I'm still having trouble with my horse at the mounting block (which unfortunaely, I do have to use).. He approaches it quietly and in a straight line as I walk up the 2 steps holding his bridle. Then as I stand there, he steps sideways and is too far away for me to get on. If I use a whip to tap his off side and move him back to the block, he gets upset and dances around. No good since I'm still standing on the block!
If someone stands beside him, he'll be just fine but there's seldom anyone around to help in this way.
I've been just stepping down and leading him back in the same process over again till he finally stands still and close to the block and I mount. I'm hoping that by doing it again and again till he does it right and then praising him a lot, he'll finally get the idea that I won't give up. He's 17, should know better and I'm pretty sure is just trying to scam me a bit.
Advice? Am I making the problem worse by repeating the process again and again till he obeys? It sometimes takes 4 approaches to the block before he'll do it the right way.
If someone stands beside him, he'll be just fine but there's seldom anyone around to help in this way.
I've been just stepping down and leading him back in the same process over again till he finally stands still and close to the block and I mount. I'm hoping that by doing it again and again till he does it right and then praising him a lot, he'll finally get the idea that I won't give up. He's 17, should know better and I'm pretty sure is just trying to scam me a bit.
Advice? Am I making the problem worse by repeating the process again and again till he obeys? It sometimes takes 4 approaches to the block before he'll do it the right way.