HELP!
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Stand to attention
Q My pony walks off when I get on, before I’ve even swung my leg over his back. How can I teach him to stand still?
A It’s nice your pony is keen to get going, but, yes, you’re right, he does need to learn to wait until you’re ready.
You can retrain him through positive reinforcement. This means that when he does what you want him to do (in this case stand still), he’s rewarded.
Start by asking a friend or adult to hold him while you get on. If he goes to walk forward, your friend can reposition him. Once he’s standing still for you to get on, find your other stirrup and check your girth, make him wait a few more seconds, then reward him with a treat and a pat.
Then, when he’s standing quietly with your friend holding him, progress to asking your friend to stand next to him and, finally, try it alone. Repetition is the key to success, as well as rewarding the behaviour you want. Good luck!