Can you mount from the ground?

kyanya

kyanya

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Hi all,

I've a dilemma that's been troubling me for a while now - I can't mount from the ground without assistance. It's making me feel like a bit of a novice really, when in any other aspect of horses I'd say I'm pretty competent - I've been riding for 10yrs and I've done about all you can do with horses without having your own - sharing, lessons, worked at a riding stables for instance. However, I've never been great at mounting from the floor.

I started to ride when I was 11 and I was fairly tall at this age - rode a 14h pony and got on from a block cos he was getting on in years so they did all they could to look after his back. From then on lessons would involve mounting from a block or having someone to hold the opposite stirrup at least. This meant I could get on from the ground, but I've always felt like I have to haul myself up rather than spring up.

Earlier this year I was hacking out on my own on a 14.3 welshie when she spooked at a puddle and I fell out of the side door (avoiding the puddle, thankfully). When I tried to remount, the saddle slipped to the side. I'd got on her before from the ground OK with someone holding the stirrup but every other time I'd used a block. There's never been any other issues with her saddle slipping - its not like shes a barrel with no withers. Made me feel like a right incapable twit tho - had to walk for ages to find something to get back on from.

I'm sure her saddle slipped because I'm so inagile at mounting - I'm 10.5st but always feel loads heavier trying to get on from the floor! I'm only 22 so it's not like I actually have rubbish joints that won't let me bend, I've just never been the athletic type.

So if you've made it this far, my questions are a) can you get on from the ground? and b) how can I get better at it? I'm trying to find a new share horse now close to work but if I go to try one and I have to get on from the floor with no help (unlikely, but possible) I'd like to be able to do it!
 
Yes I can but I avoid it like the plague.. why mount fromt he ground when I can use something else to lift me higher to the horses back and prevent me from wrecking the horses spine.

Lou x
 

Ah - the age old debate!
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I can mount my 17hh from the ground, but I am very agile.
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I mostly prefer not to when I can help it though, to save my saddle and his back!

I think you are being hard on yourself - I know many experienced riders who won't (can't) get on from the ground. There are worse issues! Normally there is a handy fence or a leg up available!
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I can do it - just. Bobbalicious is 16.3hh and I'm 5'2"!!!

Stirrup is on last hole, I'm hopping like a moron (probably with tongue poking out) BUT I can do it!! Obviously it's not a regular occurrence (only when I drop something when out like glove, whip etc) but it can be done. Despite OH standing behind me now saying 'you can't bl@@dy get on from the ground'!!
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Don't worry about it
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I'm 5'9" and ride a 15.3hh and I can't mount from the ground either. My old horse i had on loan was 14.1 and I could just barely get on her. I've got arthritis in my hip and bad discs in my back so I cannont pysically get my leg up high to mount without using a mounting block or putting the stirrup down on the last hole.
 
I can but I don't.

I have a dodgy back and no real spring (some people just aren't springy) and one of my geldings has a dodgy back so there is no way I would want to drag myself up into the saddle from the ground, plus my girths are always too loose and the saddle would shoot round. If I get off when hacking I find a high point to get back on - sometimes I do a lot of walking
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My other gelding is 16hh and I can get up on him more easily as he stands like a rock. I still use a wall or high point to get on though.
 
Yes - if I am getting on a 13.2hh!!
No - if you are talking about my own horse. He is 17.1hh and I am not very agile. I so rarely mounted my last horse (16hh) from the ground that I really got out of practise.
I use a mounting block at home and I have a step that I take out with me in the trailer, otherwise I have to find a bench/wall/gate etc!
 
Hi there, yes i can mount from the ground and have a few years on you and crap knees, i am 28 and own a 14.2hh, so not that vertically challenged i suppose.
I try to find a natural ledge if i need to mount from the ground as i dont like to pull on her back, but i can manage from flat ground,my advice is to find a natural ledge/step of some kind.
Its tough if the saddle slips and in fact almost impossible to mount from the ground in that instance, not sure if a breast and/or neck strap would help, perhaps you could hang onto that instead of the saddle and hopefully it would give some more stability to the saddle.
 
I'm 5'4 (on tip toes
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) and can probably manage to get on anything up to 16.3/17hh from the floor - but then I'm hyperflexible in most joints and pretty light, which helps.
Though I can still say that having to get on and off a 15.3 cob numerous times because said horse and horses friend refuse to move (and other rider can't get back on if she got off) is NOT fun...
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I can in extreme circumstances but I'd rather walk and find a handy fence or something (or a hole for the horse to stand in
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)

Better for their backs. Also better for my gammy knees
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Yes but I am a 5.2ft on a 13.3 pony - I need to be able to get on and off when out hacking as sometimes I need to get off to lead him or to open gates that you can't open from horseback.

However I did used to ride a bigger horse at 15.1 and what I used to do then was lengthen the stirrup on one side which made it easier to get on.

Your saddle should not slip when you get on - if it does it is either because your girth is not tight enough or your saddle does not fit properly.

