[Equus.]

My TB was off the track but that was years ago, he has always been figety when mounting but this morning i had to get off to tighten my girth and after stretching him back out went to get back on and he started taking steps backwards. First i said NO firmly, and applied pressure to the reins. then tried circles. then tried again... same thing... I was waiting for him to settle and wait patiently and praised him when he did so, however, as soon as i went to put my foot in the stirrup...same thing... i also tried tightening my inside rein, however he will just yeild off his hindquarters so he is still moving... I'm lost please help, i want to nip this in the bud correctly, it is extremly dangerous. Saddle and bridle are fitted by professionals, he is due for the chiropractor next week however he has never done this before so i don't think it is related to any pain, i think he is just being naughty...

Really appreciate your replies.

[dimmers_double]

if he respects fences, try having his butt close to the fence so when he backs up, he gets hit in the butt by the fence. i would start with you not accually getting on but 'acting' like it in case he bolts forward. this wil also keep him from thinking you are hurting him. it will make him think that he is doing it to himself and he will relize if he stands still, the discomfort will stop. you can also give him a good tap on the butt with a riding crop or the reins.
like you, him backing up is a very dangerous thing, so please be careful.

[Chester]

Take hold of your inside rein, bring his nose round to you. It is hard for a horse to walk backwards with its nose turned so far.

[Equus.]

Originally Posted by Chester

Take hold of your inside rein, bring his nose round to you. It is hard for a horse to walk backwards with its nose turned so far.

hey chester thanks for your advice i tried this today, however my boy will then move off forward or yeild off his back leg away from me (so stepping away) so thus still moving despite inside rein in.... haha hes a tricky one.

[mustang_dodger]

sounds to me that when he was ever mounted in the past some one might have pulled back on the reins and that is telling him to back up. i had helped retrain a horse that had this problem the way we got him to stop was to hold the reins really loose and tell him to stand. if he moved we would say no and then made him stand again. he got the point that he was to stand still and not to move back.

[dotgotcalm]

Can you safely manage to mount him while he's moving? Often when a horse trys moving to avoid being mounted it works so they continue to do it! One of the easiest ways I know of to put a stop to it is to simply get on anyway and then make him stand for a time before moving off. (If you ride english you might want to borrow a western saddle for this or let your left stirrup down low.) Usually, when they realize it doesn't gain them anything they'll give it up on their own.

[buck1173]

I personally won't get on a horse that wont' stand still for mounting, it shows their brain isn't with me... and if they're not with me before I get on, its very likely they won't be with me when I'm up either.... or be inclined to stop if I lose my balance, etc.

I'd strongly suggest checking your tack for fit. If the horse is backing away from you while you try to mount, he's telling you he doesn't want you up there.... it might be sourness... but it might not be, he might be finding something uncomfortable or painful and is telling you the best way he can... that should be respected.

If you can find nothing, here is how I help a horse that cant keep his feet still for mounting: I pretend like I'm going to mount, but never actually mount, until the horse is so bored he stands there and says 'well, get on already'

I'll stand as if I'm going to mount and just play with the stirrup, flap it, straighten it, flap the saddle, wiggle it, play with the girth, etc... If the horse starts walking, in any direction, I disengage his hq's - bring the rein around to the inside, flex his neck, and wait patiently until he takes 2 steps over with his hq's... this puts a 'stop' in a horse's mind. When he steps his hq's away, I praise. Then lead him back up to the same exact spot we're going to mount, and start again. Its important I find to bring them back to the same exact spot for mounting as it makes mounting a task with precise instruction - like teaching to ground tie - a horse'll take the lesson a bit more seriously if there are real rules.

When the horse can stand while I fuss with the saddle, then I pretend to mount by trying to put my foot in the stirrup and purposely missing. As long as the horse can stand still, laugh and joke and pet him... I say 'sorry ol boy! didn't eat my wheaties this morning, this'll take some time!'

I do this both sides.

When the horse is finally so bored about it, I bring him to a mounting block (I personally always use a block, even on ponies) and go through the whole thing again. if he ever walks off I dis the hq's and bring him back to the spot. Never angry, never impatient, just matter of fact.

When the horse can tolerate all of my silliness, and stands quietly with a soft eye, then I actually get on and praise. If I get on, and the horse immediately walks off before I've asked him to, then I stop him, dismount, and try it all over again. I do this both sides.

hope this helps.

[Harley2]

Most OTTBs are never taught to be mounted... the rider is always legged up as horse is walking or trotting even. Every OTTB I have ridden this has been a problem, and one that sometimes gets worse. My 4 y/o now I could not mount unless someone was holding her. Well I just moved to a new barn where they use alot of Natural horsemanship methods and the trainer helped me and my girl stands solid as a rock now. Its truly common sense.

First bring your mounting block to center of ring and either free work or lunge your horse around it. The only time she can rest is at the mounting block. If she takes a step its back to work. I did that for one day, than did it mounted. I did my normal flatwork and rather than letting her walk to relax I would take her to the mounting block halt her and pat her, making sure that as soon as she seemed a little antsy that I asked her to move off before she moved on her own. If she does move its right back to work. Now we move the mounting block all over the ring, the parking lot and elsewhere on the farm and she so gets it. Its wonderful. I am so grateful to have found something that works and is not forceful or unpleasant for either of us.

[belle4]

Buck1173, that is EXCELLENT advice and exactly what I do to teach a horse to be still when mounted. I will even go one step further and stand in the stirrups and then get down if the horse stays still. And then fully mount and get right back off on the other side.

[Equus.]

thankyou for the great advice all, rode yesterday morning and the night before and had no problems with this, so i am pretty sure it was him thinking 'yes work is over already' and then spitting it when he realised i was about to get back on however this still not acceptable I've called my chiro and she is coming early just to check him and plan to get my saddle re-fitted again just to be sure as he is really starting to fill out.