mounting nervous horse

Question
Hi!!I have a 3 yr old TB gelding that I have broken in and been riding for 3 months.I had to jump off him fast one day to shut a gate and it frightened him. Now he won't let me mount him, as soon as I put my foot in the stirrup he shies away from me knocking me over. I have hobbled him and that worked a few times and I could get off remove hobbles and get back on. Now he is shying with the hobbles on. I have stopped trying as I am making the problem worse. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


Answer
Hello Julie,

You will have an easier time if you have someone to hold his bridle while you mount.  He has learned the trick of not being ridden and that is what is happening now instead of fear.  Some problems need another person to help; however, if I had to do it alone here is what I would do.

I would lunge him until he is very tired, then take him into his stall. If he is in the stall and I have the near rein tight to turn his head to me he can only circle to the left around me.  I'd let him circle and circle around me until he is tired of it or dizzy or willing to stand still.  Then I'd try to mount again.  If he tried to shy away, he'd circle some more in that closed space.  I'd do that every day that I had to until he stood still for me to mount.  Then I'd get off and on and off and on again and again until he did not shy any more.

It will require patience and determination, but you have to win this and it is better to win it by getting him tired than punishment.  If he "gives in" he will have learned that you are more tenacious than he.

Let me know if it works?

Happy riding,
Dorothy