horse won't stand still when being mounted...

Tallboots · 06-28-2009, 03:51 PM

I recently have bought a new horse. When I bought Maya her owner said she had a mounting problem. But when she was at the barn where I tried her, she was perfectly fine getting with the lady getting on. She moved forward a little bit, but it was nothing drastic.

Okay. So I get her to my barn and I let her get settled in.. etc.. I get to my first ride and I put her next to the mounting block, start to step up and she starts spinning around the mounting block. I got her to stop while I was still on the mounting block. But she wouldn't let me get on. I figured she might have an issue with mounting blocks.. so I asked my trainer to give me a leg up. Well.. Maya proceeds to trot away when my instructor started to give me a leg. Eventually I got on.. but we had to have two people hold her. She freaked out (she jolted forward and did a really tiny rear) about that.. So I don't want to do that to her again.

Second ride. I sat on the mounting block.. basically treated her like a 3 year old, first time ever seeing the mounting block.. etc.. and she still wouldn't hold still to let me get on. So then, because I didn't want someone to hold her due to what happened last time, I tried getting on from the ground. This worked better.. I got on in about five minutes and she was remotely calm about it.

So, third ride she goes back to square one.. It took me a half hour to get on today. She would NOT hold still. She started getting nippy, and really stressed. (the poor thing broke a sweat she was so scared). I didn't make her hold still by the mounting block, I walked her around a little.. etc.. Eventually I got on from the ground.. again.

So here's my problem. I don't want to always get on Maya from the ground because it could really hurt her back. But I don't want to put myself and others at danger by using leg ups and the mounting block. Does anyone have an idea how I could fix this? I think this might just boil down to her being in a new place, with a new person, and not having full confidence in me and trusting me that I won't hurt her. But until that happens.. anyone have any ideas?

(You all get cookies if you read this whole thing

)

Eeyore95_99 · 06-28-2009, 03:57 PM

I've heard of putting a horse next to a straw bale and get her to stand quietly. It's supposed to simulate a mounting block. I don't know if there's going to be a quick fix for that one, my geldings can get kind of poopy about mounting. I've resorted to using a 5 gallon bucket turned upside down. When they've decided to stand still up I go. Probably not very helpful, but when I don't have anyone around to hold on to them, it's the best solution I've found.

Tallboots · 06-28-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eeyore95_99

I've heard of putting a horse next to a straw bale and get her to stand quietly. It's supposed to simulate a mounting block. I don't know if there's going to be a quick fix for that one, my geldings can get kind of poopy about mounting. I've resorted to using a 5 gallon bucket turned upside down. When they've decided to stand still up I go. Probably not very helpful, but when I don't have anyone around to hold on to them, it's the best solution I've found.

Yeah. I thought about using a make-shift mounting block.. But I haven't tried it yet.. I'll have to try that out tomorrow when I go to ride.

LindaMM · 06-28-2009, 04:23 PM

This is likely something that will have to be worked thru in stages.

If she will let you mount from the ground, but still fusses, start there. Get her to the point where she will stand quitely for mounting from the ground. How? My favorite is to verbally ask her to "stand still'. Attempt to mount. If she moves off, quietly back her up to the original starting point, or a little farther back. Ask her to "stand still" again, and re-attempt. Continue all steps until she does stand still. If you are consistent, each mounting attempt should bring less and less fuss than the last one.

When you are done with the ride, try re-mounting. The more times you successfully mount, the quicker the progress will be. But make no mistake, it will take a lot of patience.

Once the ground mounting is successful, re-introduce mounting from another surface. I agree with the straw bale idea. It is nice and "natural", plus gives a longer surface for you to attmept to mount from. But, follow the same procedures... asking her to "stand still", and if she does not, make her back up.

Consistency, patience, and repetition are the most important tools you willl have.

Nickers2002 · 06-28-2009, 04:30 PM

Have you tried mounting from the other side to see if it's better with the block? My gelding spins away when I try to mount on the left usually, but he's fine on the right. Maybe she's weaker on the left side?

