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This is a kind of embarrassing question to ask, seeing as it's so simple but I'm having a bit of trouble. Anyway, the horse that I ride tends to be a bit on the stubborn side, and whenever my trainer isn't with me when I mount, she always moves away from the mounting block. I'll be standing on the block, about to put my foot in the stirrup, when she just moves too far away or forwards so that I have to move the mounting block and try again. Eventually, someone usually comes and helps me, but it's embarrassing that I can't even get on Lucky!
I'm horribly passive and really need to get tougher when it comes to horses. One way to help my passiveness would be to make Lucky stand still for me while I mount. Any advice would be extremely appreciated. =)
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There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. -Winston Churchill
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Try putting a lunge rope on her and when you try to mount and she moves away make her run around you in a couple circles, then make her stop and try to mount her again. Every time she moves away from you you need to make her feel uncomfortable by putting pressure on her and making her run. Eventually she will learn that its a lot easier to stand there and let you mount her.
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Honestly, I taught my horse not to do that in a very simple way.
1. I would lead Merrill up to the table
2. He would scoot his butt away
3. I would take a flying leap onto his back.
However, I would NOT suggest this, as the horse could easily move away and you could end up with a mouthful of dust. :P But it worked very well, because he learned quickly that I was mounting him no matter where he was standing.
So he decided he didn't need to move his butt away. lol
But again, I am NOT suggesting you do this!
Before I mount (now that I'm smarter) I lead Merrill around a little. We go through whoa, back up, and walk. I do this for about two minutes before walking him up to the table to mount. By then, he is really listening to me and obeys the whoa cue well.
I would suggest trying the latter, NOT the former!
 
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I had this same problem. Herc evidentaly was anticipating my mounting and he would get antsy and side step away. I got to the point where I'd put his halter on his neck tied to the pole beside us so he couldn't move but so far. I don't this idea was really smart, but it worked. I gave up on the mounting w/halter and now just deal with it
 Hercules 16yr old Appaloosa Stallion
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Does your horse know how to move his hindquarters over on command?
That is one thing you can teach your horse that will help you with mounting, especially if you trail ride and find yourself able to mount from an awkward obstacle. Take a dressage whip and teach your horse to disengage his hindquarters. By teaching them to move their hindquarters away from pressure, it makes lining up for a mounting block, a log outside of the trail, etc, much easier.
I would also take care that you are not unbalancing your horse when you mount. It's hard for a horse when you are unbalanced, and pulling on the saddle or throwing yourself up there only makes it more difficult. I would also make sure that your tack fits appropriately; many horses know that mounting is the beginning of work. I also suggest doing training periods of having your horse stand quietly at the mounting block. Start off slow, and praise any length, even if it's just a few seconds, of your horse standing there. Go for longer periods of time, and simply circle and put him back in the original position by the mounting block if he moves. This can take a bit, but it's one of the ways I taught my appaloosa to stand quietly for mounting.
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Thanks for the help, everyone. =) Lucky is just a school horse, and a stubborn one at that. I tried walking her around, but she still didn't stop. I had to have a younger girl who was in the arena hold her for me. xD Lucky listens when my trainer is there, because she knows she can't get away with it around her, but I'm very passive, so she thinks she can do it around me.
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There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. -Winston Churchill
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That's too bad she's a lesson horse. Groundwork would help millions.
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| First off, when a horse moves away from the mounting block, never move the block to the horse. Move the horse back to the block. What would you do if the only way to mount out on the trail was off a log or a boulder? You can't move a boulder to wherever the horse feels like standing. YOU have to choose where you get on. While this issue is often a behavioral one, it could also be physical. Check tack fit, and watch the way you mount. If you have an ill-fitting saddle, or if you have a tendency to plop down on his back, you could be causing him discomfort, which he tries to avoid by stepping away from you as you go to mount. If you rule out physical issues, work on general obedience. The horse needs to learn that when you say whoa, his feet do not move. At all. Walk/halt and trot/halt transitions both on the ground and in the saddle can help with this. If he moves at a halt, don't just halt him again. Back him to where you stopped him originally and make him stand there. At first, praise him for just a few seconds of a good halt and let him walk on. Gradually increase the time he is expected to stand still until he will wait patiently in one spot for several minutes at a time. When actually mounting, halt him at the mounting block and just stand there for a minute. Pet him and walk on both sides of him, praising him for standing still. Then go stand on the mounting block but don't get on. Keep petting him and praising him as long as he stands still. Then, eventually, get on. Just sit there for a while, still without asking him to move, and still praising him for not moving. He shouldn't walk off as soon as you get on. He should politely wait for you to get your stirrups and get situated before you ask him to move on. If at any time during this process, he moves, scold him and move him back to exactly where he was. Once he's standing there, return to nice mode and praise him for standing still. During your ride, occasionally ride up to the mounting block and park him there to give him a break from working, and also go there when you get off, so that he learns that the mounting block is a pretty cool place to be.
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I'm horribly passive and really need to get tougher when it comes to horses. One way to help my passiveness would be to make Lucky stand still for me while I mount. Any advice would be extremely appreciated. =)
I am the exact same way, and my horse is doing the exact thing that Lucky is doing. When I first brought my horse to my farm he was pretty leary of our mounting block because it has tools in it and makes noise. We took some time and got him used to it and now he has no fear. BUT, as soon I step on the block and put weight in the stirrup he starts to walk off! I usually have to have someone holding him as well. To try and break this habit I have been working with him on the ground a lot and practicing walk/halt and trot/halt transitions. It seems to help a bit. I think it's just going to take some time. Good-luck!
"In Riding a Horse, We Borrow Freedom" ~Helen Thompson Siggy Photo Coming Soon!!
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My horse does this too, but he's getting a lot better. What I do is lead him up to the mounting block, tighten the reins, and put a crop on the opposite side of his neck (on the other side of where I'm standing). Then, I step up onto the mounting block all the while telling him what a good boy he is. If he doesn't move I get up into the stirrup, making sure I'm balance. If he walks away while I am just getting on, then I halt him, and force him to back up a couple steps, then I stop him again. If he doesn't move then I pat him and let him walk forward.
When I'm trying to mount him, if he doesn't let me get on and moves away I get off the mounting black and force him to back up, telling him "bad boy". If after the third try, I still can't get on, then I tap him quite hard with the crop on his said, backing him up. Sometimes a small smack works too. Afterwards, he normally stand quietly enough to let me get on.
You could also ask your trainer for tips.
I hope this helped, good luck!
Rev It Up (Revy): 15.2h chestnut QH gelding 
"In riding a horse we borrow freedom"
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