, being based on the psychology of learning :) There are some do's and don't's when training using food, and it can help you avoid pitfalls.

Apart from that, I always find it amusing how apologetic people are about having successfully used food to train - as if it's somehow a badge of honour to continue to back your horse up and walk them in circles endlessly to avoid taking the easy (and scientific) approach :D

Here's Hannah... http://www.hannahdawsonequine.co.uk/uncategorized/an-invitation-to-ride/
 
In his previous home my boy always moved away from any block, his owner never addressed it, just got on sharpish from the floor. Turned out his saddle pinched too, which cant have helped.

Once that was sorted, we worked through it using his beloved polos, first with someone on the ground to reward him when he stood nicely and again once I was on board, then once he'd figured out it was the standing still that caused polos we were able to go it alone and he'd just get one once I was on IF he didn't move off. Didn't take that long and he's miles better now.
 
have a friend stand in front of the horse and bite into an apple to grab the horses attention away from you mounting her. When you have mounted her have your friend reward her with the apple. My instructors uses this on her ex-racers who love to rush off without someone properly on top of them!
 
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