How to teach your horse to stand while being saddled

Riding a horse is often thought of as simply leaping on to the saddle and galloping off into the sunset. But you're not going to do much riding if you can't get your horse to stand while you mount. In fact, moving while mounting is a common problem with many horses. This could be due to an ill-fitting saddle, past negative experiences in mounting, a horse who is eager to move out, or one who is trying to avoid being ridden. If you've ruled out ill-fitting gear, you're ready to teach your horse to stand still while mounting.

Instructions

  1. Preparing to Mount

    • 1

      Plan to conduct multiple training sessions of 15 to 30 minutes each, ideally on subsequent days. Choose a time when the horse is not hungry, thirsty, tired or otherwise stressed. By breaking the process down into baby steps so that your horse "gets" what you're asking it to do, and always ending on a positive note, the animal will begin to associate pleasure with being mounted. This is especially true if the horse has had trauma connected with someone climbing into the saddle. Keep your voice calm and if you find yourself getting frustrated, quit before you add to the horse's traumatic history.

    • 2

      Gather your reins into your left hand. Maintain very light contact with the horse's mouth and anchor your left hand in its mane at or just forward of the withers. This is not to force the horse to stand still, but to teach it to stand with light contact to the mouth. Alternately, if your horse is familiar with the one rein stop, put zero tension on the right rein and slight contact on the left or inside rein. Give a verbal cue such as "whoa" at the same time so that eventually the voice command alone will suffice.

    • 3

      Respond to any movement your horse makes with its feet by immediately moving it in a circle, backing, leading forward, etc, making it move for 1 to 5 minutes before stopping once more. The goal is to make standing still more desirable than moving. This stage takes patience and time, so don't be in a hurry or let frustration mount. Repeat step 2 and 3 until your horse stands quietly when you gather the reins into your hand and anchor that hand in its mane. Employ patience and give praise for right responses, even if they are very small. This may be as far as you get for a few days, but eventually your horse will stand still when you gather the reins preparatory to mounting.

    Mounting

    • 4

      Gather the mane and reins, and give your verbal cue as you have been practicing. Stand facing the horse's side, close to the animal to minimize the twisting effect your weight will exert on its spine as you mount. Turn the stirrup toward you with your right hand and insert your left toe, making sure not to poke your mount in the ribs. Some horses start to move off as soon as they see you raise your leg toward the stirrup. Others wait until you have a toe in the stirrup. Remember: horses would rather stand still than work, so your goal is to reward standing still by causing the horse to work whenever he moves without being asked to.

    • 5

      Hold on to the far side of the cantle, or back part of the saddle. Give two small hops on your right leg while keeping your toe in the stirrup. Watch your horse as you do this, being quick to step out of the stirrup and move him around for a few minutes if he does not stand still.

    • 6

      Rise straight up on the second hop, off-setting your weight with your hands. Practice this move multiple times. Make your horse work if it moves at all during any part of this process.

    • 7
      Toe in Stirrup

      Swing your right leg over the horse's hindquarters, taking care not to bump your foot on its back or tail. Lower yourself into the saddle softly, avoiding heavy flopping or shifting of weight which stresses the horse's back and causes him to want to avoid being mounted. Find your other stirrup with your right toe. At any point the horse starts to move off once you are in the saddle, apply pressure to one rein, causing the animal to move its hips over and turn in small circles until it stands still, giving your verbal cue and immediately releasing the rein pressure and giving praise when the horse stops.

    Dismounting

    • 8

      Maintain a slight contact with the reins, gathering them into the left hand along with a handful of mane. Slip your right toe out of the stirrup, taking care not to bump your horse in the side as you do so. Prepare your horse for the dismount by rocking slightly in the saddle from side to side, responding to any movement by circling until the horse stands still when you say "whoa."

    • 9

      Stand up in your left stirrup and swing your right leg out and over the horse's rump. Balance there with your weight over the horse's back to minimize stressing its spine. Watch for movement, and repeat the circling and saying "whoa' until your horse stands still. Give praise.

    • 10

      Step down to the ground with your right foot. Slip your left foot from the stirrup. Praise your horse for standing during this process. If it moves as you're getting your feet back on the ground, say "whoa."

    • 11

      Repeat the mounting and dismounting process several times a day for multiple days until your horse will stand without moving while you do so. Repeat all steps from the right side as well. Expect to have to start at the beginning again, as horses usually favor one side more than the other.