Hit the dirt tonight! First time in a while....

[elevenelevenxo]

Rebel has been so well behaved during mounting. He stands nice and quietly, but I didn't think about the fact that until today, someone has always been standing there holding him while I've gotten on. Today I went out to ride with my trainer, not take a lesson....just hang out. She was feeding and doing some chores when I got there, so I tacked up and longed him before she made it out to the barn with the indoor attached (we're in the next door barn).

He's definitely starting to feel better, and therefore is showing more spirit...which was the only thing that made me nervous in taking him. I didn't know if once he got some groceries in his belly, he'd be a different horse or not. I'm not saying I think all hope is lost or anything, but I do think we need to work on our respect - MAJORLY.

I went to get on him - I always use a mounting block to get on - and before I was sat down all the way, he charged forward. I was very unbalanced and trying to get my balance and find my other stirrup, while pulling him around for a one-rein stop, but just couldn't quite get balanced.....and hit the dirt. Got up and I was fine - glad I was wearing my helmet! I'll probably be sore tomorrow, but no broken bones or anything. :)

I decided to wait for my trainer to come over before trying to get back on him....which I don't know if that's good or bad or not, but I did free longe him more around the arena - this time until he was good and ready to stop and behave himself. By that time my trainer was back over and she held him for me while I mounted. No issues from there on out. In fact, we had a very good rest of the ride. He was trotting nicely. During longeing he cantered a bit - so we have hope that he will do that under saddle in time. :)

But now I'm going to be paranoid about getting on him if no one is there to hold him.....but I can't realistically expect for someone to be holding him everytime I get on him. So what can I do? I don't know if that was a one time fluke or if that's what he does unfortunately..... Downside to getting a "free" horse. :p

Advice? This might go better in the training forum.....idk. WB, please move if you think it'd be more appropriate there. :)

[prissy18]

when u get on bend his head to his side so he cant bolt or anything when ur by yourself

[mare]

Well... some people never mount without someone holding their horse. I guess it depends on whether you plan to always ride with someone else or where there are people around.

Me? I make 'em stand, a real long time, whenever I have the time. But, I do most of my riding alone.

[Piper522]

Rebel has been so well behaved during mounting. He stands nice and quietly, but I didn't think about the fact that until today, someone has always been standing there holding him while I've gotten on. Today I went out to ride with my trainer, not take a lesson....just hang out. She was feeding and doing some chores when I got there, so I tacked up and longed him before she made it out to the barn with the indoor attached (we're in the next door barn).

He's definitely starting to feel better, and therefore is showing more spirit...which was the only thing that made me nervous in taking him. I didn't know if once he got some groceries in his belly, he'd be a different horse or not. I'm not saying I think all hope is lost or anything, but I do think we need to work on our respect - MAJORLY.

I went to get on him - I always use a mounting block to get on - and before I was sat down all the way, he charged forward. I was very unbalanced and trying to get my balance and find my other stirrup, while pulling him around for a one-rein stop, but just couldn't quite get balanced.....and hit the dirt. Got up and I was fine - glad I was wearing my helmet! I'll probably be sore tomorrow, but no broken bones or anything. :)

I decided to wait for my trainer to come over before trying to get back on him....which I don't know if that's good or bad or not, but I did free longe him more around the arena - this time until he was good and ready to stop and behave himself. By that time my trainer was back over and she held him for me while I mounted. No issues from there on out. In fact, we had a very good rest of the ride. He was trotting nicely. During longeing he cantered a bit - so we have hope that he will do that under saddle in time. :)

But now I'm going to be paranoid about getting on him if no one is there to hold him.....but I can't realistically expect for someone to be holding him everytime I get on him. So what can I do? I don't know if that was a one time fluke or if that's what he does unfortunately..... Downside to getting a "free" horse. :p

Advice? This might go better in the training forum.....idk. WB, please move if you think it'd be more appropriate there. :)

Naughty Rebel! :huh:
I am sure it is so new for both of you. The more you mount him and make him stand still...he will eventually do it. Cabo is JUST NOW standing still while I mount him...it takes lots of practice. That....and I would mount him facing the fence so he couldn't go anywhere...

