Need advice on training around mounting block

Beamersmom · 08-20-2008, 09:43 AM

Hi! My horse is tall and I'm short and not nearly as supple as I used to be!

I want to get my guy used to letting me mount from a block, fence, bucket, whatever. He's a great guy with great manners, but he doesn't seem to like me to stand on anything beside him. He will move his back end away. Strange, though, he doesn't mind it if someone give me a leg up, he just doesn't seem to like objects. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Slim Pikkens · 08-20-2008, 10:55 AM

This might work for you. Move your block into the open at least 30' away from anything. Put your lunge line on him and lunge him a few times. Have him move up to the block and the moment he begins moving away, chase him out on the lunge and have him circle 3 or 4 times at a brisk trot. You may have to do this a few more times as it often takes 3 for him to figure out that when he swings his rump away he has to work. You may also try just grooming him from that elevation as your new height can be a little disconcerting to the horse.

**gbarmranch** · 08-20-2008, 11:21 AM

When we used to train them for english, we simply walked them up to it, and kept doing that until they would stand comfortably near it - let them sniff it, walk around it, etc..

We always used a second person to hold the horse while they were introduced to someone standing on it, and eventually mounting from it..

It never took more that a few days for it all to work out so that you could do it on your own..

pasopony · 08-20-2008, 02:49 PM

Another way is to put the mounting block about 2 ft from the fence and lead your horse between the mounting block and fence. He then has no way to swing his butt from you. If needed, you can go to a corner and put his head in the corner so he can't walk forward or swing his butt away. This has always worked for me in the past. Once they learn you're getting on and they're not supposed to move, it's easy to take them anywhere to mount.

A J · 08-20-2008, 04:38 PM

I've seen some horses who are just kinda naughty about standing next to the mounting block, at least in a way that you can mount, and in those cases, I have used something similar to what slim suggested (although my method can be done against a wall, but the horse needs to know a couple things prior to doing it, too) but it's basically the same principle.

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08-20-2008, 09:43 AM
Beamersmom Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Crestwood, KY Posts: 19	Need advice on training around mounting block Hi! My horse is tall and I'm short and not nearly as supple as I used to be! I want to get my guy used to letting me mount from a block, fence, bucket, whatever. He's a great guy with great manners, but he doesn't seem to like me to stand on anything beside him. He will move his back end away. Strange, though, he doesn't mind it if someone give me a leg up, he just doesn't seem to like objects. Any suggestions greatly appreciated! __________________ "But how can you talk if you don't have a brain?" "I'm not sure. But then, some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?" Wizard of Oz

08-20-2008, 10:55 AM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,948	This might work for you. Move your block into the open at least 30' away from anything. Put your lunge line on him and lunge him a few times. Have him move up to the block and the moment he begins moving away, chase him out on the lunge and have him circle 3 or 4 times at a brisk trot. You may have to do this a few more times as it often takes 3 for him to figure out that when he swings his rump away he has to work. You may also try just grooming him from that elevation as your new height can be a little disconcerting to the horse.

08-20-2008, 11:21 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,233	When we used to train them for english, we simply walked them up to it, and kept doing that until they would stand comfortably near it - let them sniff it, walk around it, etc.. We always used a second person to hold the horse while they were introduced to someone standing on it, and eventually mounting from it.. It never took more that a few days for it all to work out so that you could do it on your own.. __________________ Quality FoundationQuarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open – Thomas Dewar

08-20-2008, 02:49 PM
pasopony Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 820	Another way is to put the mounting block about 2 ft from the fence and lead your horse between the mounting block and fence. He then has no way to swing his butt from you. If needed, you can go to a corner and put his head in the corner so he can't walk forward or swing his butt away. This has always worked for me in the past. Once they learn you're getting on and they're not supposed to move, it's easy to take them anywhere to mount. __________________ Horses are not my whole life, but horses make my life whole.

08-20-2008, 04:38 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,356	I've seen some horses who are just kinda naughty about standing next to the mounting block, at least in a way that you can mount, and in those cases, I have used something similar to what slim suggested (although my method can be done against a wall, but the horse needs to know a couple things prior to doing it, too) but it's basically the same principle. __________________ Try not, do. Do or do not. There is no try.