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TIP OF THE MONTH
WHOA!!
I have observed some people ride their horseses, and continualy see that alot of people have trouble making, their horse stop or stand still before mounting. Now, if this is your case pay close attention.
You must, before atempting to correct this problem, find out if your horse has a back or other physical problem, because if this is the case then you must first give him/her the proper attention and make sure that the problem is curable and cured. The first problem I observe on people is when they first mount their horse. They put their foot on the stirrup and mount, but as they are throwing their leg up on the offside they also pull on the bit, some times accidentaly and sometimes to try and stop the horse before he moves off. And I am sorry to say but, if you are one of the people who do this, that is what causes the problem. Think about it, put yourself in the horse's shoes, if your friend was going to get on his back and you knew that every time he/she does this, he sticks his finger in your mouth and pulls so hard it hurts, what would your reaction be the next time your friend tries to get on your back? if you are as smart as your horse, you would take off running. So this is what you do, saddle your horse and command whoa, and stand there for a minute. Make sure u use a halter or something similar to hold your horse, do not use a bit. In Mexico we normally use a bosal or spanish jaquima. This will ensure that you don't cue or hurt your horse's mouth unintentionally. So put your halter, bosal or cavesson, what ever it is you want to use and bridle your horse, saddle him and walk him out to where you normally mount. Your reins should be resting on the saddle horn or on the whithers if you are using a saddle without a saddle horn. Stand there, talk gently to your horse, do not mount, just stand there for a few minutes; if your horse moves walk with him a few steps to make him think that it was your idea to walk, and then bring him back to where you started. Do this a few times, if your horse does not move on his own, after a few minutes you should walk him around and then bring him back and start over. This will be for the first day, make sure that you cut up a carrot and give your horse a tiny piece when he stands still in the begining.Do not over feed treats to your horse or you will make him pushy, use judgement. The next day you will do the same, saddle and bridle your horse, take him to the usual mounting place and comand whoa, give him the bit and stand there for a few minutes, once he finishes his treat stand a little more and then walk around. Start over but this time you will not give him a treat, he will expect it but do not give in. Start over again, same thing stand there and talk softly, comand whoa and give him a treat. You are going to alternate your treats in a way that your horse does not expect a treat every time, but knows that in any random ocasion he may get one.
The third day you will do the same thing but this time, the fourth time that you bring him to the usual spot, you will throw your leg on the stirrup and mount. Do not put your hands on the reins. Just put your leg on the stirrup and if he does not move sit on him for 5 seconds and get off. Give him a treat and put him away.
If your horse happens to move, when you put your foot on the stirrup comand whoa and get off, continue standing with him untill he will not move when you put your feet on the stirrup. Eventually you will be able to sit on the hores without him moveing. Stay on once you can sit on him for only 5 seconds, and get off and give him a treat and put him away. For allowing you to get on his back without any objection, you rewarded with 1. not pulling on his mouth, 2. getting off 3. giving him a treat 4. putting him away.
The following day stay on for 15 seconds, get off and put him away, next day 30 seconds next day 1 minute. Do not walk off or ride out on your horse, just sit there and then get off. By this time you should not give your horse any more hand fed treats just verval praise. Eventually you will be able to sit on your horse for 2 minutes, when this happens your horse will be more or less cured, and you may now ride out, however before you dismount make him stand quietly for a few seconds.
I constantly use this method on horses and it has been very effective for me, it usually takes a week or about 7 days before the horse is cured. In some extreme cases it takes a little longer 2 or even as much as almost 3 weeks, but I have never had any problems with this method and the horses that I have helped have never gone back to their bad havits again.