Youngster issue!

[JoshuaR97]

Brought a youngster two weeks ago and only just got a saddle fitted for him. Yesterday when the lady came to fit the saddle as soon as I got on he went straight into trot/canter but I circled him and he calmed down after a little while. My mum was holding the reins when I got on but the saddle lady told her to let go. Today I got on him and my mum was holding onto him again but I got one foot in and onto him and he shoots forward again so my mum clearly let's go he just starts trotting so I'm trying to get the other stirrup but it must knock on him and he shoots towards a wooden gate and sadly there was a fence next to it so couldn't turn him sharply so I went over the gate.. Yes you may laugh! Got back on him though and this time we had a lead rope on him and he still tried it on again but soon calmed down and I rode him on my own. My question is how can I get him to stand and wait rather then buggering off straight away and taking fright of the stirrup? As I rode him again without stirrups and he then shot forward again but stayed on the monkey this time!

 

[Clodagh]

Are you sure you are not inadvertently kicking or poking him with your foot when you get on?

 

[WelshD]

were you mounting from the ground? does he do the same when you mount from a block or get a leg up?

 

[AdorableAlice]

He evidently has not been broken correctly. Basic skill to teach them to stand to be got on and the very first and most important lesson.

 

[JoshuaR97]

From the block because he always have.. When I tried him he did to forward but nothing like this.. He doesn't give you time to get it as he off..

 

[AdorableAlice]

From the block because he always have.. When I tried him he did to forward but nothing like this.. He doesn't give you time to get it as he off..

You need to retrain him before you have a nasty accident.

 

[WelshD]

I once had a Welsh Cob like this, thought he was off hunting every time you got on

he would set off and I would dismount and take him back to the block again and again till he got bored and got the message - it took some weeks before he stood like a rock but he did get it

 

[lindsay1993]

My horse used to do this. She's a very experienced older horse & I simply bored her to death by dismounting, leading her round again, stand, attempt to get on etc, etc. She soon got bored of me making her back-up and start again. It took a lot of time & patience & now she'll stand no bother.

 

[JoshuaR97]

My horse used to do this. She's a very experienced older horse & I simply bored her to death by dismounting, leading her round again, stand, attempt to get on etc, etc. She soon got bored of me making her back-up and start again. It took a lot of time & patience & now she'll stand no bother.

Should I then attach a lunge line onto him so my mum has control when he decided we're off and then as soon as he's had his episode get off and repeat this?

 

[lindsay1993]

Should I then attach a lunge line onto him so my mum has control when he decided we're off and then as soon as he's had his episode get off and repeat this?

No, I got off as soon as there was even a step forward that I hadn't asked for. Even if she shot off, I immediately got off and backed her up and began again. I wouldn't let your horse get away with the buggering off or letting him decide when to go. Nip it in the bud asap or it could turn dangerous.

You may need someone to help hold him until he gets the idea but I wouldn't let him go off and do what he wants on a lunge line as he won't be learning anything. It will take a lot of patience.

 

[YasandCrystal]

I would be laying across him at the mounting block and praising him for standing. Continue doing this until it gets boring. You may not wish to but I would be inclined to use a treat to reward the good behaviour. Your mum or a helper could stand I front of him when you mount and immediately tell him he's a good boy for standing and reward. Do this repeatedly he will soon cotton on.

 

[Micropony]

I am amazed how many young horses are not trained to stand nicely at a mounting block as part of their early training. Some people just leg up from the ground and get going straight away, which is not always helpful. Your horse probably doesn't understand what you are requiring of him, so as others have said, lots and lots of calm quiet repetition. And do make sure you are being very quiet until he's got the hang of it, not poking him with your toe, landing heavy in the saddle etc. I wasn't used to youngsters when I got mine, and the importance of this was emphasised to me very clearly! You might need someone to hold him for quite some time , but that's fine, as long as you're safe.

 

[gothdolly]

A lady on our yard had this problem with her youngster and solved it in a day by spending a whole day just standing at the mounting block, mounting, then getting off and putting her mare back there everytime she moved without being told to. Eventually the mare got bored and stands still now.

