I have a 16 hand mare and I am only a little over five feet tall. I always have to use a mounting block and if I have to get off when I am trail riding I am in real trouble unless I can find rock or tree stump or something else to stand on so that I can reach the stirrup. The problem is that my horse often will move while I am trying to get on her. If I have the mounting block I can move it to where she moved but on the trail that is a real problem. My question is how can I teach her to stand still while I am using the mounting block?

I see your problem. I think that a lot of people have this problem. In fact it is similar to the question that I addressed in the news-letter in February 2004. I would suggest that you read that article for some information on the fundamental problem of a horse that won’t stand still while mounting. That article, however, didn’t take into consideration the need for a mounting block. The mounting block just adds a level of complexity to the process but it is a very correctable problem.

Fixing this problem is fun and is something you can work on even if you only have ten minutes to spend with your horse. Your goal is, instead of taking your horse to the mounting block you will teach her to move to the mounting block on her own sideways! So, let’s get started! You will need to take your horse to a paddock or a pasture where the fence has a right angle to it. She should have on a well fitted halter and a fairly long (10’) lead rope. You will have a dressage whip with you as well. The whip will serve only as a mild irritant and an extension of your arm. Eventually you will be able to do away with the whip and just point to your horse’s hip and she will willingly sidepass to the spot where you want to mount from.

I start out with the horse in a corner with the fence in front of her to block her forward motion and a fence along her right side to block her ability to move away from you. This sets up the training environment in such a way that it maximizes the probability that she will succeed easily. Now face your horse’s left shoulder and hold the lead rope about a foot from the snap. Take the training whip and lightly tap your horse on the hip. The key word here is lightly. A light tap is just enough for the horse to respond to the touch of the whip. Keep tapping your horse until she makes even the slightest move toward you. The instant that she even leans in your direction stop tapping her hip.

When I teach this I will lean away from the horse to indicate that I want her to come towards me. Be sure to accept the slightest move toward you at first and stop tapping and rub your horse on the neck and speak some kind words to her. Start tapping again and ask your horse to move towards you. Each time she moves towards you stop tapping and reward her. Often horses will move their front feet towards you first and that is fine. If they move the front feet first the next time don’t stop tapping until the hind feet move in your direction. For awhile they may alternate between moving the front feet and the hind end towards but eventually they will start to move on a more even sidepass. Now gradually stand further and further from your horse when start tapping and asking her to move towards you. This is where the longer lead rope comes in. The next step is to move away from the fence and start tapping. You may have to block her forward motion with the lead rope but keep tapping until she moves towards you and stop tapping and reward her. Be sure to only tap her when she is standing still.

Now, let’s add the mounting block. Position your horse a few feet away from the block and cue her to move toward you and consequently toward the mounting block. Pretty soon you will be able to sidepass twenty feet toward the mounting block and your horse will be happy to stand while you mount. This can be taught usually within an hour. If you don’t have an hour just spend 10 minutes with her and those ten minute segments will all add up. I recommend that after she has learned this with the whip you teach her the same behavior by having the cue be shaking your finger at her hip. You do this by shaking your finger first and if she doesn’t move in your direction start tapping her hip with the whip. Soon she will learn what that shaking finger means. This is real handy if you are out on the trail and you need her to sidepass to the picnic table so you can get on. Well good luck, have fun and most importantly be safe!

If you have a question please send me an e-mail or just give me a call I will be happy to address your training question in the Ask the Trainer column.