#66 Mounting

#66 Mounting 

It is somewhat important that your little darling stands still when you go to climb up on her/him.  If they are moving around, they are talking to you and telling you that they are not paying attention or they just are not ready for you to get up there.  So LISTEN.

  There are TONS of ways to get them to stand still - the video shows just a few.  I slap (flop) the stirrups a lot while they are moving and then stop slapping the stirrups as soon as they stop moving, then go to get on, if they start moving, I start slapping the stirrups, when they stop, I stop and then try to get on.  This usually will only take a few minutes but consistency is the key here.  Just don't get on when they are moving.  

 

The 'slapping" or "flopping" of the stirrups - it is simply aggravating them and they stand still because they end up disliking the aggravation.

And, once your body is up there, have them stand still, NOT immediately walk off.  If they go to walk off without your permission, do a whoa, or a backup,  Wait,  Keep doing this until they stand still and YOU ask them to move out.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS            Smilla13@gmail.com  (Mary Dixon)         www.RideNYS.com

Tip # 23: Tree stumps, mounting blocks and the splits.

If you go to mount your horse from a block or tree stump in the woods or picnic table or whatever, and he moves away from you as you are about to get on and you're ready to do the splits   - this works well.  First, from the ground, then once he knows it, from the saddle:  use your crop and tap on his hip to move him over toward you (you will probably want to reach across and over his hip to get to the opposite hip ) or wherever you want him to go and  as soon as he does it - at first,  even the tiniest itty-bitty move, stop the tap. Do it again and again until he gets the idea.

 The only way your darling  knows he got  right answer is if you stop the tap immediately when he moves the distance and direction you want him to do.

Once, he has it down on one hip side, start on other hip side from the ground.

Once he has that down, start teaching it while you are up on the saddle (this is fun).  When he learns it under saddle, you can get him to wiggle his happy little butt side to side like there is no tomorrrow.  And, he'll be so proud of himself !

Mary Dixon    Adventure Horse Riding in NYS                             RideNYS.com

Tip #15: Horse Stands Still for Mounting

If your horse starts to move when you go to get up on him, he is either jacking with you or trying to tell you that he is not ready for you to climb up on him (meaning possible trouble).  So, don't do it - even though you are athletic enough to do so!  If he is jacking with you, then he is not respecting you as his leader, and in his DNA is the requirement that he finds a strong leader to follow and protect him.  So, now you have to do YOUR JOB !

   I have never seen this not work - (about 30 horses with horrible mounting habits).  The second your foot goes toward the stirrup or you grab the mane to mount, and he starts to move, keep foot out of stirrup and send him in a circle to the left, to the right, to the left, to the right. Make him work.  Cause the wrong thing to be uncomfortable.  Or bang the stirrups against his side or pound on the top of the saddle - and the SECOND he stops moving, you stop banging or pounding.  Go to get up.  He moves - do the above over,  Get up - he moves, do the above over.  Go to get up, he moves- do the above over.  He will stand still eventually in about 5 or 10 min max)  It just requires persistence on your part.  Once he is still and you climb up on him, STAY still - do not go forward - teach him to wait.  If he moves forward, move him backward.

 Consistency - you will have to do this ALL THE TIME now or you will screw him up. 

All of our darlings (13 of them)  stand still for saddling (we do not tie them)  and for mounting.  They  don't move because it is easier for them to be quiet than getting annoyed with flapping stirrups and/or thumping on top of the saddle. .

When you have some time and are not in a hurry, try this - you'll be impressed.

Adventure Horse Riding in NYS       RideNYS.com

Mounting Horse who is not Moving -

Guest Saddling without Tying