kp
Junior Member
Posts: 133
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Post by kp on Mar 1, 2014 21:26:43 GMT
Hi any tips on getting a pony to stand still . On mounting and once on our pony will not stand still. Any tips would be appreciated x
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Post by gillwales on Mar 2, 2014 6:55:07 GMT
does he stand still inhand or does he fidget? If the later , start by getting him to stand randomly inhand first. Once he is relaxed then progress training to under saddle. Tie up for grooming and stand on a box to start with, it may be the act of seeing a person suddenly rise in the air that startles him. get somebody to hold him preferably along side a wall so he cannot swing away from the rider, treats and pats for rewards. Lastly try to hack out in company with something very steady. Once again stop randomly for short periods, building up to a period of time. It takes patience on your part
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 2, 2014 8:53:15 GMT
I wasn't able to get on from the ground, and rode mostly on my own including hacking out, so all my riddens had to stand like rocks with no assistance while I clambered up the nearest fence, lorry ramp, fallen tree or whatever from which to get on. After IH training as gw says above, I would position the horse next to the fence where I wanted him to stand, and then start to climb the fence. If he moved, I would get down and place him back exactly where he'd been, going back the way he'd come, ie backwards if he moved forward etc. Repeat until he gets the point and stands still. Tedious to start with but very effective, especially (like all training) if always adhered to with no exceptions. Another tip is not to move straight off once you are up there, but fiddle with gloves, check the girth, adjust stirrups or whatever, to make sure the horse still doesn't move until asked.
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kp
Junior Member
Posts: 133
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Post by kp on Mar 3, 2014 8:17:11 GMT
Thank you for your help x
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Post by gillwales on Mar 3, 2014 10:02:20 GMT
yw, let us know how you get on please  |
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Post by aengusog on Mar 3, 2014 21:18:49 GMT
Hi any tips on getting a pony to stand still . On mounting and once on our pony will not stand still. The pony cannot be made to stand still; he must be given options, one of which is to stand still, and he must choose to stand still. Any attempts to make him stand still, such as holding him in the mouth, will result in him fidgeting and resisting. Using pressure and release is the easiest way to teach a pony to take the easy option and seek freedom from pressure himself. He can be taught on the ground to stand still simply by the application of pressure if he moves, and total cessation of pressure when he stands still. The halter pressure is used to 'place' the pony. The verbal 'stand' command is given. If he strays from where he has been 'placed', then the halter is used to 'replace' him. He will very quickly learn how to be free of the pressure, and will thereafter seek to be free of pressure. The best way to do that is to stand still. Once the pony has learned this in-hand, he can be similarly persuaded to stand still to be mounted. each time he tries to move off, he must be put back where he should be and, very importantly, given freedom from pressure as long as he stands still. You see, many people try to hold the pony in place by use of the halter or the reins. This only results in resistance to the constant contact pressure, and the animal cannot stand still as he is getting no relief whatever he does. He cannot, therefore, learn what is desirable and what is not. Once the rider is in the saddle, the same principles apply. The reins must be used momentarily to ask the pony to stand, along with a verbal command, and the reins released as long as the pony stands. If he tries to walk off, the reins are used to block him and, as soon as he stops, the rein is given again. The pony will quickly choose freedom from the rein, and will choose to stand as that brings that freedom. By these methods, the pony is given the options and chooses for himself what is most comfortable. |
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