On Fri, Jun 22, 2007 at 05:35:01PM -0300, Virginia Tupper wrote: > Soon after I mount Orri he walks off--I've been circling him to a stop > when he does that because I want him to stand still. My coach says > not to keep him standing long. > > Do you think a treat would help, and does it matter how long I have him stand.
nota bene, stjarni is twelve and came to me well-trained, so i'm not sure how this would play out with another horse. stjarni recently tried walking off as i was mounting or right after. i decided that unless he stood still, i would get right off again and we would repeat the process. once he was standing while i mounted and waited long enough for me to be happy (i started with a count of three, moved up to "long enough for me to fiddle with my gloves and feel organized") i'd give him a treat. (not all the time. it's better to be a slot machine than a vending machine, you want them to keep playing :) one important thing was to make sure i didn't inadvertently cue him to walk on with my seat or legs while i mounted or immediately thereafter -- at that point it's my fault, not his... --vicka