Good luck! Can't wait to hear more about him!

[elevenelevenxo]

Well... some people never mount without someone holding their horse. I guess it depends on whether you plan to always ride with someone else or where there are people around.

My barn is reeeeally small, so there's not always going to be someone right there to hold him for me. :)

Me? I make 'em stand, a real long time, whenever I have the time. But, I do most of my riding alone.

Yeah, definitely one more task we need to work on. Did plenty of that tonight - he was antsy.

[PoniesRock101]

Glad it wasnt too bad of a fall........

and glad all went well after that! Did you get some pictures for us? haha! in his awesome halter?

hmm.. I would make his stand for a while once you get on to build patience instead of someones on me! LEts go!

[elevenelevenxo]

http://i43.tinypic.com/25ga4gg.jpg

^^ I posted that pic in the "Baby DONKEYS!!!" thread, but incase you missed it....hehehe, there's my handsome jerkface. :)

I've never been one to get on a horse and GO as soon as my butt hits the saddle, but the people who had him before me may very well have been like that....I have no idea. But I'll be sure to practice extra making him stand for me. He needs it.

When you're on a horse like that and unable to catch your balance, what do you do? Did I do everything right in trying to pull his head around for a one-rein stop?

[ImaBronsonBear]

When you're on a horse like that and unable to catch your balance, what do you do? Did I do everything right in trying to pull his head around for a one-rein stop?

Sorry you hit the dirt! That's never fun.:( But yes, i think you did the right thing - and now you have something to work on, balance.:D One time, i had just hopped on Bronson, and before i got settled he spooked at something and took off bucking.:rolleyes: Didn't even have my reins, so i couldn't pull his head around. He eventually stopped and i didn't come off, but that's why it's so good to be able to stick just about anything a horse can dish out, which just takes lots of practice. Bareback helps.:)

[elevenelevenxo]

Sorry you hit the dirt! That's never fun.:( But yes, i think you did the right thing - and now you have something to work on, balance.:D One time, i had just hopped on Bronson, and before i got settled he spooked at something and took off bucking.:rolleyes: Didn't even have my reins, so i couldn't pull his head around. He eventually stopped and i didn't come off, but that's why it's so good to be able to stick just about anything a horse can dish out, which just takes lots of practice. Bareback helps.:)

I'm a very balanced rider under normal circumstances - he took off on me before my butt even his the saddle. :doh:

[ImaBronsonBear]

I'm a very balanced rider under normal circumstances - he took off on me before my butt even his the saddle. :doh:

Did he show any antsyness/fussiness before you mounted up? Next time you get on, treat him like a colt. Have his head already bent a little bit and your rein taut so that if he tries it again, you don't even have to think about getting his head around because it's already there.

[Palogal]

Training opportunity!!! Mount him 15 times over and over again until he stands.

[Country Girl 43]

Glad you are OK...sorry you hit the dirt...but we all do at some point. I did last year with my Dallas. I hit hard and it was the first time in 30 yrs I had gone off. Dirt doesn't taste good...:p

Keep up the good work.. now you know what else you have to work on!

[Vegashorselady]

Like Palo said, mount over and over until he stands still. Put your foot in the stirrup and hold his mane and the reins in one hand and lift your self up but don't swing your leg over. Reach over and rub the other side and flop the stirrup around. If he moves just keep doing it until he stands still and then jump down. Keep doing that until he can stand still and then swing your leg over and sit. If you are worried he might walk off before you are balanced then bend his head to the side and hold it there until you are ready to walk off. At least then he can't bolt. I'm sure he'll be over it in no time. He probably just hasn't had anyone work on this with him in a long time if ever.

[star197]

Glad you weren't hurt! And kudos to you for getting right back to it - lungeing and going on your ride afterwards!

[TheRedHayflinger]

one of my girls is like that....as soon as I'm swinging my leg over, she starts off and as soon as my butt is in the seat, we are movin'....that is..she is like that when I haven't rode her in a long while. She was like that when I bought her, and we worked on it...she stood perfectly still for ages...then I didn't ride her for a few months to give her a break while she was growing....and bam...first thing she did when I rode her the next time..LOL..so we worked on it some more...got her to the point where she wasn't taking off on me again.....however, I've found out that unless I ride her 5-6 days a week...she reverts back to "off she goes!"
It's not a mean thing or a spooky thing on her part...she is just a VERY forward horse with a great work ethic. She loves to get out there and DO something and she is just anxious to get the show on the road..LOL

Good luck with your boy :D

[Vibe]

Training opportunity!!! Mount him 15 times over and over again until he stands.

