The horse is tacked up, the sky is clear, and the trails are calling your name. You and your horse are all set to go, but right as you go to mount up your horse walks off preventing you from beginning your ride or any ride for that matter.
Ground Manners
All horses need to have basic manners. When your horse walks off during mounting it is a sign that he is anticipating and running away before you even got on. By teaching your horse ground manners from the very beginning of your relationship many common issues like walking off will never occur. But, there is a way to fix this problem. First start by doing groundwork with your horse every time you are at the barn. Groundwork will condition the horse to respond to your requests while also desensitizing him to all noises and movements of riding.
The Lesson
- Once you feel ready to saddle up again start by bending your horse’s nose slightly toward you. This will keep you safe if your horse was to kick out with a hind leg; as a horse’s hindquarters move away from the direction his nose is tipped. It will also prevent the horse from moving too much.
- Jump up and down next to the horse to begin desensitizing him to your movement. Continue jumping until he shows you he accepts you moving around by lowering his neck, blinking his eyes, licking his lips, snorting, or relaxing a hind leg.
- Next, raise your foot up to the stirrup as if you were going to get on. Lift and put down your foot multiple times while keeping your horse’s head flexed.
- If your horse moves off at anytime when you are preparing to mount continue lifting your foot up and down until the horse stops moving. Only then do you stop moving. Keep his head bent toward you the entire time to prevent him from running off and to encourage him to stop.
- Once the horse is standing well when you lift your foot to the stirrup, begin slipping your foot in and out of the stirrup. If he moves, continue to take your foot in and out of the stirrup until the horse stands still and relaxes. When he stops moving you stop moving and let him stand for a few minutes before beginning again.
- When the horse can stand relaxed when you lift your foot and put it in the stirrup, step half way up into the saddle and rub him on the opposite side.
- Step up half way and then down a few times before actually sitting in the saddle. Stay half way up and keep his head bent toward you in case he starts to move. When he stops and flexes his neck dismount and rub him.
- When you feel ready and the horse is standing still, swing all the way up into the saddle, sit for a moment then swing back down. Keep doing this until you feel confident that your horse isn’t going anywhere. If he does move, keep his head bent and wait for him to stop then dismount when he is still.
- Make sitting in the saddle for 1- 2 minutes a ritual before you begin each ride, therefore preventing your horse from anticipating.
- If he walks off once you are in the saddle, bend the horse in a small circle with one rein, allowing him to move his feet until he stops and stands still. When he does, release the rein and let him stand.