One of the basic tenets in my program is to teach the horses and ponies, whether ridden or driven, to stand still.
This is a skill that once put on the front burner, really put at the top of a training agenda, will quickly improve. The very first thing I notice with horses that won’t wait around, or stand still, is that they are often operating within blurred parameters in their unmounted activities, too. Often moving around just that little bit, just enough that I’ll get used to them and they’re never called on it. You know, “Oh, So-and-So! He just hates to stand!”
Maybe it’s time to stage an intervention….
There are many methods to teach the whoa word. Whether it’s using the flag, or moving the horse’s feet, or simply calling for quiet insistence, we’ve found that the key concept is awareness. How much does the horse move around in other areas of our relationship? Once he is standing completely motionless on the cross ties or just with the halter rope thrown over our arm, it’s simply a matter of time, adding seconds and minutes to what we ask of him.
It’s mindful practice.
The reward for absolute stillness is a kind word, then a total release of pressure. I won’t touch or even look at the horse, but will soften my posture and work on my breathing. Standing quietly then becomes our safe place.
It must be noted that smaller or younger horses will need locking in place to brace against a mounting rider.
We riders sometimes forget this. I’ll reach up and push-pull the saddle horn until they get their front legs set, as you can see if the horse or pony assumes a wide stance. What a difference this makes! So often, when we blame horses for moving off, they’re just getting their balance when we pull on them. They’ll stagger a step or two, then momentum just keeps them trucking on ahead.
All my horses are comfortable being mounted from either side. It’s a safety feature. That said, they all seem to prefer my using the mounting block or the trailer fender and I respect their choices. They know, far better than I, when they are comfy.
There are three key things in this mounting and standing gig.
The first, we tend to spend all of five seconds mounting and dismounting with each ride. My response to that is to get the horse set and then mount/dismount/mount/dismount a dozen or more times until the horse gets the picture. This is huge!
The second, I see a lot of riders failing to grab some mane in with the rein hand, right tight into the crest. This not only alleviates a huge amount of pull sideways on the saddle, but pulling on the mane this way naturally asks the horse to arch his neck and pull back by locking his legs. Voila! The horse instinctively puts himself in park and helps us up.
Thirdly, when we do climb aboard, we never just ride off.
This is when I will reach in my pocket for my mints or my gloves, handling them in an unrushed way, then zipping my pocket closed again. I revel in those first deep breaths in the saddle, those ones where I always feel, “Honey, I’m home!” The horses always go quickly from foot-stomping exasperation to surrender. So if this does not sound familiar, you must settle in the saddle, find your gloves, organize your reins, tidy the mane, flex the horse one way, then the other, sit still and think about life….
Only then, you might back him up, or turn him in the opposite direction before moving off. I’m always slow to get working. I’ll just walk him out a while, getting the soft feel, asking the horse to stretch and relax.
While working under saddle, I like to spend a bit of time pushing my horse’s quarters around at the walk, turns on the forehand, leg-yielding, opening gates. Whenever they relax through their topline as I use my legs, I relax my reins and my legs. Soon, the horse is not so quick to check out of Dodge.
Standing still is of paramount importance and is so often overlooked.
Whether we are new to riding or training high level horses, it’s easy to forget that this one thing is a cornerstone of calmness. Classical riders from centuries past wrote about the importance of quietly, squarely standing still. Not only does the halt show that our horses have learned to be calm and relaxed under the saddle, it is used as a pause in the middle of training as a reward, as a chance to let something key sink in. My own classical teacher also used standing still, whilst on the bit, to scold and then energize the lazy horse who wasn’t fully trying. Just a few moments of tuning in and then, there would be moments of brilliance to follow. All without driving forward, without using the seat and spurs….
Teaching this ‘wait and see’ mentality is always harder with the horses who spin their wheels and love to go. Trust me, with time and making this your number one priority, any horse can get it. Horses that are constantly gunning it are struggling with relaxation. What we are teaching them is not so much standing – whether for mounting or at points during our ride – as learning to chill out on the job. I’ve found that most of my horses and ponies love learning new skills. Once they decide that standing still, no matter what, is their thing, they own it.
I find that once they learn this, it starts each ride off right. Together, we head out in harmony. It’s not unusual to see and feel everything else about the horse improving. By the way, until a horse can stand in relaxation, without moving, we never proceed to driving him to a vehicle. It would not be safe.
Magical fixes? Sorry, no.
This approach is simple and doable. It doesn’t need as much timing or ‘feel’ as some methods. Best of all, it has lasting results.
Do any of you have horses that struggle with the concept of standing still, either from the ground or under saddle? What have you tried to fix the problem… and have you found any other ideas that have worked? I’d love to hear from you. Cheers, Lee.
Lee, this is a core skill that I think all horses must have. It’s unimaginable to have a work horse that does not stand quietly for any amount of time. When I had the mares and stallion, all foals were set on the path of standing quietly within hours of birth. It’s so much easier to hold onto those “little” ones and convince them that standing quietly is a very happy place than to teach this to a four year old. I hope that all your saddle horse followers take this post to heart. It’s just so very important.
Yes, it sure is, Deena. Standing while mounting is only one aspect to a horse that will stand still, until. This one thing can one day save our life. We always hope it won’t come to pass but until then, it makes the day brighter and more fun when we can stand still for the break along the trail, or during the parade, or in the line up at the horse show… or hooking up to the harrows! Thanks for always reading, thinking and commenting, my friend.
Lee, you are welcome. I truly do look forward to your blogs. Hoping to see a little something about basic cues, when the spirit moves you.
I’ll put it near the top of the list!
Great timing on this. Just talking about this with my son. He was helping an older rider with an artificial knee mount his fairly tall horse up in the hills. Put the horse in a ditch & held his head until the rider was up. My son commented that the horse would not have stood without him at his head & that it could have been a wreck if the horse had moved off with rider half way up. He had witnessed a similar situation a month or so ago & when the horse moved off, the rider lurched, landed half on horses butt, horse jumped & bucked & rider injured.
Another little skill that is so important, especially as us older riders become less strong & balanced (sigh)
Every year, it gets a little harder to climb up there… especially if we’re on that taller horse. Sometimes in our pursuit of what we’re passionate about, we forget the very simple stuff. Thank you, Jackie!