Sara

Blue_rose2001 · 06-28-2009, 05:08 PM

What about having someone hold her halter (have 2 hay bales set up on either side). Lead her throught the "chute" several times. Making her stop and stand for a minute in the center.

When she stands after a few walk thru's, you mount her bareback. Sit for a minute and slide off on other side. No riding that day. Just working on mounting.

Then try it saddled. After getting off her, give her a treat. Maybe she just needs some re-assurance that every time you mount doesn't mean a ride. Maybe she feels that by not letting you mount, she will get out of work. Just trying to provide you an option. Not saying it will work. Just something to try.

Tallboots · 06-28-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue_rose2001

What about having someone hold her halter (have 2 hay bales set up on either side). Lead her throught the "chute" several times. Making her stop and stand for a minute in the center.

When she stands after a few walk thru's, you mount her bareback. Sit for a minute and slide off on other side. No riding that day. Just working on mounting.

Then try it saddled. After getting off her, give her a treat. Maybe she just needs some re-assurance that every time you mount doesn't mean a ride. Maybe she feels that by not letting you mount, she will get out of work. Just trying to provide you an option. Not saying it will work. Just something to try.

Well I think she gets excited because she's getting ridden.. I'm not sure though. And I dont really want to try to get on her bareback just because i dont want to freak her out more if i were to slide off to the side by accident.

lbhugg · 06-28-2009, 05:39 PM

When you get on her make her flex her head toward you and wait untill she stands and you can get on the most important thing once you get on is to stay where you are at I like to make them flex for a few minutes. She will get to the point that you won't have to hold her head aroubd because she knows she isn't going anywhere

Jim_in_PA · 06-28-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eeyore95_99

I've heard of putting a horse next to a straw bale and get her to stand quietly.

This is essentially the method I've used with Elvis to get him to learn to stand quietly for mounting. Using a portable mounting block, I used one of the jump standards as a barrier to keep him from shifting sideways. I find I have to do that a lot less now; only occasionally when he's particularly fresh. Repetition also figured into this training. Mount...walk off...stop...dismount...return to mounting block...mount...repeat, etc.

Of the three of us in the family currently riding him, only my older daughter still has some issues with keeping him put. Some of that is she simply forgets to use her voice. The rest is that she's less-than-graceful mounting. My younger doesn't have the same problem, nor to I at this point.

redhorseridge · 06-28-2009, 06:33 PM

My husband's gelding was this way when we bought him. So, when he was mounting, if the horse moved, the horse got worked... we'd work him in circles, changing directions frequently, until he wanted to stop then go a little more. Then try to mount; if he moved, he got worked. Took three times and he now stands. Made it easy for him to do the right thing, and made him work if he did the wrong thing.

We made sure to rule out any physical issues first (saddle that pinched, sore back, etc).

06-28-2009, 03:51 PM	#1
Tallboots Full Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 205 Images: 3 Blog Entries: 3	horse won't stand still when being mounted... I recently have bought a new horse. When I bought Maya her owner said she had a mounting problem. But when she was at the barn where I tried her, she was perfectly fine getting with the lady getting on. She moved forward a little bit, but it was nothing drastic. Okay. So I get her to my barn and I let her get settled in.. etc.. I get to my first ride and I put her next to the mounting block, start to step up and she starts spinning around the mounting block. I got her to stop while I was still on the mounting block. But she wouldn't let me get on. I figured she might have an issue with mounting blocks.. so I asked my trainer to give me a leg up. Well.. Maya proceeds to trot away when my instructor started to give me a leg. Eventually I got on.. but we had to have two people hold her. She freaked out (she jolted forward and did a really tiny rear) about that.. So I don't want to do that to her again. Second ride. I sat on the mounting block.. basically treated her like a 3 year old, first time ever seeing the mounting block.. etc.. and she still wouldn't hold still to let me get on. So then, because I didn't want someone to hold her due to what happened last time, I tried getting on from the ground. This worked better.. I got on in about five minutes and she was remotely calm about it. So, third ride she goes back to square one.. It took me a half hour to get on today. She would NOT hold still. She started getting nippy, and really stressed. (the poor thing broke a sweat she was so scared). I didn't make her hold still by the mounting block, I walked her around a little.. etc.. Eventually I got on from the ground.. again. So here's my problem. I don't want to always get on Maya from the ground because it could really hurt her back. But I don't want to put myself and others at danger by using leg ups and the mounting block. Does anyone have an idea how I could fix this? I think this might just boil down to her being in a new place, with a new person, and not having full confidence in me and trusting me that I won't hurt her. But until that happens.. anyone have any ideas? (You all get cookies if you read this whole thing ) __________________ This is a girl, who fell in love with horses... and never looked back.

