Horse Training: Issues at the Mounting Block

Many people have problems with mounting their horse because it wants to move as they go to get on or immediately they sit in the saddle. Most people try to block the horse from moving, but this is addressing the symptom of the problem and not the cause. The solution is in the preparation of teaching a horse to be with us and not make plans to leave before we attempt to mount.
I teach Good Horsemanship around the world helping people to understand the emotional and mental component of how horses operate to achieve both a willing partnership and bond and to maximize the performance potential of a horse.
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[@elizabethblackwell6242]

Those damn mounting blocks. Minds of their own.

[@barbf8628]

I enjoy your videos Ross, especially how you encourage us to engage the horse mentally. I would like to make a point about saddle fit and refusing to stand for mounting. My 15 year old gelding is normally good about standing, but if he starts easing away or actually stepping away, I know I need to check his saddle, pad and girth again. if n o help, I'd better get the chiropractor. Here recently, I needed to get a new saddle for him, he just flat was refusing to be saddled. All better, now. As he ages and we have built up his topline, everything about fit has changed and I was slow on the uptake. we had a few re-training sessions for standing for mounting, but with no pain anymore, he is willing.

[@RossJacobs]

Thanks for highlighting an important aspects of mounting problems. It's always a good idea to check for physical reasons for the behaviour before turning to the training issues. I feel both are part of the preparation of gettign a horse ready to mount.

[@leealexander3507]

I find that it helps if a horse learns to look forward to the mounting block so from the start I'll do pleasant things like grooming at the mounting block long before I start mounting from it. I'll continue doing this instead of only mounting from it or before I mount. My current horse likes the mounting block nearly as much as he likes mares. Well, not quite that much, but he does look forward to going there. I also make sure there is something a horse will enjoy included in each training session.

[@loredelore7286]

Super smart.

[@myevilplans]

My Standardbred will stand at a block, but with his shoulder close and his butt swung out from it. We're working on it but it's like a test of wills. He's getting better.

[@kiraklein8227]

Love your Videos! I am very happy, having no problems with my mouting block.. it seems to be too lazy for running away ;) best wishes from germany :)

[@judithgraves8294]

Never have I had mounting blocks move! Again, as another viewer mentioned, and I did, previously; show us some work on a horse that truly doesn't stand for mounting at the block.

[@asportableskatesharpening4207]

Thank you Ross for your videos, I am loving all of them. I enjoy the wit as well... I agree with you that connecting with a horse's thoughts is the solution to the vast majority of arguments. Please tell us, who is Alice?

[@RossJacobs]

Thanks for your nice comments. I'm sorry but my sign off to Alice is a deeply personal tribute and I don't ever talk about it. I hope you understand. Cheers.

[@asportableskatesharpening4207]

Ross Jacobs I do understand..... my first thought was that she was a horse of yours in the past. I am trying to open my mind so that I can enter my horse’s mind. You see, he is a very nice gelding that even my kids can ride without a problem, in fact he does everything superb as long as he has horsey friends around. He has severe separation anxiety to the point of working himself into a white lather and panicking if pushed too hard (overflowing cup of worry) while out alone. It is hard to believe how different he becomes without a herd mate. His ground manners are quite good after working on them for months. He longer pulls back when tied, does not crowd me, moves his hind quarters away, etc. However, I have not been able to substitute a horse in his mind. He goes in the arena alone just fine but as soon as I try to walk down the road, he begins to fall apart.... I somehow need to change his mind.

[@BravoPerformanceHorses]

In summary, if you're having difficulty mounting your horse from a mounting block, just go get a nice, calm horse already used to the mounting block, position him, and get right on! Easy peasy.

[@koniczka2000]

Funny video but didn't help at all. You didn't show anything what to do when the horse is moving, because your horse simply wasn't.

[@sophiebaker5476]

This video is slightly ludicrous. Why do it with a horse that clearly is OK at the mounting block? I learnt nothing from this about how to deal with a horse that is worried at the mounting blocking by watching Ross get on a horse that is perfectly calm. Ross, you come to my place and use my horse to make the video and I'll ride Riley.

[@RossJacobs]

Sophie, if you missed what was to be learned in the video I am sorry. But bring your horse to any of my clinics and I'll be happy to show you what you are missing.

[@epona9166]

There's nothing ludicrous about this video if you were listening as well as watching. The point is that there ISN'T really a technique for getting the horse to stand still for mounting. Or at least it shouldn't be reduced to that. If a horse is in the right frame of mind, and is cool with your leadership based on all the work you've done on the ground, he will stand still for you. He will be mentally waiting for you. So if you go to one of Ross's clinics, he isn't going to show you how to get your horse to stand still at the mounting block; any more than he did here. He's going to show you how to establish yourself with the horse such that that he will be happy to stand waiting until you give a cue.

[@jordanwhite5470]

Good suggestions, but I have one other: if you use a real Mounting Block, it will solve that moving problem; proper Mounting Blocks don't move on their own :)

[@RossJacobs]

Why didn't I think of that?

[@lorimitchell9025]

Do you use bits

[@RossJacobs]

I do, but nothing more complicated than an eggbutt or ring snaffle.

[@lisaclarke2995]

ditto

[@lisaclarke2995]

Flexing on one rein is not putting the horse in a bind and does not stop them moving, they can move if they choose to. Flexing them on one rein is checking how comfortable they are with the human before you get on so more asking their permission. Very dangerous promoting mounting with out checking the flex

[@RossJacobs]

LIsa the dangerous thing is not about mounting a horse without flexing its neck, but getting on a horse that is thinking of leaving. Flexing the neck around addresses the symptom of moving by trying to block the movement. It simply tries to teach a horse that moving is a worse option than having its neck bent around. But it does nothing to help the horse feel it does not have to move. You are putting the horse between a rock and a hard place. If a horse is not happy to stand without the reins telling it not to move, then you have a problem. The horse should be standing there because he is okay with being there waiting for the rider to mount and not because we make it hard to move. The fact that you suggest it is dangerous to mount without checking flexing the horse's neck indicates you are fixated on physically controlling the horse rather than inspiring its mental and emotional "okay-ness".

[@helenparker3540]

@Lisa clarke - I think Lisa, you missed the point. You say flexing is "checking how comfortable they are with the human before you get on". Heck I'd want to know they were comfy with my presence well before then! The horse tells you he/she is comfy in your presence when you're 20 feet away. If you're not reading those signs you shouldn't be getting on. Ross's way is the most honest, the horse should be able just to stand straight on, calmly. If it does try to leave then its telling you that it needs more ground work and trust to build calm confidence.

[@Trapezius8oblique]

Lol good video

[@lisaclarke2995]

You are an excellent wordsmith, but missed the point

[@RossJacobs]

Lisa, I think that is an accusation based on your misunderstanding. I've been doing this horse training thing a long time and tried and tested all that stuff with lateral flexion and 1 rein stops etc. Been there, done that. I spend a lot of time figuring out what I want for my horse, why and how. It underlies everything I do and I question everything. So I am not changing my mind simply because somebody tells me I miss the point. It takes a better rationale than the one I have for doing something, for me to be convinced I have it wrong. So if you have a better rationale, I'm happy to listen and give it some consideration. But if not, telling me I miss the point has to be the weakest argument ever to say to somebody who thinks about this stuff as much as I do.