HOW DO I GET MY HORSE TO STAND STILL WHILE USING A MOUNTING BLOCK?

Note: The following excerpt is the transcript from a question I answered from my Facebook Live made in the Steady Horse Facebook Group on 5/29/19. Watch the video or read the text below to learn the answer to the question.

A lot of horses, you’ll find that you put a mounting block by them, they start to move away from the mounting block. That’s usually pretty common.

You’ll get other horses who walk forward, just leaving the mounting block. I recently had someone shoot me an email that said their horse was backing away from the mounting block. They put the mounting block down and the horse started creeping backward.

Here’s the thing, if your horse starts moving away, just continue to ask them to move away. Don’t just let them avoid it, make them move away. Make the moving away from a chore and get them moving, get their energy up. Get them moving out with a little bit of effort, get them breathing a little bit and then give them the opportunity to stand nice and still by the mounting block.

When you approach the mounting block, take a deep breath, rub and love on them. Affirm that pony. Let them know that’s the best place in the world to be. But the moment they start to move away, say, “Okay. You can move away, but I’m going to make you move away. I’m going to get you to move out with a little bit of energy, a little bit of purpose.”

Get those feet moving and then again present the mounting block as an opportunity.