the horse refuses to go to the mounting block

Question
Hello how are you? I have one small question to ask you. I enjoy riding and i have been riding for a little over 3 months so I am pretty new to everything involving horseback riding. There is just one small problem, i am having trouble leading the horse to the mounting block. The horse will either refuse to move (most of the time this is the problem) or not stay still at the block so I have to circle around back to the block which leads us back to the first problem. I have learned by now that pulling at the horse's mouth isn't going to do ANYTHING. I have tried instead of walking directly towards the mounting block, I zigzag my way to it but that rarely works. My teacher has shown me ways to get the horse to the block but it confuses me. Any suggestions? Your help is appreciated.

Answer

Ricky mounting for the Hi Alex!

Good for you!  Being around horses is the most wonderful gift!  What a wonderful new adventure for you!  

Alex, start first teaching your horse to pick you up in your halter.  Make it a good rope halter with a 12' tree line lead.  These halters have a good weight and feel and allow you to communicate with your horse is a much better fashion than a flat nylon halter.  What you are doing here is getting control of your horses feet, and having them understand that it is their job to confidently step up and pick you up.

Saddle your horse but use your halter and not your snaffle bit to begin with.  Move your mounting block right up next to the wall or rail of your arena.  You can also use any fence you can climb up on or a log, stump...anything!  Now, ask your horse to step up next to you.  I want you to move just one foot at a time, don't expect that your horse will understand yet what you want.  Each time his foot moves and makes an effort to come toward you, release and let him know that he found the answer.  Now ask again.  The goal here is to have your horse standing right next to you while you are on the mounting block with your saddle right in front of you in order for you to easily step on.  Any place else is not acceptable.  This process may take you some time, so be patient.  You are asking him to position his body so that you may step up on the left hand side.  You can teach him how to pick you up from the right side later.  If he flips his rear out and away from you, use the tail end of your lead rope, spinning it overhand and reaching out to tap him,  to send him all the way down the fence to the left, yield his hind quarters, so now he is standing to your left, next lead him all the way to your right, yield his hind quarters again when he reaches the end of your lead, you may again need to use the tail end of your lead rope to continue to send him away until he is standing right up against the rail,  he will be standing to your right ready to lead up with his left side once again facing you.  You are making the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult.  When he swings his rear away from you, you simply continue to send it away and then start the whole process over again.  When he gets close to the correct position and he is feeling confident enough to stand next to you even if it is just his head and neck to start with, make sure you rub him and praise him.  Let him know that standing next to you when you are above him is okay and that you will make it a comfortable place for him to be.  When you horse is not willing to pick you up, it just means he lacks the confidence to stay in close to you and the process causes him to worry.  Make him feel good about being there close to you, really rub him and make it feel good to him.  

When he is standing next to you, reach over the top of your saddle and rub him.  Make sure he sees you out of both eyes.  Move your stirrup on the off side and get  him comfortable with you moving over the top of him.  If he can't stay and he may not be able to, send him out and to the right again and start over from the beginning.  You never want to get on your horse all the way to start.  Swing up half way and rub him.  If he cannot stand for you, do not swing on all the way, step back onto your mounting block or fence and start over from the beginning.  You are building good skills and confidence in your horse.  To not accept less than the best effort.  Do not get angry or frustrated with your horse.  Horses do NOT understand human anger, it just scares them and you will never get your horse to pick you up if he is scared.  Never try and go through something bad and come out good, stop and start over!  This is straight from Ray Hunt!  Without anger, fear, frustration on your part just stop and start over.  In no time you will build the kind of confidence in your horse that will allow him to step up and pick you up anywhere!  

If I have used terms or concepts that you do not quite understand, let me know and I will clarify for you!  Have fun with teaching these lessons.  This is the good stuff and what makes real horsewomen out of us!

Smiles!  Denise