Introduction
It can be difficult to get a horse to sit still so that he can mount on his near side. This requires patience, dedication, reinforcement, and persistence to get the desired behavior. It is crucial to understand why your horse isn’t standing still. Horses can become disoriented, anxious, or unconfident when they are asked to mount. These issues can be addressed and reinforced with step-by-step instructions and reinforcement. You can train your horse to mount on the near side.
Steps to teach a horse to stand still for mounting
Step 1: Establish Groundwork
Groundwork is the first step to teaching your horse how to stand still while you mount him. Groundwork is the process of teaching your horse basic commands like halt, back-up, turn, and go. These commands will allow you to control your horse’s movements so that it stays still when you mount.
Step 2: Teach Stand Command
Once your horse has learned the basics of groundwork commands, then you can teach it the stand command. Start by asking your horse to stop. Next, ask your horse to halt. Then, move forward and place your hand slightly in front. To encourage your horse to remain still, speak softly and calmly. You can gently help your horse to stand still if it moves. When your horse is still, praise it and give treats to reinforce.
Step 3: Practise the Stand Command
You can start to practice the stand command with your horse on a daily basis once you have taught it. Begin by asking your horse for a standing position. Gradually decrease the distance until it can be directly next to you. You can reinforce the stand command immediately and direct your horse back to its original position if it moves.
Step 4: Add movement
You can add movement to your horse’s movements once it is able to mount from a distance. Begin by asking your horse not to move while you walk around him. You can reinforce the stand command immediately and direct it back to its original position. Gradually increase your horse’s movement until it can be asked to remain still as you mount from its near-side.
Step 5: Add the Mounting Cue
You can add the mounting cue once your horse has ceased moving around. Begin by placing your foot into the stirrup, and then ask your horse to remain still. You can reinforce the stand command immediately and direct your horse back to its original position if it moves. Gradually increase how long your horse stays still while you have your foot in the stirrup, until it is still enough to mount.
Conclusion
It can be difficult to get a horse to stay still while he mounts on his near side. You can train your horse to mount on the near-side with patience, dedication and consistent reinforcement. Establishing groundwork is the first step. Next, teach your horse how to stand. Next, practice the stand command using more movement and the mounting cue. Your horse will soon be able to mount on the near side of your horse with practice.
FAQs
How long does it take for a horse to learn to mount?
It all depends on the horse. However, it can take several weeks to get a horse to mount.
What do I do if my horse refuses to mount?
If your horse is refusing to stand still while you mount it, reinforce the command and gently guide it into its new position. If that fails, identify any distractions or issues that might be making your horse uncooperative. After these distractions are resolved, you can practice the stand command again.
Resources
Wikipedia.org – Horse Training
YouTube.com – How do you teach a horse to stand still for mounting on the near-side?