I ride a 25 yr old QH gelding, who is well-behaved but won't stand still when I try to mount. Suggestions?

Question

He swings his hind end away, at best leaving me on the mounting block and at worst pulling me off it. When I back him into a corner, he moves forward or backwards. He does not respond to rein contact, which indeed seems to make him simply back up. He is otherwise VERY quiet and well-behaved. He is more used to Western than English and seems not to pull away when mounted from the ground, in Western tack, with no rein contact. Unfortunately, I ride English and would like to correct this problem. Additionally, while I can have a helper hold him, I like to hack alone in some situations (such as when I want to focus on canter work without worrying about running down lesson students in the indoor riding ring). I have been told to give him a treat as I mount, avoid touching the reins, mount quickly (he simply pulls away as I near the block), put contact on the outside rein, and more from various people. Nothing has worked. Help.

Answer 1

My horse does the same thing! I carry a crop and smack him on the butt if he tries to back up. That used to make him stand still, but not anymore. Today I put a mounting block on either side of him though so he couldn't walk sideways and i could smack him on the butt or pull the reins of he tried to walk off like that and he stood there long enough for me to get on. Maybe it'll work for u?

Answer 2

whip him in the butt with the crop not hard just meaning buisness!

Answer 3

I also think to give his bottay a tap. You could also lunge him after every time he tries these shanangans and then he'll think: stand still = just ride. don't stand still = lunge and a ride.

At 25 you would think he would have calmed down by now.

Answer 4

If other than this he is a well behaved horse and does fine with western you should definately check and make sure your english take fits him. If it fits him then you might want to try and add extra padding to even out weight. [Like a foam pad]

Answer 5

My horse did this same thing.  I cured his problem real quick.  When you first go to mount your horse and he moves off without you jump off him immediately and spin him in a circle towards you.  After you circle him try to mount him again and keep pressure on both your reins when you mount. If he should take a step again immediately spin him again.  Horses hate doing circles.  Eventually they get sick of this game and they give up. He should stand for you in time.  Be persistant with this technique don't let him move a muscle when mounting.  Good luck.

Answer 6

since you dont want to constantly ask someone for help holding your horse and not wanting (or easily able) to get on from the ground...i would say to let him know that you mean business...he just might not like that you are standing above him (horses do not like things above their heads, because of fight or flight instinct)

but, work slowly with him, and since he's pretty old, it might take some time for him to understand the concept  that you are getting at.  like, just stand on the mounting block, and praise him for standing still.  if he decides to move, start lunging him.  if he stands still, he gets a cookie....if he moves, he gets worked.  next, move to putting SOME weight into the stirrup (like just putting your foot into the stirrup) and go through with the same procedure.  stand still:  treat, move: work.  as he starts to understnad what you are asking from him, you can move to putting weight in the stirrup, then all the way to mounting.  and make sure to praise him every step of the way!!!

good luck, and hope i helped!

Answer 7

Here is an excellent article on getting a horse to stand still while you get on.  It is by a trainer whom I know personally, and I recommend his method.  There are other good training tips on this site, too.  Plus, you can submit a question to this trainer and get answers for horse training questions.

http://www.liverystable.net/kevin_advice...

He has about 4 different things you can try with this horse and the problem you're having with him moving away when you try to get on.  I'm certain one of them will solve your problem.

And I don't advise giving the horse a treat as you get on...just teaches the horse to think it's eating time rather than riding time, and soon all he'll wanna do is reach back to get a treat.

Good luck.

Answer 8

Take an entire session you would normally do riding, and work on mounting.  Start with bringing him up to the mounting block.  Position it correctly and step away from him, holding the reins, if necessary.  Ask him to stand there.  Tell him he is good, walk him in a circle and line him up again or pick up the mounting block and set it down again.  Again, ask him to stand and take a few steps back.  Continue this until he stands quietly.  Praise and give him a break by walking around or just petting him a bit.

Next step, get up on the mounting block and ask him to stand.  If he is good, step down and away while praising.  Step up on the mounting block again.  Again, step down if he stand.  If he does not stand, stay close to him and ask him to stand, reposition him, etc.  When he stands, step off the mounting block and a few steps away praising.  Repeat until he is standing and even looking bored.

Next step is putting a foot in the stirrup and repeat as above, just the foot in the stirrup, no weight.  The stepping away is an important part of the process, so do not skip it.  Stepping away relieves the pressure of a flight animal having something potentially scary or unwanted close.

Next step is weight in the stirrup, then stepping in the stirrup and leaning against the saddle a bit.  Then stepping in the stirrup and leaning over the saddle. then get on and off immediately.  Again each step repeated with immediate release of stepping away (so long as he is good) until he looks bored with the whole thing.  All of these steps should be done with minimal rein contact - the goal is to be able to do each step without touching the reins at all.

Once you can get on him a few times without him moving off, get off and be done for the day.  Whether it take ten minutes or an hour - be done for the day.  The next few times you ride, start with getting on the mounting block and stepping away a few times before getting on and riding.

When I work with horses like this, I repeat each step on his left and his right side so that if something happens, you can get on his right side.