Trouble with Standing Still

[Adk_Katie]

Hello everyone! This is my first post here (or anywhere!). So first I will give you a little background… I have been taking riding lessons for about a year now although I have loved horses forever but was never allowed to have one. I had to wait until I was an adult to get a horse of my own, but I have one now and she is the best!!

Her name is Mora and she is a Morgan/Quarter Horse Cross and she is almost four years old. I’ve had her for about 3 month and have been doing a lot of natural horsemanship-type groundwork with her. I have also sat on her and been led around, but that is the only riding experience she has ever had. The problem I am having, and I hope you guys can help me out with, is she has a very hard time standing still. For anything. I guess this could be because she is nervous and needs to move her feet, but in general she seems so brave. I think it is more like impatience. If she is forced to stand still (like holding her right under the chin) she will do it nicely for a while then stomp her feet just like a child having a temper tantrum.

This is mostly a problem during saddling. I try to saddle her up a lot just to get her used to it, but she hasn’t gotten any better at the standing still thing.

Any advice would be much appreciated!!

[Tootsie4U]

Hey neighbor! Adk - is that for Adirondacks? You might not be that far from me.

Anyway, patience must be learned. They aren't born with it. I'd also agree her age is a big part of it as well.

Since you say you've been doing alot of NH with her, then you should understand the importance of your body language / energy.

The line you hold, otherwise known as a lead, is a communication wire straight to her body. If you can, NEVER hold it tightly. EVER. Its a very bad habit to get into. She can and will sense the tenseness in it and being naturally chlostrophobic, it really can wind her up. When you want her to stand still, lower your own energy significantly. Perhaps look at the ground and talk softly and gently to her.

There are many other methods to teach a horse to stand. You could get your point across by teaching her to ground tie (have a search here on NR, there's alot of info. about the topic). Or, you could simply use the '100 push ups' principle. Meaning, if she wont do that simple thing, give her something much more harder to do and she'll soon come to her own conclusion that standing is much easier and comfortable to do than the other thing. (this is neat because the horse learns that your idea is best and she should just listen to you right off).

If it is nervousness, you're 100% right. Horses need to move their feet when they're nervous. Its a natural instinct. So, if it were me, Id make use of the '100 push ups' principle and have her spin her haunches away (and underneath her) and then invite her to stand. If she doesnt, repeat. All the while, constantly minding what your energy and body language is telling her. This way, she gets to move her feet, which clears her mind, and she'll soon become very tired of spinning and want to stand still.

I've got a Morgan too. They're not the easiest of babies to train! I sympathise! :)

G'luck and welcome!

[Adk_Katie]

Hi Tootsie4U - Adk is for Adirondacks! I live in the southern Adirondacks about 40 min. from Saratoga Springs.

Thanks for the advice! I'll give it a try this weekend. Glad to hear that patience comes with age and I have something to look forward to!

[Tootsie4U]

Hmmm... Im about 25 mins from Saratoga and also live in the S. Adirondacks... Small world. :p

[shirley]

Have you tried clicker training?

[maria9657]

Here is a link for a page

http://lorienstable.com/articles/handling/250-voice-stand/