Dismounting Problem

[Autumn]

Right, hope you can help me out here!

A couple of weeks back I posted about a bad hack on Charlie where I had to dismount out hacking as he was being really spooky and I felt worried on him and wasn't confident enough to ride through it (on lane with traffic) so I dismounted, walked him to my house where I got back on and my husband walked back to the stable with the dogs to accompany me.

Anyhow, when I dismounted, as he was being so spooky, he spooked as I got off, sort of jumped to the right away from me a bit, he did the same when we got back to the yard and has done everytime I've ridden him since. I've tried getting on and back off a few times but he's the same, he doesn't do this for his sharer though, just me, I must be anticipating it so therefore tensing up and he's sensing it.

Have you any suggestions how to resolve this, i've tried giving him a treat before I get off so he associates it with something good, very food orientated! but that didn't work.

Also, when I dismount, I have to wait for him to lower his neck so I can lean forwards sufficiently to dismount as if he raises his neck, I find it hard, does that make sense?

It's got to the point where I don't want to get on as I can't get off!

Thanks. x

[Bek B]

My first suggestion would be to carefully watch your sharer dismount and try to identify the differences in the way you do it.

We had a similar situation with a horse my friend was backing. From day one he was difficult to mount and dismount and had to be held. He got better in time. However, when I started riding him he didn't tolerate me dismounting and reverted back to his old ways. Turned out that I put my hands in a different position to my friend when I dismounted and he seemed to object to this. If I dismounted as my friend did he was quieter.

[Tnavas]

Line him close to a wall that will prevent him from stepping sideways. Make sure that you are swinging your leg high over his back and not catching him on the way over.

May be worth having his back checked out and the saddle fit checked.

When you get on do you do so from the ground or from a mounting block?

[fairyfeet]

Max was a pain to dismount from, so I've taught him to 'park'! lol
I made him put his head over the gate or a fence until I'd dismounted. I didn't attempt to get off until he was settled. He now does it automatically and will stay there until you tell him to move! Can untack etc and he's still 'parked'! lol

[CityLights]

can someone hold him for you? that would be the easiest thing

Other than that try getting off onto something, when i am doing young horses if im doing something spookier i initially get off onto something as you suddenly vanishing from on them and landing on the floor freaks them out a little so we try to dismount onto a block or do it very slowly in stages,