Re: RC: Re: re:training question

[Liz Newfield <lizfield@jeffnet.org>]

A training tip for this problem.
Use a bucket turned upside down or a mounting block or some other object
that you can easily mount from.  Stand your horse next to it.  Make him
stand while you stand on it and handle him and his tack.  Then begin your
mount.  If he steps away, correct him by making him step back.  For
example, if he steps forward, take your foot out of the stirrup, step off
of your mounting block, and back him until he is back in position.  If he
backs, lead him forward.  If he moves away, make him side pass back.
Always make him move back to the mounting block in the oppositie way he
moved away.  Never lead him in a circle.  Repeat this until he stands,
maintaining your cool and patience.   After you have mounted, ride him back
to the mounting block and dismount onto it.  Handle him as above and
remount.  Do this a few times each time you ride.  It is amazing how
quickly they learn this way.  (It took the trainer who taught me this about
15 minutes to mount my very head strong  horse.  It took me two very short
training sessions to get him to stand.  Now he stands perfectly to be
mounted.)
>
>> This might seem like a stupid question to some of you but have any of you
>had
>> a horse that acted up while you were trying to mount and if so what did
>you
>> do to put a stop to it?
>
>With my horse, nothing.  I figured out how he moves and get on him anyway.
>That may sound silly, but the harder he is to mount, the better I feel.
>He's in a pasture that is in the middle of a small town.  Many of the town's
>children think nothing of entering the horse pasture (stupid) and RIDING OUR
>HORSES.  I can't stand that.  It's a pet peeve that makes me madder than a
>hornet.  If my horse moves off while being mounted, the better chance I have
>of people NOT riding him.
>
>Having said that....I rode an Arabian that was very difficult to mount
>before I got Apache.  Hustler wasn't mine, so I didn't feel as strongly as I
>do now about letting him move off when trying to mount.  I would get him to
>stand still for me and then just lead him off without getting on him.  Then
>I'd just jump on him when he was relaxed and not expecting me.  This was a
>case of behavior acting out, not related to anything painful.
>
>If you're riding with a saddle, I'd check for saddle fit.  Make sure
>nothing's pinching him; and check for a too tight girth.  Also, check for
>back soreness. I'd imagine that if his back hurt, your horse wouldn't want
>you up there.
>
>If nothing pain-related shows up, I'd go for retraining him.  Work with his
>ground manners.  Make sure he leads well, ties well, stands well.
>
>Good luck,
>April & Apache (the "A" team)
>Chattanooga, TN
>
>
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=