So I have apparently accidentally taught my horse to walk off from the mounting block/otherwise not stand still for me to get on… I’m not sure when or how this happened, but now I need to fix it- I’m more frustrated with myself than him because he used to be perfect about it. Any suggestions? I’d prefer to avoid punishment and if I could train this with mostly positive reinforcement that’d be great.
It takes the attitude “I have until midnight for you to get this right”.
i used to just keep circling my horse until he finally decided it was easier to stand still at the trailer fender than to keep moving off.
When I had four horses, I rode all of them bare back and could stand them anywhere to get on them. One time I straddled my heart horse over two fallen tree limbs — when I jumped, the tree limbs sprung me clear over my horse onto the ground — to the great laughing delight of my friend, lollol
i don’t believe re-training to stand still should involve any sort of punishment but it should involve boredom until the horse figures out he needs to stand still. Then you figure out what you are doing to make him move off before you are ready:)
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My horse used to have this problem but it’s easily corrected and definitely without punishment. I started with my horse on the ground before I got on. I would move him forward and back, side to side just so that he understood that I was in charge of where his feet went. Next I would work on bringing his head around to either side. Then I’d stand on the mounting block and bring his head around to the left side (out of simplicity because I’m mounting on the left). This made it so that if he was going to walk off it was slower because he was bent to one side and couldn’t just charge off forward. Once I was in the saddle I would intentionally move his feet around again. Circling to each side, walking forward then backing. Again just to remind him that I’m in charge, and also to break the habit of immediately walking forward the minute he sensed my weight in the stirrup.
I did this for about 2 weeks and now my horse stands beautifully to mount. I never needed to get aggressive with him, rather just make him think and keep him on his toes. He was so used to just walking away because I had unintentionally taught him to. Good luck!
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You might try standing in the stirrup before throwing a leg over. I accidentally discovered that my mare prefers that to one motion. It also gives you time and stability to correct forward movement before you finish mounting.
Stand your horse next to the mounting block, and if she tries to move off put her back - so if she takes a step forward you make her back a step back to where she was. If she steps sideways, you push her back the other side so she’s back where she was. When she’s standing by the block, get on, give her praise, and to start don’t make her stand too long before you walk her forward (but gradually increase the time).
My guys stand like rocks at the mounting block. I actually teach a “stand” command that is basically ground tying without dropping the reins, lead, etc long before we approach the mounting block- pretty much like teaching a dog a stay. I will also use treats- one treat when I give the stand command and one after I’m mounted and tap their left shoulder with my hand (this is permission to turn their head to get the treat). I’ve never had a food motivated horse not pick this up pretty much immediately
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Clicker training. Absolutely the easiest thing ever.
Thanks for the suggestions! I was thinking the “patience and repositioning” approach was probably going to be what got us there in the end, but I’ve actually been wanting to try clicker training with him. He’s a smart cookie and I think he probably gets bored with just dressage and little crossrails and short trail rides sometimes.
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Dressage if you are following program is to keep both the horse and the rider from getting bored.
I mount and then tap them along both sides with the whip until they are asked to walk forward. I did this after I rode a mare who was very sensitive and reacted when I was riding her to the rein touching her neck. I figure this lets them know that something touching them when mounting is nothing to be fearful of and the time means that when you are at a show or something where they are more stressed, they may not stand for the full time they do at home but they will stand long enough for you to get into the saddle.
This exactly. Has worked for me with multiple horses.
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This.
And they never move off until YOU tell them. It should ALWAYS be because you said so.
And vary the amount of time you make them stand after mounting.
The verbal commands I think, are easy to teach cause you can use them on the ground as well as while mounted = more times/opportunities to reinforce what they mean and the behavior.
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It can also help to work on mounting at the end of the ride instead of the beginning and solidify your cues/expectations then. The horse is going to be more tired and mentally ready to chill a bit, so some of the “we’re going to work!” anticipating gets taken out of the equation. And the horse’s reward for standing quietly is to be done for the day and go back to the barn, rather than going on to work.
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Another “same” vote here. I teach the stand command during ground work first, and then apply it to mounting. I use treats very similarly to teach them to remain standing until I give permission to walk off. I also go a step further and teach mine to come to me on the mounting block/picnic table/fence/log (whatever I am mounting from). I stand on the mounting block and then use a dressage whip or long crop to tap the opposite flank to bring the hind end over. I supplement with a voice cue and reward with a treat and eventually all of my horses become very good at complying with this, even if I don’t have a whip to assist.
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this is exactly what i do with Elvis, my little 6 yr old Walker. it works well.
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If he used to be perfect, he will re-learn quickly! I had the same problem, horse stands well at mounting block but moved off before I was ready or asked. I used 'Stand" and gave a treat when on board, and gradually increased time before treating. It only took a few rides, she is very reliable now.
I have a horse that backs up as soon as I am poised to get on Any suggestions for that?
This is what my lil guy did. I tried several tricks but getting his feet moving works the best. So if he moves, I get off the block and I just make him move his hindquarters. He picked up really fast it was better to stand still. It’ll be interesting to see how he is at shows where you’re mounting several times a day!
I have a very green mare. I am teaching her to stand still. I do very low drama corrections. Sometimes I have to set her up 3 or 4 times before she stands.
But my goal is for her to stand still until I am on and pick up the reins.
I have issues with my right side. So I need a steady horse that will give me time to swing that leg up and over.
Another thing to consider: your mounting procedure.
Are you quietly getting set or are you “plopping down,” gouging the side with your toe, taking too long, being too abrupt, being too unbalanced, etc.? Sometime letting somebody video you while you mount will give you an idea of how you may, or may not, be contributing to the problem.
My gelding developed a refusal to stand mounted problem and I did all I could to fix it without much success. He was not mean about it, just move off as a way to “resist” something I was doing. But what was that? What was I doing? He went to our instructor/trainer and she got him settled but he was not steady or reliable. She could not see anything that I was doing that was all that different from what she did but the horse did. Then my wife, who’d watched this whole thing, suggested I try the “Brazilian” system to mount. In short you mount the block, put the reins in your right hand with minimum contact and fix the hand against the neck but loosely so you can use the reins if necessary, use your left hand to stabilize yourself holding the mane, and push off in a smooth, continuous motion settling lightly on the saddle. It worked. No more “fidgeting” or stepping or anything else.
In many equine problems the horse is not the problem. In my case I was. I fixed me and I fixed the problem.
G.
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Interesting to break it down like that, G. It’s so routine I really had to stop and think about what I do when I mount! Today I took notice- I take reins in L hand with a chunk of mane and dressage whip (holding mane stabilises hand, you can drop it if need contact quickly), R hand on cantle, L foot in stirrup and smoothly over with R leg, settling gently into saddle. No rush or fuss. Settle feet in stirrups, gather reins, pat pony and walk on!
