I brought a new horse about a month ago.. when I brought him I had not problems mounting. over the last couple of weeks he as become difficult to mount.. not want to stand when I go to put my foot in the stirrup... but trying to walk off.. Ive tried shortening my inside rein so to brin him towards me when he does this but no luck so far.. taking him back to the same spot to mount over and over and over again.. its getting tedious..

any other suggestions other than repatition??? the horse hadnt been ridden for approx 3 yrs befor I brought him wondering if its a case of trying me out???

If he used to stand but now he doesn't-What's changed.
Was he held to mount
Head against fence/wall
Mounted from ground/block
Mounted from other side
Always lunged first
etc..
Are you-
Tapping in ribs w/ toe
Sitting/Thumping heavily
Pulling on reins
Kicking in butt while swinging leg over
etc..

Normally for every action there is an equal/opposite reaction.

Really analyze what you may be doing different.
No besides setting him back to where he was before walking off, no other majic training tool.

Congrats on your new guy.

If he used to stand but now he doesn't-What's changed. definately what Im trying to figure out???

Was he held to mount when I brought him yes my uncle held him whilst I mounted but he didnt have anyone holding him when he mouted and from memoryhe stood ther

Head against fence/wall yeap tried that he manages to walk away


Mounted from ground/block mounted from the ground

Mounted from other side nope

Always lunged first he was when I brought him the fellow lunged him first,, but as he was originally used for stock work I doubt he would have done this before going out to muster cattle.. but then again maybe he did???
etc..

Are you-
Tapping in ribs w/ toe not even gettng my foot in the stirrup or near the stirrup before he walks off

Sitting/Thumping heavily not that Im aware of

Pulling on reins ive tried mounting with loose reins .. he puts his head on the ground... having the near side rein shorter than the off side to bring his head around if he walks off... this makes him worse

Kicking in butt while swinging leg over nope..
etc..

Normally for every action there is an equal/opposite reaction. this is whats frustrating that I cant work it out.. I have a fellow who is a mate of my big brother coming this after noon to give me an idea... Ive thought of lunging him before I ride next time just to see if it makes a difference but this si something I dont want to do every time I want to ride.. and at times just wouldnt be possible... Im wondering if its a trying me out type of thing as he was always riden by men ???? I dont want to use harsh methods as in every other way he is a gentle fellow... being a brumby gives him a different personality to any other horse Ive ever owned... hope I can figure this out as its the only thing that I dont like about him

It sounds like the honeymoon is over. What i mean by this is your gelding was fine with being mounted the first couple of times b/c he thought he was going to be turned back out to do his own thing for another 3 years. Now, he knows he is going to have to work every time you get on and it's going to happen on a regular basis.

Try mounting from a block to see if this helps. If it does, he could be hurting from you pulling on his spine as you mount. If not and you are sure he is not in pain when you ride try this:


Start in the middle of an open space on the ground beside him as if you are going to mount. Put your hand at the horn (or pomel) with light contact on the reins (not connecting with his mouth but having to option to with minimal movement of your hand. Start by raising your leg as if you were going to mount. As soon as he goes to walk off, gently (per your horse) pull back untill he stops and backs a step. As soon as he backs, release the pressure. Repeat. For every step he takes forward, he takes an equal number backwards. Initially this method is time consuming but most tend to remember it consistently so that after the first few rides light pressure on the rein if he thinks about moving off will be enough. If/when he figures out the game (ie he knows the drill) and still tries to walk off, back him up quickly and with power (some people would call this running him backwards).


Let us know....

thanks circleK... I agree the honeymoon is over ... I will try your suggestion and see how I go

Yep...honeymoon's over and you mentioned that he's been used for cattle/stock work. Don't know your situation there but here (Nevada, USA) lots of the cowboys are tall and skinny and can just snag a stirrup with their toe and swing up and it doesn't matter to them if the horse steps off as they swing into the saddle. I'm older, fatter, more arthritic than these cowboys (to say nothing of shorter and less agile) and I like 'em to stand still... until I say to go. I have a 16 hand half QH and half Arab that was cowboy trained and he does the same thing. I've had him stand, saddled, while I do a lot of desensitizing kind of things (something the cowboys forget to do sometimes as well)....esp bumping him on his sides and over his butt. Every time he moves he gets put back into the same spot and the command to "stay" (yep...just like a dog command). Eventually (seemed like forever but was really only about an hour of total time) he stood still for the foot in the stirrup and standing but would start to move as I swung my leg over.....so he learned to circle into me (to the left) while I finished swinging into the saddle and to continue to circle (going nowhere!) until he stopped...and the circles got tighter and tighter until he was actually doing a pivot....once he stops he gets pets and scratches. If he starts to move then we circle the other direction and tighten down to a pivot...and he does 4-5 complete pivots...take the leg off of him and let him stop (he's willing by then!). Hard work for a big boy...he figured out pretty soon that standing still was a lot easier. We probably spent 2-3 hours total time going in circles but he figured it out....still thinks about moving but at most I get a lean forward and not a step..unless he wants to work more.

thanks colouredcowhorse... the stockmen over here are the same .. swing and go.. I have him all sorted out.. friend of my brothers came out and with in 5mins had him standing still to mount.. he turned his head to his shoulder and yes he turned around himself... but this only happened twice..

I worked with him a couple of days later using this technique and after 4 or so attempts to mount he had his head in the normal position.... which is great...

Im off to a natural horsemanship course in november (birthday press from my hubby and youngest) hoping to pick up a lot more tips and reawaken some dormant ones.

your art is beautiful...

thanks 1jumpcoach