Question about mounting correctly

Question
Hello Mr. Gore,

I first want to say that I really enjoy your web site. The articles, tips and videos are extremely helpful. I just read your post titled The Number One Question I Get Asked and that was so great for me to read. Unfortunately I fall into the category of someone that tries to be friends with my horse and I end up not being a strong leader. But my goal is to change that. I really want to think like a horse!

I also saw above that you don't answer many questions anymore, and after reading why, I can't say that I blame you! However, I decided that I would ask anyway and I promise not to complain should you decide to answer mine :)

I've ridden on and off most of my life but I never took any lessons. Like many others, I've taken a few spills and got hurt. I was at fault for those spills, it was my ignorance that caused them, but I let them make me fearful around horses. About two years ago I started taking lessons so I could learn about horse behavior and how to ride correctly (and get my confidence back). About 5 months ago, I bought a horse after a year of searching. He is a 12 year old Quarter Horse gelding that has been a professional reining horse most of his life. I was fortunate that he was right down the road from me and I was able to get to know him before I bought him.

I am working on becoming the leader in our relationship and I learned a lot from reading about tests on your web site. He tests me and I fail a lot, but I'm learning. And now finally, my question. I think I am confusing him when I mount and want to correct what I am doing wrong.

This is how I mount:
I have to confess here I use a mounting block. I'm pretty short, but honestly its that my legs aren't quite strong enough yet to mount without really yanking on the saddle. I was worried that would cause him a lot of discomfort, so I use a block. I am working on strengthening my legs though so I can mount without one.

I hold his mane in my left hand instead of the horn, along with the rein. I have his nose slightly tipped towards me. Then I swing my leg over and sit down. I leave the reins slack and put my other foot in the stirrup. I always have him stand still for a couple of minutes after I mount while I relax, and then ask him to walk off.

Now, in the last couple of weeks this has started falling apart. He stands still while I mount, but as soon as I let the reins go slack and as soon as he feels my rear end touch the seat he starts walking off. I do a one rein stop and he will flex his neck, but instead of stopping he spins in a circle or steps sideways while his neck is flexed towards my left foot. I wait till he stops moving before I release the rein, but as soon as I do, he immediately moves off again. He does this no matter how many times I do the one rein stop. Its like he is very impatient. I know I am doing something to cause this, but I can't seem to figure out what it is. I've even noticed a reluctance to stand still after I've been riding for awhile, like when I stop to take a breather, and that is also unusual for him. He is naturally a very calm, laid-back kind of horse. I think he's like the saying: he has more whoa than go (which is fine with me!)

I was worried his back was sore, but nothing turned up when my vet checked him. I also had my saddle fit checked by a local saddle maker and he said it was good. He eats timothy hay and no grain because he gains weight really easy. I ride him three or four times a week for about an hour each ride. I walk him, long trot him and then lope a few circles in each direction.

I really want to figure out what I'm doing wrong so he will go back to standing patiently for me.

Also, I don't know if this matters, but its gotten quite cold here in Montana in the last three or four weeks.

I hope I've given you enough information and even if you don't answer my question, I would like to say thank you. For not only taking the time to read this, but also for your informative website. Its very helpful for people like me and its helping me become the person my horse deserves.

Sincerely,
Julie Callison

Answer
You appear to looking for reasons on what is wrong with the horse, the eq and soreness and everything but YOU?

You are not being clear, you are not giving good clear directions, the horse is confused or does not think it has to listen. What you are doing is not working so do something different.