Should I use a stool or something to get on my horse for now?
When I get on her from the ground, the saddle (its western) slips to the side, and its soo annoying because when I put all my weight to the right it still doesn’t straighten up. Shes really fat right now and barely has any withers (but shes losing weight, and I’m starting to see them again). I lunge her before I ride and when I tighten the saddle I know it’s not too loose. So should I just get on her with like a stool or mounting block for now? Or is there anything that would help this? I don’t want to buy like a special saddle pad or anything thats expensive (my family is not rich xD). And also my saddle does fit properly, (its like.. almost full QH bars I think) it just might be a tad small because it moves forward a little but it doesn’t bother her at all, and since shes pretty round right now it will fit her better when shes back in shape.
Also when I get on her she walks right away before I can put my foot in the stirrup and straighten the saddle, and when I try to stop her she walks right away again and when I pull back on the reins I feel like I’m pulling too hard sometimes to get her to stop (and I hate doing that). It’s so annoying, you can yell "whoa" all you want, she just won’t listen, what can I do to fix this? I’m sick of having to get someone to hold her when I get on. But when I stop her to get off shes fine and won’t walk off on me.
Forgot to mention, the saddle only slips forward when I lunge her. It’s synthetic so it’s super light.
I don’t mean a stool like a bar stool type thing, I mean a foot stool xD
Wowwww. I never said she was too tall. Shes actually a 13.3 hand pony -_-.
Yes, you should use a mounting block. It will save the annoyance of a slipping saddle and it’s easier on the horse.
If she is walking off as you mount you can start off by having someone hold her on the ground for a minute or so. But you really need to work on it while you’re on her.
When she walks off, stop her and hold her there for as long as you want her to stay there. Don’t let her decide when it’s time to go. But since she continues to walk off after you stopping her, turn her around until you are back at your starting point and have her stop again.
When she walks off without your command then circle her again and stop.
Start off small by getting her to stand for about 10-15 seconds and then telling her to walk. When she can do that without any problems then increase the time a little more.
You have to be very consistent with it but it might take some time. You are use to her walking off so just remember you CAN’T let her do it. Circle then stop her again then when she listens, praise her.
She will learn that it’s a lot easier to wait then to keep going in circles until she does.
I had the same problem with my horse and this worked for me.
Good luck with your horse, hope this helped 🙂
Yep you should probably get a mounting block, some horses are just odd to fit. My brother is about to make one for my mom because her horse, even though he has a flex saddle(fits any horse), the saddle still slips to the side. You can buy a mounting block for around $30 and it will last for a very long time or you could probably make one if you want. When we first got our horses at home, there was a big stump and we got on that way but now, the horses use it as their toilet! xD Here is a good priced mounting block that you could order from the website or you could buy at a tack shop:
http://www.horse.com/item/burlingham-mounting-block/SLT311065/
Those are a little more pricey than ones in stores though!
About her walking off, when she walks off, lunge her around in a small circle every time she does it, when she wants to walk off or move, you make her move, but make her move your way which is in a circle. When you feel like she has learned her lesson, stop her and try it again. Repeat this every time she walks and soon she’ll learn that she has to do more work if she walks off and she will stand there patiently instead.
Good luck and hope i helped!!=)
I have an appy mare that is sprung round through the ribs with a flat withers. I struggled for a long time to get mounted because no matter which saddle I tried, it slipped. It was like a comedy skit.
Even when I rode her, the saddle would slip and I was constantly shifting weight to get it readjusted.
Very annoying for her too. Here is what worked for me: buying one of those specialty saddle pads with the pimply sides to help stick to her (not that expensive and worth it) AND using a mounting block. The block helped with the slip mounting and the pad really made a difference when riding.
You could also add a rear cinch and breast collar to help a little.
I have had this horse since she was a weanling, but my next horse definitely was adopted because she had a better withers and back to hold a saddle!
Now for the moving away when mounting, I just posted a detailed explanation of how to fix this a few minutes ago.
Go to my answers to AnimalLover on having trouble mounting from the ground and an easy explanation on how to handle this for you to follow.
You’re better off not mounting from the ground as you will pull her back over, not just the saddle and could hurt her, use a mounting block or leg up. A stool could easily topple and frighten the horse and you could hurt yourself.
Don’t get up until she stands still and don’t let her walk off when you mount until you ask her to move off, keep bringing her back around, if need be ask someone to stand beside you or hold her until she gets the idea.
I’d have a qualified saddle fitter check the fit of the saddle. If they give the thumbs up to the saddle fit then yes you should use a mounting block. In matter fact a mounting block, or step, or random thing you can stand on should be used with all horses for mounting as when you mount you put uneven pressure on the horses back which over time can really cause it some pain (i’m a vet student so many of our horsey patients have back pain due to something so simple) And on top of that it can pull the tree of the saddle and cause it to twist. Also get someone to hold the other stirrup and pull it down when you mount to even out the pressure.
yeah a raise area 🙂
also anther trick is have someone hold the other stirup and put weight in it while mounting
dont want to wreck your ponys back
Well, thats what you get for getting a horse that is too tall for you to get on easily. If she is walking off when you go to mount and you do get a mounting block she will quickly learn not to get near enough to the block for you to mount.
A brest collar and a back cinch might help also you can gather your reins up in your left hand and also get a big lock of mane and try to put a lot of your weight on the mane and you step up.