I am a disabled rider and always use a block with a ramp leading up to it for mounting. I lead my horse up to the block, move her into position, walk round and up the ramp and mount. I used to need someone to hold Jessy for me, but by now she is pretty good about standing still on her own until I get on the block.
She does not walk off, but occasionally fidgets a bit or shifts her weight. Or sometimes I might place her a tiny bit too far away from the block. The problem with that is that I need her in one exact place to be able to mount comfortably. So I would like to be able to correct her position while standing on the block. I have tried to tap her off side with my whip to encourage her to step closer. But when I do that she just turns round to face me looking confused.
If I could make her understand where she is supposed to be, maybe I could even get her to park herself in the right place - I could walk up the ramp holding her reins and she would find the right position, without me on the ground shoving her towards the block.
How would you go on about training her to to that? NH people, maybe? I am aware that this is a difficult task even for a smart horse like mine But I have time, I just don't know what sort of command to use and how to establish it.
She does not walk off, but occasionally fidgets a bit or shifts her weight. Or sometimes I might place her a tiny bit too far away from the block. The problem with that is that I need her in one exact place to be able to mount comfortably. So I would like to be able to correct her position while standing on the block. I have tried to tap her off side with my whip to encourage her to step closer. But when I do that she just turns round to face me looking confused.
If I could make her understand where she is supposed to be, maybe I could even get her to park herself in the right place - I could walk up the ramp holding her reins and she would find the right position, without me on the ground shoving her towards the block.
How would you go on about training her to to that? NH people, maybe? I am aware that this is a difficult task even for a smart horse like mine But I have time, I just don't know what sort of command to use and how to establish it.