When Your Horse Won't Stand Still for Mounting

Sometimes horses need chiropractic adjustments that can alleviate back pain. Muscle strain that occurs while working or playing can cause back pain.

Test for back pain by exploring your horse's back with your fingertips, penetrating the muscles on both sides of the spine with your fingertips. Treat any skin conditions and wait until they're healed before starting to ride again. Sore muscles are stiff and sore. If the horse has been sore for a long time, it may even 'block-out' the pain and make the pain harder to discover. Your vet, an equine massage therapist, or a chiropractor can help you diagnose back pain. You can also consider riding bareback.

Saddle Pads and Blankets

Pads and blankets can cause problems if they've become dirty and lumpy, have burrs or grass haws embedded in them, or are pulled down tightly across the horse's withers. Make sure your pads or blankets are smooth and clean. Pull the pad or blanket up off of the horse's withers after you put the saddle on so it's not digging into the horse at the withers.

Horse Is Unbalanced

This is common with young horses and will resolve itself as the horse learns to balance a rider and gains fitness and coordination.

Horse Is Pulled off Balance by Rider

Any horse can be pulled off balance and squirm around to rebalance itself if the rider is awkward and heavy as they climb into the saddle. Learn to lift yourself into the saddle and perhaps use a mounting block to make the job easier for you and the horse.

Rider Hits the Saddle Too Hard

It's important to settle yourself gently into the saddle and not just flop down. Your horse may squirm in anticipation and emit an equine "oof" as you plunk into the saddle. Use a mounting block and lower yourself gently into the saddle once you're up there.