HORSIN' AROUND WITH VAN HARGIS
"Mounting Your Horse"

Some horses do not want to stand still for mounting. I like to think of this as a lack of discipline in the sense that the horse doesn't yet understand what you expect of him, and he doesn't understand why it's in his best interest to stand still during mounting. This is an easy problem to correct by teaching the horse that standing firmly is easier for him than trying to pull away from you.

If you have a horse that gets antsy when you try to mount him, you want to take the control away from him for a moment. Do this by pushing and pulling the saddle horn (toward you and away from you) just enough to cause the horse to move his feet. If his feet aren't planted firmly, he'll lose his balance, and find he has to take a step each time you tug on the saddle horn. Horses are very smart, and he'll quickly learn that if he spreads his feet a little bit and holds still, he won't be knocked off balance.

When you've got him standing firmly with his feet spread, you're ready to prepare him for mounting. If he goes to move his feet before you're ready, again you take the control away from him by pushing and pulling on the saddle horn until he learns to keep his feet still. Some horses take longer than others to learn this lesson, but it is worth the time to have a horse who stands nice and still while you mount him.

Once you've mounted the horse, get yourself comfortable in the saddle before you allow the horse to move. Often times when you get in the saddle, the first thing the horse wants to do is move away. You can prevent that by just getting in the saddle and sitting there. Don't go anywhere. I like to call it a pilot check. Just as a pilot prepares for flight, you want to check everything out and make sure you're ready to ride. Make sure the saddle is adjusted right, and you are sitting comfortably in the saddle. Make sure the reins are adjusted correctly. All the while, the horse is learning that just because he gets someone in the saddle doesn't mean he's going to moved away and worked right off.