BHS - Emergency dismount?

C

*C*

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Hi HHO!

I wondered if you could help. I'm due to take my BHS Riding and Road Safety soon, and have had conflicting advice on the 'emergency dismount' from my two instructors.

Do all examiners now expect you to mount and dismount from the offside, or is a 'normal' dismount acceptable if safe and efficient? (I am terrible on the 'wrong' side)

Also, should you halt the horse before dismounting, or spring off from walk as if in a genuine emergency?

Any help (or general tips) would be much appreciated. The centre itself wanted £600 for the full preparation course, so I've just been using my instructor - who is BHS reg, but who took her R&RS many moons ago!
 
Didn't know the BHS did an emergency dismount I learnt it from another sorce.I also Mount and Dismount from any side that's safe (We don't carry swords nowadays...anyway what happened to those who did carry swords and were left handed?)
 
I don't remember there being an "emergency dismount" when I did my test but that was some time ago. We did have to show a dismount and remount during the simulation test but it wasn't compulsory to do this from the 'wrong' side. I can dismount to the right but can't remount! Are the 2 instructors you refer to BHS road safety trainers?
 
Make sure horse is trained from both sides. Did this at pony club once with a group and one of the ponies totally lost the plot.
 
Well when you need to dismount when riding on the road you will be expected to do it from the offside so if that's what you mean by emergency then yes. You need to practise mounting and dismounting from the offside.
 
Preparing for R&RS at the moment (exam next week). We have been told that the side you use for the dismount and remount depends on the situation. So, if dismounting into a lay by away from traffic, near side would be fine. But if dismounting on a narrow road, may be best to use the offside if the near side would put you at risk of landing in a ditch. Don't forget to cross your right stirrup over the withers and left stirrup over the saddle during the exam.

And £600 for training? For 1 day? Ouch. I'm paying £140 for 1 day training and use of horse for training and exam.
 
You need to be able to dismount from the offside so that there is no delay in getting yourself in between the horse and the traffic to eg lead it past a scary object. If you're on the nearside you can't stop the horse moving away from you into the traffic. Same for mounting, if you are on the offside you can easily prevent the horse swinging its quarters into the traffic.
 
Thank you so much everyone! Apologies for the delay - I couldn't work out how to find the thread again. Great tip on crossing over the stirrups - thanks.

The £600 was for six evening sessions, so probably not terrible value, but I just thought it was too much...
 
*C* said:
Thank you so much everyone! Apologies for the delay - I couldn't work out how to find the thread again. Great tip on crossing over the stirrups - thanks.

The £600 was for six evening sessions, so probably not terrible value, but I just thought it was too much...
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Seems v expensive, assuming group lessons, , and is there such a thing as emergency dismount, I am still not clear, it is hardly an emergency if you have to get off on the offside for some reason.
 
I don't think I fancy throwing myself into the line of traffic if there is an emergency and it is deemed too dangerous to dismount in the usual way.

It is a bit of a concern that riders are being encouraged to leap off in busy traffic situations, IMO you are generally less in control of your horse. I appreciate that in some situations some people/horses are better in hand but to leap off "emergency" style either on the normal way so your horse can drift into said traffic, or to throw yourself into the traffic to save your horse stinks of not being prepared to ride in that situation in the first place.

It is a bit like the "how do you put a rug on/off" exam conundrum, when most people would fold it in half, hold the straps and throw it on quietly, not fold it up like an origami exercise. And don't get me started on the importance or otherwise of which strap to do p first. Really?

*scratches head in misunderstanding*
 
OK, well having passed R&RS on Monday, had a chance to chat to one of the examiners.

It's called an emergency dismount because you hadn't originally planned to dismount there and are doing so due to whatever situation has arisen. May not be a scary vehicle or machine - it could be a stone in a hoof.

OP, on the simulated road route you dismount and mount on the near side as normal.

Just make sure that your observations and signals are clear. Sing out if you do something different from your training and explain what you have done (I met a numpty car driver on the road route who parked on the corner and left his indicator on for a left turn into the road I was turning out of - decided that it was safe to go when he left the car and as it was parked on a slope and not moving I decided that the hand brake was applied).

And keep breathing!
 
jinglejoys said:
Didn't know the BHS did an emergency dismount I learnt it from another sorce.I also Mount and Dismount from any side that's safe (We don't carry swords nowadays...anyway what happened to those who did carry swords and were left handed?)
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Were people allowed to be left handed in those days? Even in the 1960's my mother had a row with the school trying to force my sister to write with her right hand.
 
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