Mounting!

[$@R@H]

I've been having real troubles mounting my horse. She basically trots off as soon as your on! And don't even try mounting from the ground! She just trys to canter off with you half on!

How can we improve her standing still while mounting?:D

[Big H]

Maybe you should get someone to hold onto your horse when you are mounting, or maybe even moving the mounting block to an area where your horse will have to face a gate or wall or something so that there is something stopping him/her from running off with you?

[$@R@H]

I do have someone hold her. She just kinda pushes them over.:rolleyes:

[carrimclaren]

Mine used to do this as soon as you got your foot near the stirrup. As soon as you sat on her she would shoot forward.
I just got into the habit of walking her to the mounting block and whenever she stood still she got loads of praise and then we'd try again. She gradually realised that standing still was a good idea. Then i used to put her with the fence next to her and the truck infront so she couldn't surge forward. Although i think having her back done cleared the problem up fully as when sitting down it was obviously hurting her somewhere.

[esavage]

Someone skipped this part of her training and went right to the saddle. Henceforth, the problems your are experiencing. Try this:

Every day for a week tack her up for riding, while leaving a halter and lead on her. Tie her to a fence post or whatever is handy, making sure that there is enough slack in the line that she won't hurt herself, but not so much that she can still sidestep you. Then mount, dismount, mount, dismount, mount... Keep doing this every day for a week for at least 30 minutes, and you will see a difference. She is dominating you, and she needs to learn not to do this. The next week, try to mount without someone holding her or being tied up. If she still tries to take off, then she needs more work. I hope this helps.

[Dizzy]

I've had this battle with both my horses and its something that I am very strict about, as it is sheer bad manners and disrespectful.

The first time was with Breeze when she was a baby. The first few times I got a friend to help, so that she knew exactly what I expected of her. When friend was there she was as good as gold. When I tried on my own she would wait for to mount the mounting block then move. At first I got cross and frustrated, which believe me does not work. Then I decided I would be patience itself, but make moving off hard work.

I would position her next to the mounting block, making sure she was stood squarely (taking away any excuse to move) then mount the block. If she moved, I'd climb back down and make her turn 20 tight circles around me, tapping her butt with my whip if she faltered. Then I'd set her up again to get on, and if she moved again the same happened. Breeze does have strong opinions and objected quite strongly the first time, but I ignored her and stuck to my guns. It took about an hour the first time, and at the end of it I didn't have time to ride, I just got on praised her and got off - though if I had had time to ride I would have. I've never had much of a problem since, I can set her up at bank sides, kirbs and walls. But if I do, we've never got past 2 sets of 20 circuits.

I had the same battle with Hiedi my 4 yr old yesterday, it took us 40 minutes before she stood still. Whilst hacking I to get off for a gate, and I remounted at the road side off a heap of road salt, and she didn't budge.

If you know its not caused by physical pain, or saddle fit, then its down to disrespect, and if you don't have that on the ground, then they won't respect you in saddle. The key is to make sure that they know exactly what you're asking, and to make moving off harder work than standing still - but don't lose you temper, and make sure you have enough time to finish the job.

Insist that she stands square, use your voice aids, and when you go to mount don't look at her, just go about your business quietly, and when your successful praise her.

[galadriel]

If you want a horse to "stand" for anything, it helps to teach them "stand" first. I have an article on both "stand" and expanding "stand" to "stand for mounting":
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/250-voice-stand/
http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/275-voice-stand_for_mounting/

Minor brag: just got in from having my TBs' hooveses trimmed, and the farrier was very complimentary about the mares' ground-tying. For each of the mares, I led her to the appropriate area, tossed the lead rope across her back so it wouldn't be in the way, then wandered off--I moved around following the farrier, watching what he did, & discussing their feet with him. Each stood like a stone until I took the lead rope back to turn her out. "Stand" has so many uses, and really makes all elements of ground handling easier.

[Harry Hobbes]

How can we improve her standing still while mounting? In addition to the advice above, you should also not ask for, nor allow the horse to move off after you've mounted, until about one minute of time has passed.

Horses that leave while the rider is trying to mount are only anticipating and doing what they know comes next: riding off; and, then they are sometimes punished for doing what they've been trained to do (i.e., ride off.)

So, the best way to teach a horse to stand for mounting is to just stand after mounting; for about one minute. Just sit there in the saddle and relax (look at the scenery and practice breathing exercises); don't ask the horse to go anywhere. After about 30 seconds, you may notice the horse's ears come back to you, putting its' full attention on you, and waiting for your next cue.

After a minute, pick up the reins and ride off.

Best regards,
Harry