These are lessons that should have been well-instilled from the ground, but riders often let their horses get away with ‘moving violations’ during mounting and dismounting. If your horse has adopted this bad habit, or is a green youngster just starting its under-saddle education, here is some advice from Michele.
It’s great if you have a corner where you can place the mounting block, as the walls (or fence if you’re outdoors) will serve as a deterrent to the horse to move in some directions. See if you can get someone to assist you from the ground, too, as this is easier with a helper. It can be difficult to halt a horse when you are in the middle of getting on.
Stand on the block and have your helper lead the horse up to it and halt. Say ‘stand’ or ‘whoa.’ If the horse tries to avoid the situation and barges right past, halt him with a tug on the reins and make him back up several steps. Present your horse to the block again, and keep halting and backing up the horse as many times as it takes until he stops trying to run past the mounting block.
I find many horses try to swing their hindquarters away from the mounting block. Have your helper carry a crop or dressage whip. This is not to punish or scare the horse; you are going to use it to tap gently to move the horse’s quarters back toward the mounting block if he starts to swing away. Tap the horse’s hindquarters towards the block as you move towards it. With a young or green horse, it’s important that they learn to approach the block straight and stand beside it without swinging out, as well as halt when told to.
If you don’t have anyone to help you and your horse starts to swing his hindquarters away from the mounting block as you start to get on, have your crop in your right hand and reach across and tap his right quarters. This will encourage him to move them back in towards the block.
Remind him to ‘stand’ as you prepare to get on. Say “whoa” if he tries to move away, and have your helper reinforce the whoa with a pull on the reins. Be firm. If he continues to move, don’t continue to mount. Get off and repeat the halt, backing up and re-presenting to the mounting block. Be patient and repeat as necessary.
Swing lightly into the saddle. Stay calm and relaxed. Reward your horse with a pat if he continues to stand. Quietly pick up your reins and ask him to move forward.
Dismounting involves much of the same. Ask your horse to whoa and don’t get off until he stops and is standing still. Have your helper take hold of the reins and reinforce the whoa if necessary. Back him up, move forward and ask for the whoa again. Be prepared to repeat several times until your horse is listening and obeying when you ask him to stop and stand.
