Teaching your horse to stand still while mounting

Here I give you some tips to having your horse stand still while mounting, including some things you can do to not cause them to move.
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[@mdee860]

Such clear, concise, simple instructions. Makes so much sense - as does everything, if you think about it from the horse's perspective. We are so dumb, they've been telling us all of this for centuries... we just weren't listening. Thanks Warwick - your helping us all become such better partners & leaders.

[@TuesdayFive]

I recently had this problem with my TB and realised that I was indeed holding his reins tight and putting him under pressure when he was already standing still for me! And we've gotten into a habit of standing still until I ask him to go as well! Thanks Warwick :)

[@pianocatkatarina3960]

5 minutes of wisdom. As always on this channel. LOVE IT_

[@TjasaZ]

I just can't belive how much I learn from you. I visit riding school 3 times a week and the more I watch your videos the more I realize that a great amount of stuff they are teaching me there is somehow wrong... I just wonder, where did you learn all that?

[@gabrielleglenn5284]

Thank you, thank you! So happy to see you mounting from a good position! NO ONE has ever given a good reason why you should mount with your back to the head of the horse and hop into the right position! It's just dumb and people still do it. Mounting blocks have become more popular and people tend to mount from the correct position from a mounting block.

[@Apsenniel09]

Thank you so much for this!! The horse I ride likes to walk off when I get on, and sometimes steps backwards as I'm preparing to get on. I will definitely keep this in mind next time I go to mount. Thanks!!

[@WarwickSchiller]

I learned it from a lot of good horseman who learned it from a lot of good horseman, who learned it from slot of good horseman.

[@thenakedhorseman4123]

Nice one Warwick, thanks for sharing.

[@stephaniewinter5123]

Excellent advice

[@TuesdayFive]

It's the same concept. My TB is 17hh and I need the mounting block as well. Like Warwick says, it's all about making the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy.

[@houstonbrown3450]

Makes good sense to me

[@ellyswift9571]

This is so good and I can't wait to try... I actually did just that one day (only, finally) pretty much like you did, and got good results...otherwise my plan was to sit down and finish a crossword puzzle holding the reins and try again... Thanks so much for this great teaching.

[@pumpkinfizz]

Great video!

[@dr.mikejohnson571]

COMMON.....SENSE - teaching horse that bad behavior isn't rewarded or even struggled with - "you wanna walk? OK - WALK". 👍👍👍 Never thought of it in terms of pressure vs no pressure and the "reward" being the act of releasing the relative pressure of mounting by walking out after mounting - thus teaching by default to walk away immediately! THANKS 👍 This is a GREAT HORSEMAN (Man From Snowy River had nothing on this guy 😉)

[@janewilliams6863]

thanks ..........great...........simple but very good video ...........will do this tomorrow!

[@gapcreekonline948]

Great vid 👍🏻

[@abassage655]

My 16.2 appendix used to be fantastic at standing like a rock at the mounting block. Which I must use now in my senior no-flex years. But it seems that he pulled some muscles in his back and the last time I rode he stepped away from the block every time I tried to mount. So, I will apply your principles laid out here and hopefully, soon, he will return to rock-solid standing at the block.

[@kathleenhayes3121]

Thank you

[@JonnaMartinezCrochet]

Thank you this video! Heading out to try it with my 6 yr old mare who recently started walking off on me.

[@TheFaithfulFarm]

Thank you so much ive had this problem with my mare for a while and now I know how to fix it thank you so much I will start to keep looking into your videos :)

[@martysmosaic]

the days are gone when I could just put my foot in a stirrup and hop right on. im short, old and drag myself up via the pavement step, with no horn to grab, as I ride English. oh to be young and flexible again.

[@Hy-Brasil]

+luvhorses i know the feeling. i havent ridden properly in almost fourteen years. last time was a trail ride last month - impromptu, invited by the people hired to train my horse - thought i might as well see how they (the humans) behaved as well as their own horses.. which was spectacular i might add.... i was the one who needed training! i forgot just how much work it is to ride a horse- even a well trained one! it really isnt JUST sitting and letting the horse do all the work! unless you want to get beat to death in a trot or fall off while she sidesteps a hole or goes up or downhill... and then of course the trotting. my knee still hasnt returned to normal! So they trained my horse, she is 8 years old, virtually untouched except for ground work. very well behaved but oh my, is she impatient! she hates standing still. more than a minute and she is pawing the ground like a brat. and one vice we're still working on... she thinks she is part of the pony express. she starts moving the moment you put your foot in the stirrup. and she hurries through the trot and heads right into canter. she just wants to GO!! I love her to death but not sure if i can survive her lol i want to ride her but may end up leasing her out to someone that wants to compete because she has the drive and desire for anything....as long as it isnt slow.... like me :/

[@barbararoberts5206]

horses biting

[@jo-clairecorcoran5783]

luvhorses it’s better for the horse to use a mounting block

[@mdee860]

@@Hy-Brasil - maybe go to your nearest riding school, talk to the instructors there. There might be a girl there who is a really good rider, but can't afford her own horse. She could help exercise & care for your 8 yr. old. I suspect your 8 y/o needs much more exercise. The only thing you should insist on is that she ONLY follows W. Schiller's training methods/videos so you are both consistent w/your horse's training. Just a thought. I was that girl once. Your horse would be adored.

