Horse Problem - Mounting & bit problems - Horse moves off when mounting, & won't take the bit

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips12.html

As for using the mounting block, she sounds to me like she's still not desensitized to people "up high." To fix that moving off problem, start making "the right thing easy, the wrong thing hard." Place the mounting block closer to a fenceline so that it rules out moving sideways, as you create an alleyway there. But do take the time first to get her used to a human up high on the block by using advance/retreat. Step up one step, then step down, repeat until she can handle that, then 2 steps up, then back down, repeating that. Too many people get way too goal focused there when a horse has that kind of issue, when actually the retreat is what teaches them to be okay with that there. You cannot do too many retreats in my training book! The retreat is everything in desensitizing a horse to something they fear (and this is fear you are seeing there, whether you realize it or not).

After you've desensitized her to a human up high on the mounting block, then if she tries to move off as you mount, start making the right thing easy, the wrong thing hard. If she moves off, make her work by driving her in circles around the block. To teach your horse how to be driven from the rear (which all horses should be taught before we ever ride them) I teach how to do that here: http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips39.html

The only place she gets a rest there then is: right by the mounting block. As you drive her around the block, slow her down as she nears the place she's supposed to stand still so she knows that's the resting/quiet place. Everywhere else is the "work harder" place. If your timing is good there, she'll quickly figure out that the exact spot you want her to stand by the mounting block is the rest/non work hard spot. When she stops there where you want her, stroke and praise her and use bonding techniques to relax her before mounting again -- specifically the lower the head exercise and your finger in her mouth to get her working her mouth to relax her, all of which I show how to do here:

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips58.html

I would also stongly suggest teaching her the back up cue, so you have that in her foundation handily for if you need her to back up there to be in just the right position for mounting by the block -- I show how you can teach her that here: http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips31.html

As for the bit problem, it's not just about the molasses, but also the method I show there for advance/retreat. Again, the retreat being the most important factor there to focus on. Don't be goal focused, be RETREAT focused. Real important to follow those instructions to the letter to get her past that issue. Also, make sure you can put a finger in the corner of her mouth; use molasses on your finger if you want at first, so she gets comfortable with just the feel of something (your finger for a start) in her mouth in the corner there.

Before I've ever introduced a bit to a horse I've newly trained, I've already had my finger in their mouth hundreds of times (to help them relax), so it feels perfectly natural to them by the time the bit is introduced.

And the type of bit you use is crucial. Again, I go over all this on this page here: http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/TrainingTips5.html

There's not a horse I know that I can't get past that type of bit problem going the route I show there, and in usually just one session. So...this is a human approach problem, but I can't tell from here how you're getting that wrong. Maybe read that page again and see how closely you're following that route. And if you haven't had your finger in her mouth dozens of times already, well...then you know you've got work to back up & do there. Get her used to your finger before you even think about introducing the bit.

Also...have you had her dental vet checked? Very important to have her teeth floated and any wolf teeth removed before you ever approach putting a bit in the mouth. Since she's so young, you want to especially make sure she has no wolf teeth there still. Your vet or equine dentist should do a check for that if they haven't already. A bit can hurt if the wolf teeth are still present.

You might think about getting my DVD set, the Whispering Way 12-Step Total Training System, and you can order that here: CLICK HERE

After watching the videos, and after learning and applying the methods, you, as the horse's primary teacher, will have taught the horse:

• How to be bonded to you more deeply so that the horse trusts you to the max and they will be far more willing to do whatever you ask, even when they are in doubt;
• That you both have a "bonding place" (a "safety zone") to come back to always, from then on, if the horse is ever upset or afraid, on the ground (or later, in the saddle); we plant a one-rein stop in the foundation of every horse, on the ground first, so that in the saddle, it is automatic. This keeps you safer and the horse more rational, and feeling supported, bonded, connected more deeply emotionally to you.
• How to relax the horse when they are tense about something before they are called upon to react negatively.
• How to have the horse yield easily, in any direction when asked -- they'll learn how to yield properly to pressure to receive the release of pressure. All horses learn from the release of pressure what it is you want, not from the pressure itself;
• How to progress bonding to even deeper levels to the point of downright intimacy; makes a horse feel like they never had it so good being with you!
• How to move the horse from the rear, and learning to do that rationally, which is so important to teach a horse to do before you ever ride them, and which you'll be using for a lot of other things like trailer loading, going in and out of a gate, into a stall, and so many other places/situations; this also teaches a horse that you are in charge of their feet.
• How to address effectively any fears (and the horse's reactions to them) that you flush out in their behavior at any given time; my program focuses greatly on finding the fears before they find you and fixing them -- safely on the ground first! Even lay folks can do this. It's all about: safety. This then builds a far more rational, confident, happy, trusting horse, because, in essence, you have effectively raised the horse's "fear/anxiety bar." And you will have taught the horse simultaneously in the process, how to turn to you for nurturance support when/if they are ever afraid or upset.
• How to do all this first on the ground, then later in the saddle, in that order.
• How to keep you safe and the horse safe at all times, throughout all of this --- always my biggest training focus.

This video set will help you to lay down an even stronger, more solid and trusting foundation under your horse that will then serve you well, tremendously, actually, when you do step up into the saddle. By the time you complete the steps, you will have a transformed horse. The final steps are in the saddle and those exercises will more deeply plant into your horse's foundation the one-rein stop/the "safety zone," and more, that will turn the horse into a far, far more rational, trusting, happier -- and safer -- horse in saddle as well.

And you can do this yourself if you just back up and learn a few things yourself there. This video set will get you there the fastest with your horse, which is why I'm recommending this route. It's designed for anyone on any level, horse or human, to get professional trainer-like results.

And incidentally...my Whispering Way Complete Training Package contains all my videos and training tools that you need to train or retrain your horse yourself the natural horsemanship Whispering Way. You can check out/order the Whispering Way Complete Training Package on my web site here: CLICK HERE

I'm a very strong believer that every horse owner is their horse's primary teacher/trainer whether they realize it or not. Every time you are with your horse, that horse is learning something. You just want to make sure the horse is learning what you want them to learn, not what you don't want them to learn! My natural horsemanship training techniques are gentle, effective, and powerful. Works with every horse every time!

But it's real important to back up and break down all teaching steps in a way that you are releasing baby-gives, allowing the horse to feel the release for the right answers incrementally, so that they learn that's really what you want.

It's a clear step-by-step approach, from the ground up, so that everything makes perfect sense to the horse later up in the saddle. You're skipping some crucial steps there and need to back her up in training to close the holes.

Hope this helps and good luck to you there!

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