 

[flirtygerty]

I had this with my young cob, I had hubby at his head giving an odd treat, while rider mounted, rider then gave a treat either side before moving off, taught him to stand nicely, got to the stage of hubby letting him know treats were there by showing the mints package, treating by rider when on, then moving off, we don't normally treat, but this lad had a bad start, one year later he stands till asked to move, no treats till he gets back from his hack

 

[AdorableAlice]

A lady on our yard had this problem with her youngster and solved it in a day by spending a whole day just standing at the mounting block, mounting, then getting off and putting her mare back there everytime she moved without being told to. Eventually the mare got bored and stands still now.

Just a thought on this method.

The man that started my utterly bonkers feral carthorse does not get off the block himself when the horse is being difficult. His view is that by getting off the block the horse is controlling the handler by making the handler move. This puts the horse with the upper hand from the outset.

With my carthorse, who was a right pilchard over mounting and dangerous given his ability to bronc, the horse was put to the block and if he decided to move he was actually allowed to, but he had to go round the mounting block whilst the handler stayed on the block. Obviously you need a suitable block to do this.

The horse had to make the decision to stand still himself and only when he is rock solid is he mounted. It is important the horse is not forced to stand still by taking a big contact, that will just rev it up even more. The horse need to stand with a light and relaxed contact and be accepting of what is happening.

The bad behaviour for mine did not start until the horse had realised mounting meant working. He was a good boy at the outset of backing him. Progress has been good and he is a lot safer now although still tricky if away from home.

A picture of mounting training, a number of hours spread over many weeks were spent sorting the issue out but at nearly 17 hands he has to be safe. I would strongly advise the OP to do the training and get her horse listening.

 

[popsdosh]

Sorry but I think some are missing the obvious .
New saddle ! it would not be the first new fitted saddle that causes issues like this . Sorry I dont have a lot of faith in saddle fitters there is only one opinion you should take any notice of when it comes to saddle fit im afraid and thats the one with it on its back.

 

[hypopit]

Agree with check the saddle. Agree with gentle repetition until bored. I always enjoy that one on a very annoying one! I had a TB who was just so "enthusiastic" to be off. I found a place to mount from that had a building/wall right in front, even the visual of this made him think I'm not going anywhere, and he gradually came right, and would eventually mount from the ground, anywhere really, out of "good" habit. If you can find or make a place to mount where he can't go off anywhere then it may help.

Well done with wanting to get back on so soon after the gate incident! i'd be crippled!

 

[Milliechaz]

I had exact same problem with a youngster. Bought him backed but turned away. Got him delivered straight to the yard that was going to reback him for me. He was doing really well for weeks then started playing up at mounting block a week before he was due to come home to me. Brought him home anyway and he got worse instead of just getting tense and anxious at the mounting block he started running as soon as I got on. Then the time after that he bronced before I'd got my foot in the right stirrup. I really hurt myself coming off. It was so out of character, although I hadn't had him long I could tell he was a lovely person with no malice or nastiness so I decided to get his back checked. Turns out he was sore at the back of the saddle area so as soon as my weight was in the saddle he went ouch. We think this is due to an old injury that hadn't been treated but bear in mind that a lot of people have a "backing saddle" that they use to back everything. No 1 saddle is going to fit every horse. It may not be your current saddle that is hurting him if it was fitted by somebody good but it may be pain from a 1 size fits all saddle used for backing. Mine was very under developed muscle wise as well so he is having the summer off just doing groundwork to get his back stronger and pain free before I get on him again.

 

[epeters91]

I agree check the saddle but I would also say to do the mounting practice as advised. Do you need to have someone holding him? I have avoided anyone holding my youngster for mounting since I backed her because I don't want her to depend on someone else standing by her head. There has been times when she's been excited and not wanted to stand still but we've persevered until she stands nicely for me to mount on my own. I just feel this may help in future situations and if your mum is nervous and letting go the horse is likely to pick up on her nervousness and is also learning he can push her around a bit.