How do I get my horse to stand still for mounting?

A horse that will not stand for mounting is one of the most common and most correctable ground manners problems, and it almost always traces back to the horse having been allowed to move during mounting enough times that it no longer considers standing still a requirement. The correction is straightforward but demands consistency: the horse must learn that moving during mounting always results in more work, and standing still always results in the rider getting on quietly and leaving the horse alone. Begin the retraining at the mounting block or from the ground — whatever you normally use — and the moment the horse takes a step, do not get on. Instead, move it away from the mounting position, yield its hindquarters, back it up, or send it in a small circle, then bring it back to the mounting position and ask it to stand again. Repeat every single time a foot moves. The horse learns that moving away from the mounting block causes more movement, not less, and that standing still is what produces the release. Your body position during mounting matters: avoid pulling the saddle toward you with the stirrup, swinging up heavily and landing hard in the saddle, or grabbing the right side of the saddle and twisting it as you mount — all of these create discomfort that gives the horse a legitimate reason to move. Once you are up, sit quietly for a moment before asking for forward movement. A horse that has learned standing is required at the mounting block will stand indefinitely if that expectation is never compromised.