[@EpicBlueSpikes]

To work with any horse you need an infinite amount of paitence, horses know when you are strapped for time or in a foul mood, and losing your paitence (we all do it ;) ) is almost provng to the horse we are not the caring and solid leader it thought we were, what you have to look at is why the horse is kicking, the kicking may just mask and even bigger problem, what you have to look at is what that horse is feeling, in that situation at that moment in time, hope this helps!

[@dinks20001]

I usually start the ride by standing still and bending my horse's head from side to side for a while. So I don't have a problem with him walking off. But he did it recently after being couped up in a stable overnight. Poor thing was so full of beans, he couldn't focus even when I stepped off and started working him in-hand. I had to get the lunging gear and lunge him away from the arena (as it was not allowed to lunge in an arena at this particular place). He took about half an hour of lunge work - note that I did not chase him, I actually made him think and relax and work in a nice relaxed frame - before he was able to stand still for mounting. My point being, some people might find the method described above does not work. If so, they should do more ground work with the horse. In most bad cases I see, the horse is perfectly nice, he just has too much energy because the owners spend bugger all time with them.

[@mr.miaumiau2892]

Shure it helps , thanks amigo!!!

[@ailenaofdarkenwald]

This helped me...I am an older rider 64...and I found it harder to mount after not riding for a while...so thishelp me.

[@JustASleepySloth]

my horse used to do this quite a bit, I did a bit of repetitive work with her both at the block and standing from the ground, when I did it a lot she got good and would stand for me as well as stand by the block nicely, then we had to work on her not immediately walking off, since then I've gotten pretty lax with it and need to do a bit more with her walking off- another issue we have is she absolutely cannot stand still when tied which I know is my fault not hers for not correcting/knowing to correct

[@psychobunny32]

do you have to adjust your training methods to work with mules? I am interested in mammoth jacks for trail riding.

[@dplumm5913]

Thank you so much! I had no idea I was teaching my horse to walk off! the other day I tried to mount and he bolted forward and began bucking until I fell. I was baffled! Hes 8 and I trained him myself and he never did that! even when he was three for his first ride, he let me mount!

[@babyg52080]

Warwick-Will this work for horses that sometimes need to mounted from a mounting block? My horse is 16H and I have a hip injury that makes it so I sometimes need to use a block.

[@MMwallace02]

I just bought a mare an one of her problems is walking off while trying to mount. Yesterday after a 20 minute or so lesson she stood completely still for me to get on but then bolted forward before I could get my foot in the stirrup. I brought her instantly into a one rein stop. The people who had her before me would immediately flex her when they got on even if she didn't bolt. Is that the best thing to do in this situation?

[@arabiansarelifex9585]

Nothing this guy can't solve 💕

[@mistralshining]

This is the lesson my horse is getting tomorrow. Do you have any ideas what to do about a mentally stressy horse, hes annoying in the stable and the field, paces and rams his stable door.

[@llamayouawesomeguy]

I have a horse, his my mums old horse, she always had him to soon as you get on run.

[@friesians4ever]

this completely makes sense, but I have a 16.2 hand stout friesian gelding who will spin away at mach 12 when my foot hits the stirrup, this was a habit he had when he came to me. My knee is still wrecked from last years little mishap when I forgot-yes, forgot- that he does this and decided it was not worth trying to swing my leg over while traveling at the speed of light, so let go & hit the ground. When his response is so crazy fast where should I start in trying to get him past this? I have kept his halter on under the bridle in order to tie when mounting and he's jumping back and forth at that, but willeventually settle. I never have help here at home so I'm on my own and praying to survive working him through this....any advice appreciated! Once in the saddle this horse is such a pleasure

[@tianafreeze]

Don't have a solution for you but I will say don't ever tie your horse when mounting! Very dangerous! If the tie post is restricting them that could end badly but if they fly back and just keep going it's much safer. Also if you can't get on without them freaking out, don't get on. Work on the ground first until that problem is fixed.

[@BereniceGuegan]

My horse kicks out every time I tighten the girth, even when it's not tight on him at all. Could you please help me ?

[@Randy-1967]

I looked at a horse tho other day that wouldn't stand still soon as you even try to step to her side to try and get on she we start moving all over the place

[@OliviaxEddie]

im 5'4 and i have a 17.3hh horse... its intense if he walks off hahahaha

[@Alex-horsman]

this horse is 2 years old?

[@carrot382]

My pony turns on me when I'm getting on and starts running off bucking when I'm on :( she's good on the ground, its just when I get on her

[@martintubb6516]

Good video and very informative, but personally i never get on a horse until they are 3. That horse has a long life ahead of him and i don't see the need to ride him until he is more mature physically and mentally. I do ground work from day one up until, and after i start riding, if necessary.

