mounting block - mental block

[Harriet]

Has anyone any ideas on how to get a horse to stand correctly at a mounting block? we have one of those platforms you walk up a few steps to the mounting platform leading your horse along side as you go, he will come along side but before I go to mount he swings his backside way.
I mount lightly, and its not that hes scared he's just being a pain, Or possibly its his his idea of a joke??
As I have no control of him other than his head as I climb the steps its impossible to control him swinging away.
Harriet

[Murphs]

i had the same problem with my mare - it's taken a while but we're now getting there. It once took me 20 mins to mount as we kept going round in circles (i was on my own so noone to help) - important thing here was not to let her win!

Anyway, when you get to the block ensure that you have control of the horse with the reins taught at the withers, then slightly shorten the outside rein, that way if the horse moves the rear end should swing towards you rather than away. It's taken me awhile and initially you may want to have someone around who can help hold the horse whilst you get the hang of things. I also found that when my friend (who's very experienced) went to mount her she stood perfectly still! I also try to mount of the ground now as well so that i'm confident if i come off, or need to get off whilst hacking, i'll be able to get back on again!

Hope this helps

[Silvia]

Mostly it's a matter of patience. When the horse moves off, tell him 'no' and park him at the block again. At the beginning that means getting on and off the mounting block MANY times. Don't yell or pull on the reins even when you are running out of patientce. I once lost my nerve after trying to get on for 25 times and my pony moving away every single time. I yanked his reins and screamed at him to stand - with the result that he was frightened of the block for days on end.
Praise your horse enormously when he does stand and maybe give him some treats.
Having someone hold the horse is good for a start, but with my pony Muppet I found that he would stand perfectly still with someone holding him but would move away when I was mounting alone. Had to teach him all over again.:rolleyes:

[Maci]

My answer is basically what Murphs said, but I'll share my opinion and experience!

Hold the reins so you have contact on their mouth, so if they do move away you can lightly pull and 'whoa' them (firmly of course!)! What I do, this might take a while, but I get down and push his chest with my hand, to get him to move back where I want him, and then praise him as soon as he gets to my desired spot for him to stand. I do this until he learns to stand still, which doesn't take long for them to 'click in.'

On this on horse at the yard, I go to mount her, I'll only have one foot in the stirrup and in the middle of hoisting myself up, and she'll walk away without waiting for me to be fully mounted. One time I slipped, but luckly she stopped!

Good Luck!
Maci :)

[Edited by Maci on 24th Oct 2000 at 08:18 PM]

[Harriet]

I'll give it a go - I think I'll just devote a whole day to mounting block training rather than when I actually want to ride that way I am less likely to lose patience.

At least I can say I am providing entertainment for the entire yard...irk....irk...

Harriet.

[Clj369z]

anthing thing to try that worked with my mare - is to have a friend help you. They stand on the outside of the horse as you lead them in/ They help keep the horse straight and stop any movement by not allowing the horse to step away - we did this by having the friend lightly keep a hand on my horse's flank and any time she moved away - the friend would ask her to move back into position.

We did this several time 0 getting off and on and off and on so my mare did not get the idea the she could just walk off when I mounted - then we went to leading her in with the friend just standing there and I would get on and off for a while.

then I would have the friend back up a big step and I would lead the mare in and get on and off -

It took one good practice session and she figured it out.

Cindi

[arabian_lover]

I suggest tacking up etc. and leading her out as normally would. When you approach the block, get a 2 helpers to (one: stand at the head of the horse and 2: one near the hind end). When your horse tries to move away, one of them will give a correct cue to move back.

[sally]

This is what i am learning with my guy, who is
a bit "fizzy" at the mounting block. First, make
sure his legs are squared off, as what teach says
is that if you are mounting or dismounting with
front legs not lined up , he already is at a strain and
will feel discomfort and associate itwith mounting
and dismounting. Once he is standing still( good boy)
I pretend to get on saddle and mess around up there
without mounting, then I get down and lead him around
and do it again. After a few of these exercizes, he
was much quieter at mounting block. ....still learning,
for sure...sally