06-28-2009, 03:57 PM	#2
Eeyore95_99 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Between a rock and a hard place Posts: 591 Images: 31	I've heard of putting a horse next to a straw bale and get her to stand quietly. It's supposed to simulate a mounting block. I don't know if there's going to be a quick fix for that one, my geldings can get kind of poopy about mounting. I've resorted to using a 5 gallon bucket turned upside down. When they've decided to stand still up I go. Probably not very helpful, but when I don't have anyone around to hold on to them, it's the best solution I've found. __________________ In loving memory of Duke, 2004-April 2, 2009 Proud member of the Curvy Women's riding club! Join the HGS prayer Chain!

06-28-2009, 04:23 PM	#4
LindaMM Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,353 Images: 116 Blog Entries: 2	This is likely something that will have to be worked thru in stages. If she will let you mount from the ground, but still fusses, start there. Get her to the point where she will stand quitely for mounting from the ground. How? My favorite is to verbally ask her to "stand still'. Attempt to mount. If she moves off, quietly back her up to the original starting point, or a little farther back. Ask her to "stand still" again, and re-attempt. Continue all steps until she does stand still. If you are consistent, each mounting attempt should bring less and less fuss than the last one. When you are done with the ride, try re-mounting. The more times you successfully mount, the quicker the progress will be. But make no mistake, it will take a lot of patience. Once the ground mounting is successful, re-introduce mounting from another surface. I agree with the straw bale idea. It is nice and "natural", plus gives a longer surface for you to attmept to mount from. But, follow the same procedures... asking her to "stand still", and if she does not, make her back up. Consistency, patience, and repetition are the most important tools you willl have. __________________ If the world was truly a rational place, men would ride sidesaddle. ~Rita Mae Brown If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. -Abraham Maslow

06-28-2009, 04:30 PM	#5
Nickers2002 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 368	Have you tried mounting from the other side to see if it's better with the block? My gelding spins away when I try to mount on the left usually, but he's fine on the right. Maybe she's weaker on the left side? Sara __________________ "A woman needs two animals - the horse of her dreams and the jckss to pay for it"

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06-28-2009, 05:08 PM	#6
Blue_rose2001 Full Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Big Creek, MS Posts: 195 Images: 3	What about having someone hold her halter (have 2 hay bales set up on either side). Lead her throught the "chute" several times. Making her stop and stand for a minute in the center. When she stands after a few walk thru's, you mount her bareback. Sit for a minute and slide off on other side. No riding that day. Just working on mounting. Then try it saddled. After getting off her, give her a treat. Maybe she just needs some re-assurance that every time you mount doesn't mean a ride. Maybe she feels that by not letting you mount, she will get out of work. Just trying to provide you an option. Not saying it will work. Just something to try.

06-28-2009, 05:39 PM	#8
lbhugg Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 534 Images: 9	When you get on her make her flex her head toward you and wait untill she stands and you can get on the most important thing once you get on is to stay where you are at I like to make them flex for a few minutes. She will get to the point that you won't have to hold her head aroubd because she knows she isn't going anywhere

06-28-2009, 06:33 PM	#10
redhorseridge Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 775	My husband's gelding was this way when we bought him. So, when he was mounting, if the horse moved, the horse got worked... we'd work him in circles, changing directions frequently, until he wanted to stop then go a little more. Then try to mount; if he moved, he got worked. Took three times and he now stands. Made it easy for him to do the right thing, and made him work if he did the wrong thing. We made sure to rule out any physical issues first (saddle that pinched, sore back, etc).