[@hannahlanai]

+Erin Tubb I was just thinking about this. I've always heard three years old as the threshold for when a horse is musculoskeletally mature enough to handle being started under saddle. Obviously, they CAN be started sooner, like racehorses, but I've heard this isn't good for them, and is more likely to lead to soundness problems later in life.

[@erika7674]

Absolutely. I was going to say that in the UK we don't get on their back until they're 3! Plus, he's quite a big guy - makes the horse look small!

[@tianafreeze]

Depends how heavy you and the horse are and also what you're doing. I know people who start under saddle sooner but also restrict the amount of trotting and loping for the sake of their joints, and don't ride too long.

[@rachybabess15]

Warwick, I have a question! I am completely stumped for an answer/solution. When I go to get on the horse that I'm leasing, he moves his butt over and backs up a couple steps. He never did this before until a couple weeks ago. What do you say I should do? Thank you!!

[@tianafreeze]

Follow the video. Make him work so he wants to stand still.

[@SkyMurphy77]

How many rides do you put on a 2 year old? This one you say you've been riding for 6 weeks. Does it depend on if they are competition horses?

[@emilyn7372]

How does this work if I don't have split reins? My reins are quite short and not split. How do I send him round?

[@tianamorin5629]

I don't have split reins either. but my reins can unhook from my Hackamore. so I just unhook one side and send him around. then rehook and get on (if he doesn't walk off)

[@tianamorin5629]

also don't get on then walk off. always stay there for a minute or two flex his neck around a bit. then walk off. because if you get on then walk it still teachs him to walk when or before you get on :)

[@carolley9705]

Ok, short reins, if they don't unhook, it may pay you to invest in a pair that will. I have two roping reins both of which unhook. If you don't want to buy new reins, you can always snap a halter rope onto your bridle, tie it round the neck to get it out of your way until you need it.

[@llamayouawesomeguy]

And it's really frustrating because I can't get on half the time. Soon as my foots in the stirrup he would want to run. Note he has never really been lunged

[@MaritsView]

Rebecca Hines Work on groundwork first. Make sure you get his respect

[@littlebear2828]

hello, when i lead my horse she pulls me around...im not very strong so i dont have as much strength to make her stop!..do you have any ideas for stoping my horse from pulling me around while i lead her? thanks!

[@tianafreeze]

Groundwork for respect can solve a ton of problems indirectly, and perhaps more strength would be important! Ideally your horse should respect you and you shouldn't need to be strong enough to control it. Because that is impossible since horses are over 1000lbs.

[@dentchuck]

i lile it why do some grab the horn and not the main when mounting?

[@tianafreeze]

Preference

[@gemmabaxter5043]

Hi guys!! um, I am just learning how to canter, so I'm not that good, but when I go to mount my horse she spins round (away from me) mum always says keep walking her, but it just wastes time and doesn't help, can someone tell me what to do?

[@tianafreeze]

If your horse moves away from you when trying to mount, keep em moving. Make the right thing easy. If you're doing what they want but making it hard, eventually they won't want to do it anymore, they'd rather stand still. You have to work at it for a while and be patient as well.

[@heatherguillory900]

I know this is from a while ago. But I just watched Garry Cox teach the horse to come to him to mount, using a wall. Now once you have the horse coming to you and resting there I'd put the mounting block next to the wall an mount that way first then when that is good and calm, take the mounting block in the open area. This way it transfers from the ground to the block. I know my horse gets stuck when you change things up. Even if you are just just adding a mounting block. Now you are all of a sudden taller. At least that is the way he sees it. So I break it down into baby steps untill all the baby steps add up to successfully and calmly using the mounting block in an open area.

[@joannab7299]

my horse walks off right when I put my foot in the stirrup... I've tried my reins tight and quite loose... just enough to be able to have some control... so...

[@joannab7299]

I'll try to out her in circles

[@GoldenLioness100]

Do what this video suggests - it's really useful

[@joannab7299]

Golden the problem is my horse walks off before I even start getting on

[@GoldenLioness100]

+Nikki The Fox I know, you said :) so do what Warwick suggests in this video.

[@justarandomusernamex]

Joanna B did you ever solve this? My horse does the same

[@renduffield1651]

I was having trouble with giving good aids. How does when best go about asking horses to trot, that don't realise that is what is going on?

[@Horsepip]

Hope you dont mind, we shared your video on horsepip.com HORSEPIP

[@deedeeparker505]

How do I stop a spoiled horse from spinning for no reason?

[@WarwickSchiller]

Theres always a reason .Does he just keep spinning and spinning, or does he only do 6 or 7 revolutions?

[@CryptidBogLord]

well now I know the mistake I made dismounting a horse once. :P

[@curtiswilliams7124]

hi

[@catnewman4565]

Why is the horse being ridden at age two when his back isn't ready till at least 3?

[@sarahk1965]

Two years old? My filly's two years old, and she look closer to a yearling, development wise. This horse looks like a four year old!

[@jameystone2650]

Sometimes horses have a reason for not wanting a rider -- pain, ulcers, thrush etc. Best to make sure they are 100% first.

[@ConnemaraHeather1]

2 years of age and riding already - DISGRACEFUL!