My horse walks off as soon as I get on — how do I correct it?

A horse that walks off the moment the rider is seated has not been taught that standing is required after mounting — it has learned that mounting is the cue to move, and in many cases the rider inadvertently installed that association by immediately applying leg and asking for forward the moment they sat down. The correction separates mounting from forward movement: get on, sit quietly, do nothing with your legs or reins, and wait. If the horse walks off, do not pull straight back — pick up one rein and bring the horse's nose around toward your knee, causing it to stop and yield its hindquarters. Then straighten it, sit quietly again, and wait. Repeat every time a foot moves until the horse stands for thirty seconds, then a minute, then as long as you ask. The horse learns that moving earns a disruptive yield and redirection, while standing earns the rider sitting still and leaving it alone. Once the horse is standing consistently, ask for forward movement with a deliberate, clear cue so the horse understands the difference between your forward aid and simply sitting on its back. Practice getting on and off multiple times in a single session — mount, stand quietly, dismount, mount again — so the mounting process loses its association with always going to work immediately. A horse that stands quietly for mounting and after mounting is a horse that respects the rider's timing and direction, and that quality of attentiveness carries through into every other part of the ride.