Help for a Horse That Won’t Stand Still

A well-trained horse stands quietly while you get in the saddle and waits for your cue to move off once you’re ready to head down the trail. A horse that fidgets, dances around and refuses to stand still when you mount up is not only frustrating but dangerous.

In the training guide, “Stand Still for Mounting,” Clinton explains how to train a horse to stand quietly while you get in the saddle. “The secret to getting a horse to stand quietly when you go to get in the saddle is to get him to use the thinking side of his brain and tune in to you,” Clinton says. “Then, if he shimmies away from you when you go to swing up in the saddle, redirect his feet. You’ll make the right thing (standing still while you get in the saddle) easy and the wrong thing (fidgeting) difficult.”

Read the training article on the Downunder Horsemanship website.