Horse moving off as soon as I'm on

thingstodotoday · #1 11th Sep 2009, 10:22 AM

Hi

My horse has developed an interesting new habit

She will stand for me to get on, but as soon as I am on she walks off. Never used to do this.

Back, teeth etc all ok by the way!

So I have managed to get her to the point of standing nicely while I get on, but what can I do about getting her to stand once I'm on?

At the moment when she walks off when I'm on I am walking her back round to be beside the mounting block again, and getting her to stand. Then telling her "good girl" and then starting whatever we were doing.

At the end of our session I am also dismounting, and then going over to the mounting block and getting back on. Strangely normally at this point she waits once I'm on. So I think it's partly my nerves at the beginning of the session and her eagerness to be away.

She never used to do it - it's only since she's come off box rest. In fact one of the things I really loved about her from the day I went to see her was that she would wait for you to fiddle when you were on!

Any ideas?

cinammontoast · #2 11th Sep 2009, 11:14 AM

I hate this! I've finally got Beau to stand by backing him into a corner, being very firm with voice commands and tapping all over the saddle then moving him back to where I want him before I try to get on. Obviously, I no longer use the corner!

Try putting your hand on the stirrup so she feels the pressure: if she stands, polo, if she doesn't, keep trying. It took a good while to get this with my boy-think he was used to being got on and going straight for it!

Yann · #3 11th Sep 2009, 11:33 AM

Give her a treat once you're sat in the saddle and she's stood still, even if you have to halt her yourself at first. She'll struggle to walk off and flex her head round to take the treat at the same time. Once she's cottoned on you can make her wait a little longer each time, and once it's a habit you can always phase the treat out.

capalldubh · #4 11th Sep 2009, 11:48 AM

I know you said back is fine, but you also said:

Quote:

She never used to do it - it's only since she's come off box rest. In fact one of the things I really loved about her from the day I went to see her was that she would wait for you to fiddle when you were on!

When a horse starts doing something they've never done before, there's usually a reason. I wonder if she's lost some core muscles/muscle tone along her back and is finding initial balance with a rider on board more difficult?

Sure enough, rewarding standing still once mounted is good to re-establish good behaviour, but it might also be worth considering why she's doing it, when she was fine before

The Flying Irishman · #5 11th Sep 2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capalldubh

I know you said back is fine, but you also said:

When a horse starts doing something they've never done before, there's usually a reason. I wonder if she's lost some core muscles/muscle tone along her back and is finding initial balance with a rider on board more difficult?

Sure enough, rewarding standing still once mounted is good to re-establish good behaviour, but it might also be worth considering why she's doing it, when she was fine before

Totally agree, sounds to me like perhaps the saddle is nipping slightly

thingstodotoday · #6 11th Sep 2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Flying Irishman

Totally agree, sounds to me like perhaps the saddle is nipping slightly

Hmm, good point re loss of tone etc. But then at the end of a session if I get off and then get back on she's fine.

Which is what makes me think it's more impatience and my tension and nerves?

Melting Moments · #7 11th Sep 2009, 01:24 PM

Maybe she loves her work.

thingstodotoday · #8 11th Sep 2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melting Moments

Maybe she loves her work.

Ha yes! You should see her eyes light up when poles and wings come out! SHe loves to jump!

Melting Moments · #9 11th Sep 2009, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thingstodotoday

Ha yes! You should see her eyes light up when poles and wings come out! SHe loves to jump!

There is nothing wrong with my lad but hes the same when it comes to getting on, even if hes tied up he still tries to walk off.
Ears forward ready to go.

Gimp · #10 11th Sep 2009, 02:08 PM

My horse had this annoying habit when he was first broken in. To mount AND when mounted!

I tried various different things to stop him but what worked for my horse firstly on the mounting ( which wont apply to you as such..) but from the mounting block I would get back down and turn him in a cricle around and and re-present him to it. Everytime he walked of I repeated.

