Groundwork
Intermediate
15 min
Mounting Block Patience at the Canter
Focus: Patience, Obedience, Manners
Equipment: Mounting block, Halter and leadrope
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Lead your horse to the mounting block. Position it parallel to the block.
- Stand on the mounting block. The horse should stand perfectly still.
- If the horse canters away, reposition it and try again. Do NOT chase it with the block.
- Lean over the saddle from the block. The horse should remain still.
- Step up onto the stirrup. The horse should not move.
- Repeat the positioning-and-standing exercise 5-10 times until the horse is rock solid.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Accepting a horse that walks away from the block — always bring it back and restart.
- Mounting quickly to 'catch' the horse before it moves (this rewards the horse for planning to move).
- Only approaching from one side of the block.
- Not rewarding the horse for standing still — it needs to know that stillness is the correct answer.
Variations & Progressions
- Practice mounting from both sides.
- Have the horse stand at the block for 2-3 minutes without mounting.
- Mount, dismount, and remount multiple times to normalize the process.
Tip: Mounting block patience is a respect and safety issue. A horse that walks away during mounting is a horse that doesn't respect your timing.
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