every time i try to mount my Appy. she backs up, making it really hard to mount.got any suggestions?
Answers:
First thing to think about: Are you mounting from the ground? If so, you're probably hurting your mare's back during mounting. Mounting from something a foot or two off the ground like a mounting block or even the bumper of a truck can drastically improve the demeaner of your horse during mounting. It has also been proven that using a mounting block significantly reduces the stress placed on a horses back during mounting. No point in moving if there is no pain, right? :)
If you're using a mounting block and are still getting crap from your mare there is a real simple solution. Once my horse started this little evasive trick I nipped it in the butt, so since your mare has been doing this for awhile, it may take a few times before she catches on.
No matter what part of mounting you are in the middle of if she moves (regardless of what direction she moves in), immediately stop what you're doing (take your foot out of the stirrup if you have to) growl, get in front of her quickly and demand that she move back so it becomes something you want from her. You own the movement at that point and it is no longer her decision. She will begin thinking, "Crap. Backing up isn't so much fun now that she's making me do it." Make your horse back up at least 3 strides and with each stride demand, "BACK! BACK! BACK!" then ask her to stand for just a moment to give her a chance to think about what just happened. Don't touch her, don't pat her. Ignore her.
Walk her back up to the mounting spot and try again. You must be consistant with her and never hurry yourself into the saddle if you feel like she is going to move. Her job at that moment is to stand regardless of what point in mounting you are at. If you've only just approached your mare and she starts backing up, demand it from her to continue backing up. Always give her a moment to think about what just happened, then go back to the spot where you originally tried to mount. She'll figure it out. Once she does and stands patiently while you mount make sure you make a fuss about what a good girl she is.
I only had to correct my mare three times before she decided to plant herself with patience. When you think about it, it took less than 5 minutes to teach my horse that moving while I'm trying to mount is unacceptable.
Good luck!!
See what she does if you shorten the left rein, so that her head is toward your left foot. Hold it really tight. In this position, lenthen your stirrup, she just may try to rear, so be careful. The other option is to have her right side against a fence, and her butt against a wall trapping her.Have some one help you keep her in this position, but have them not, repeat, not hold the rein. All of this assumes that she has no burrs in her blanket, that you have properly cinched her up, that the cinch is not pinching her, and that the saddle fits properly. Check all of that first. Secondly, does she like her bit?
Don't do any of this without someone being around. As you know, some horses just don't like to be forced to do what they don't want to do. Also, how is she after you are mounted? Does she wring her tail, chew on her bit, etc? Assuming not, then she just need to be trained to accept the fact that your are the boss, and she is going to be ridden.
The best thing would probably be to go back to basics and teach her the "whoa" command, but something else that worked for me on a high-strung Arab cross I once had was to tack him up while he was tied, provided your horse stands tied quietly, and work on stepping on and off while he was tied. Then we worked up to putting the bridle on over the halter, (never tie a horse by the bridle) and stepping up, then leaning over and unsnapping the lead. Then up to untying him, bridling him and mounting,(always at the same tying place) This worked well on this particular horse because he always thought he was tied.
Not really enough info. how old is your horse, and how much training has she had?
She may have an extremely sensitive mouth and when you gather the reins in your hand she's getting the signal to back up. Keep your reins more loose in your hand so the bit and earpiece of her bridle aren't putting pressure on her mouth and top of head.
If that's not the reason, mount her while she's got her hindquarters tight against a wall or the corner of the corral so she cannot back. All the time while you're mounting her, speak gently and encouraging to her to keep her mind occupied. Practice getting on and off while she's unable to back up.
It's also possible there's something abrasive and irritating in her saddle blanket, cinch or the underside of the saddle somewhere and she's just trying to back away from it. Look for burrs, slivers of wood, or tiny bits of gravel or anything but the fleece or woven blanket.
Sometimes bad habits take a while to train into a new, more appropriate habit of standing still, so don't worry if it doesn't happen overnight.
Try this. If you can put your horse in an arena that has a corner put her butt into the corner. Mount her smoothly and quickly and keep her butt in the corner while talking to her and praising her for sitting still with the railing at her butt to prevent her from backing up. Let her get accustomed to standing still with you on her back. Then dismount and do it all over again. And again. And again. Then go on to ride. Then when you get ready to put her up, do it again and again and again. Then the next day guess what. Do it again etc etc etc. And the next day. You have to be more persistent and stubborn then your horse. And as you know horses can sometimes be pretty stubborn.
it sounds like she just learned to do this to get away from you mounting her. if you don't mount her from a mounting block maybe her back is being pulled as you mount her. if you hold onto the reins too much when you are trying to mount her it could just be telling her to back up so when you go to mount her try to not have as much rein and have somebody hold her if she acts up too much.
Try making him/her do really tight circles then tell her to walk on and dont forget to praise her with lots of love!
back her into a corner with her butt in the corner- like in a fenced area. Then place your mounting block beside her and jump up. the only option that she will have will to be to go forward.
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