Eventually he got bored and he would just stand there!

He would sometimes walk of, and I did the same method on his back. Making him walk around the block and making him stand when next to it with a firm ' STAND' and praise when he did it right.

Every now and again his old habits creep back and a refresh in this technique aids him to remember.

When mounting ensure you sitting down gently and not jabbing his sides or squeezing with your legs also.

levi1739 · #11 11th Sep 2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thingstodotoday

Hi

My horse has developed an interesting new habit

She will stand for me to get on, but as soon as I am on she walks off. Never used to do this.

Back, teeth etc all ok by the way!

So I have managed to get her to the point of standing nicely while I get on, but what can I do about getting her to stand once I'm on?

At the moment when she walks off when I'm on I am walking her back round to be beside the mounting block again, and getting her to stand. Then telling her "good girl" and then starting whatever we were doing.

At the end of our session I am also dismounting, and then going over to the mounting block and getting back on. Strangely normally at this point she waits once I'm on. So I think it's partly my nerves at the beginning of the session and her eagerness to be away.

She never used to do it - it's only since she's come off box rest. In fact one of the things I really loved about her from the day I went to see her was that she would wait for you to fiddle when you were on!

Any ideas?

"Make her idea, your idea" is a thought that comes to mind. Since she seem's to think "moving her feet" is such a nice idea upon your mounting, maybe she would like to "move them backwards" for a while. Shoot who knows, maybe her ideas would change.

Keep on, keepin on

Jack

Kc.. · #12 11th Sep 2009, 02:36 PM

I have tried for years to get Nimby, the king of impatience to stand upon my mounting. But at 24 nothings changing, he's too impatient to wait and i'm too impatient to make him wait.

Lantern though i thought i should teach and i did exactly what levi suggested - made him back up everytime he walked off!

PacerPassion · #13 11th Sep 2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by levi1739

"Make her idea, your idea" is a thought that comes to mind. Since she seem's to think "moving her feet" is such a nice idea upon your mounting, maybe she would like to "move them backwards" for a while. Shoot who knows, maybe her ideas would change.

Keep on, keepin on

Jack

You read my mind Jack!

hdonna · #14 20th Sep 2009, 06:09 PM

We had this with our new horse ( only had her two weeks now) the prob has gone we give her a small amount of hay once on. and she now stands until asked to move will faze the treat out soon.

Scaty_Bird · #15 24th Sep 2009, 01:07 PM

my horse was doing this a while back. Also with the sudden change. I thought it was just where he was keen as he had been off work for a while then he started getting more and more tense and jogging once I got on. Then he started to walk backwards to stop me from getting on. Turns out it was his saddle - was slightly too low on his withers and pinching.

Now it is just habbit and he is slowly getting better now he's more comfortable where the saddle has been changed.

It could just be that the horse is keen to get going but I would keep an eye on any sudden changes.

Good luck!
x

Gem at heart · #16 25th Sep 2009, 11:44 AM

There can be so many reasons 'why' but considering what you have said i would put it down to her being KEEN which is great but i agree a tad bit annoying when your sorting yourself out.

I would favour Yanns idea as clear encouragment with the aim of fading it out.

Mary Poppins · #17 25th Sep 2009, 12:11 PM

My old mare used to do this. If I didn't have someone to hold her, she would walk off as soon as I put my foot in the stirrup to mount. I didn't really make an issue of it as she was so kind and gentle in every other way. I think that she just wanted to go out. If I didn't stop her she would start walking down the road on our hack. I would often be doing my girth up as we were heading out the yard. Happy memories of a very special horse.

abisheridee · #18 27th Sep 2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by levi1739

"Make her idea, your idea" is a thought that comes to mind. Since she seem's to think "moving her feet" is such a nice idea upon your mounting, maybe she would like to "move them backwards" for a while. Shoot who knows, maybe her ideas would change.

Keep on, keepin on

Jack

I agree with this idea

It's a good one