Exactly!!:) Dolly did the same thing as Rebel to me once. I mounted again, and again for a good 20mins. Very tiering but I got some good mounting practice! Dolly was tied up after for about 45 mins after to think about it too.;)
She didn't try it again. It wasn't worth her waiting all that time outside while her buddies were in there stalls eating..

BTW Your boy looks cute in his halter!

[Me'N'Chic]

Sorry this happened Eleven! I agree with the bending the head around before you get on. Chic had done this before when i was at a lesson. So I give her a chance to stand still if she starts to walk off before i get on I say NO--then back her up--then I try again and if she starts to step away again, I say NO and turn bend her head to right side and hold while I mount up. Good Luck!

[Suzi]

I v'e been there. They seem to know we are most vulnerable when we mount. HAHA Anyway the others have suggested what I would have. The new mare I am riding, even though she hasn't bolted off, will try to walk off as soon as I mount and I hate that. So every time I make her wait a few beats before I ask for her to walk on. I will do that for weeks. Good luck

[elevenelevenxo]

Thanks everyone! I ended up with an AWFUl migraine last night after I posted; I'm sure it was related to my fall.....I've never had a headache so bad in my life. :(



Dolly was tied up after for about 45 mins after to think about it too.;)


He got a GOOD workout last night and was very tired by the end of the ride. They probably don't correlate the bolting at the beginning of the ride to being worked really hard and/or tied afterwards for a while, do they? Someone once explained to me a 3 second rule. If they do something disrespectful, IMMEDIATELY give them hell for 3 seconds and then act like it didn't happen.

What are some opinions on that?

[mare]

I agree with the 3 second rule.

Have you tried repeatedly mounting/dismounting after a work out followed by being groomed and turned out? Or even mounting and dismounting after he's warmed up and then you continuing to ride?

I did want to share a technique I use with horses that are pretty tough to get on. I shorten the right rein. I make sure I don't need my left hand to get on, too. That way if the horse starts to walk off, run off, or buck off, I can tighten the reins even more and the horse will turn its head to the left and put its body right under me as I get on.

I don't think I'd try it with a mounting block though. If you're riding english or saddle seat, could you borrow a western saddle until he becomes the world's champion stander, if that is more stable for you?

I work with some real spoiled horses, though, if this sounds too extreme. I get a kick out of helping them become fun to ride, own and work with for someone else.

But, even with the ones that are just used to walking off, I will keep the reins in my left hand and not use it to help myself mount up. English or western. With some, I've started to step up, they move forward, I come back down, have them stand until they relax. Try again. They want to move. They don't get to until I get in the saddle and ask for forward movement. I've bounced up and down for 10 minutes, maybe longer, on some of them.

I know you'll get this fixed if you stick with it.

[shewasmyshadow]

They probably don't correlate the bolting at the beginning of the ride to being worked really hard and/or tied afterwards for a while, do they? Someone once explained to me a 3 second rule. If they do something disrespectful, IMMEDIATELY give them hell for 3 seconds and then act like it didn't happen.

What are some opinions on that?

They do think about thinks later. I learned that with my mare. Teach one thing and then quit. Let her think about it and come back. They do take time to digest things. ;)

[Sundays Man]

Hey girl. Sorry for the problems you had, but I am VERY proud of you for saying that you had a helmet on. Thanks.

[dustys_girlly]

i agree about the 3 second rule. one thing i do when working with horses that dont like to stand still is do a lot of getting on and off. on thing i do to start out is get a short outside rein and start to mount but instead of throwing my leg over i will balance myself on their back as if it was the first time getting in the saddle for the horse. and i will just hang there till they stop circling. when they stop i get off, walk back to my starting point and try again. I'll do that till they stand still then start throwing my leg over. normally it only takes a few times till they get the point.