The horse cannot stand still when the rider wants to mount. It goes backwards, turns, tries to reach forwards or snaps at the rider.
Unfortunately, this bad habit is a serious training mistake. It takes a lot of patience and time to teach a horse to stand still. The best and most effective way is to use a helper. The helper stands in front of the horse's head and holds a piece of bread or a carrot in his hand.
If the horse is merely nervous, it is often enough to give it a treat until the rider has mounted. If the horse is already completely warped, the rider holds the horse's head on the cheek piece of the bridle with one hand and the stirrup leathers (where they are attached to the saddle) with the other.
It is important for the rider to mount smoothly and quickly and neither to put too much weight on one side of the stirrup for too long nor to plop down abruptly into the saddle. The rider should speak calmly and gently to the horse.
The horse's positive behaviour should always be rewarded with bread and carrots.
Practise mounting several times a day in quick succession. When the rider has mounted with the help of their helper, they should initially remain calm and relaxed on the horse's back and talk to the horse. Hold the reins loosely in your hand. The rider's relaxation and calmness is transferred to the horse, the calmer the rider, the less nervous the horse.
It is best to mount and dismount as often as necessary until the horse has managed to stand still once.
However, very young horses should not be forced to stand for too long, as they are impatient and full of energy. The strain on the rider is also still unfamiliar. Young horses should also learn to stand for longer periods of time, but they need more patience and experience before they can stand for any length of time.
If you don't have a helper, you can place your horse sideways against a wall. Tighten the right rein until the horse's head leans slightly to the right. When mounting, make sure that the tips of your boots do not pierce the horse's belly. Step very close to the horse and slide quickly into the saddle.
In particularly stubborn cases, the rider should not mount with the help of the stirrup, but should be helped into the saddle by others. Horses naturally stand more calmly if they are not pulled down on one side by the stirrup. Alternatively, use a stepladder to mount the horse.
It is important to train the horse to mount calmly for a long time and with perseverance, because if you have to get back into the saddle in the terrain, you don't always have the option of a helper or a wall.