TBH most people will use a mounting block now as it is better for the horses back and people tend to have big horses even if they are not very tall. You would be surprised at how many people cannot get on without a mounting block.

Incidently the reason I have a small pony is because after going to shows on my own and having to put the stirrup on the last hole to get on in the show ring I decided I wanted to have something I could get on from the ground if I needed to. Why make life harder than it need be!
 
My stock answer is 'I can but I choose not to'
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I am 5'2" and my Bob (not the same as SharonH77's Bob BTW
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) is 15.2hh so I should easily be able to get on from the ground. Unfortunately I am very inflexible and unathlethic, so it far far from easy
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Seriously, as he has had a myriad of physio work due to back problems, I really do choose not to
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If I have to but really try not to. My limit is about 15.3HH though I am only 5 foot 3 though. Having a pony that wouldnt stand at mounting block and only gave you about a sec to get on before she lost her temper really helped my getting on from the ground technique. Seriously though I wouldnt worry about it too much as I know loads of horsey people who cant get on their horse from the ground.
 
Found out yesterday that yes I can - thankfully Mags is only 15.2 but I ride pretty short so it was still a stretch - I normally have a leg up but had to get off while hacking and the witch refuses to stand anywhere near anything that might actually help you get back on
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I'm useless when it comes to getting on from the ground, i'm also the worst person ever to leg up as i'm not flexible, not springy and have no sense of timing! However, last weekend when out hunting for the first time I fell off (very stylishly and landed on my feet!) and got back on a quivering, 16hh point-to-pointer from the floor without adjusting my stirrups! It's amazing what a bit of adrenaline and a load of strangers watching you can make you do!
 
I can just about get on my 14.3hh cob, and I'm 5'5" and very nearly 50 - but like others, I avoid it like the plague, the poor boy has done nothing to deserve me hauling my huge bulk up from the ground!
Can you get on if you absolutely have to, let your stirrup down, etc? I mean, there's always fences, slopes and so on - just good if you can get on if you really need to - otherwise, I'd let yourself off the hook, it's not the be all and end all.
 
I can mount from the ground (tallest I've tried lately was 17.1, and I'm 5'5.5"), and will do so if there's no mounting-block-like object in sight. I've heard all sorts of stories about people learning to vault on with no girth, but I haven't learned that yet!
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I confess to getting on the Spooky Pony from the ground quite often,but he's only 14.1, so I can spring up ok.
 
I can
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although I try to avoid it! mainly because I am 5ft6 and Pickle is 17.1hh! though I did go on a hack a month ago where all the gates were broken or jammed, so ended up getting on and off 5 times on one hack! not bad! Its not pretty though! and I do have to put down stirrups a lot of the time!
 
How would you all feel if you were trying to find a sharer for your horse and when they came to try your horse, the sharer hauled herself into the plate?!

Hopefully this won't happen and there will be something to get on from, but theres a chance. I don't have a problem being watched (and somewhat judged) in everything else when you go to meet a new horse (riding, tacking up etc) but that's cos I know I can do it without looking a complete plonker!!

I watched pony club games from HOYS on Sky the other evening - think I need to get some training from them! Amazing mounting onto ponies going flat-out - I wish I'd been in the pony club!
 
Walrus sorry but you cant be the worst person to get leg up that crown goes to woman on our yard(no names).
Yes i can mount my 16.2 from ground and although its not really good for him its easier that trying to possition him near some sort of mountin aid
 
i can, or used to be able to as i prob havent tried for a while as like others, i prefer a mounting block so i am not putting undue strain on their spines.
I would say maybe just practice practice practice if the horse is willing?
As it is worrying you, why dont you buy one of the stirrup mounting things? i *think* its equilibrium that make them? i've not known anyone use one so cant comment on how good they may be but i imagine it would reassure you?
 
You could ask for a leg up?

Whenever I've tried horses I've always had something to stand on.

Or let the stirrup down?
 
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I watched pony club games from HOYS on Sky the other evening - think I need to get some training from them! Amazing mounting onto ponies going flat-out - I wish I'd been in the pony club!

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Well I was, but I still can't vault. My daughters can't either, though they are a good bit more agile than me!
 
I hate doing it but I can get on anything upto about 17hh from the ground -purely in case I have to out hacking or something
 
I can if I absolutely have to but as George is 16.3 it isn't something I do unless a dire emergency as it wouldn't be pretty or comfortable for either of us!

If there is a mounting block I use it, if at a show a lorry ramp, or out hacking,logs, banks, fences etc. Luckily George is a good boy and stands wherever!
 
just been looking online, i dont think it is an equilibrium products item i mentioned, i looked online and found an american company who make the type of thing i meant - and guess what - i have one somewhere!
Its something a livery left when they moved yards, it just got thrown in a box with other stuff that people leave when they move off. TBH, i didnt know what exactly it was so just chucked it in there. If its still in there and my mum hasnt used the webbing for something you are more than welcome to have it.
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