Dismounting help

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fairhill

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Posted on behalf of my mum!
She rode Chloe last night (I posted yesterday about their 6 week rest) and as she hasn't ridden for 6 weeks, and Chloe is rather wide, she struggled to get off after her short hack.
She has got arthritis in her hips, and is having physio, and will probably need a hip replacement soon, and so she can't swing her leg over the saddle easily.

We put a shavings bale under her stirrup yesterday to give her something to push against, but it took 2 of us on the ground (and forcing Chloe against a wall to stop her moving off!) and she's now talking about giving up completely
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Has anyone got any tips to make it easier for her?
 
She's never been able to dismount from the wrong side!
I suggested that yesterday (along with just removing the saddle from underneath her and letting her slide off...)

Her right is the worst affected, but both are bad, and she's very twisted in her pelvis because its gone uncorrected for too many years.
 
is it the motion of lifting her leg behind the saddle to get off?
Its not pretty but if she tried lifting her leg over the pommel (so she is she has her bum to the horses side) then she could "land" and slide off with both feet lessening the impact?
If she cannot do this then I do not know a solution? sorry. you may have to get inventive to keep her riding
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Can she dismount whilst leaving her left foot in the stirrup and just stepping down?

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She was doing this (with difficult) before the 6 weeks off. Unfortunately she thinks the lack of movement has caused the muscle to stiffen too much.
 
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is it the motion of lifting her leg behind the saddle to get off?

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It's lifting the leg in general, so she couldn't swing it forward or back. She was well and truly stuck for about 10 mins, and getting very upset.

Thanks for all the help - I suspect she's going to have to grin and bear the pain for a while and we'll hope it loosens up again
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And then if it doesn't get any better she can give me Chloe
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The only thing I can think of is to find something she can step onto that is higher than her stirrup level. It would mean her left leg taking and lifting her weight on whatever it is but at least she wouldnt have to swing her right hip back and round.
 
That was the only thing I could think of as well. Thanks
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I might try and persuade my dad to create something that is a lot sturdier than a bale of shavings, and higher than a normal mounting block.
 
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The only thing I can think of is to find something she can step onto that is higher than her stirrup level. It would mean her left leg taking and lifting her weight on whatever it is but at least she wouldnt have to swing her right hip back and round.

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Agree, and if possible have something at a higher level that she can hold on to, to support her weight. this does rely on the horse standing very still.

Maybe you could have a chat with your local RDA yard to see if they have any practical solutions, some of them hire out their schools so you might even be able to use their facilites (high ramps and swings)

It would be a shame to give up any exercise although I do understand the pain, I broke my hip over two years ago, and only now have enough strength in my leg to ride properly and without pain, although taking Devils Claw Root tablets was a big help
 
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Maybe you could have a chat with your local RDA yard

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That is a very good idea, there is one about half a mile down the road, we can go speak to them at the weekend.

She's more frustrated as she was just starting to improve from the physio, but is limping in walk again
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I'll suggest devils claw root tablets to her as well, as far as I know she's not taking anything at the moment.
 
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She's more frustrated as she was just starting to improve from the physio, but is limping in walk again
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Sorry, that made me titter, I can tell you are horsey
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Is she unsound in trot too?
 
I have similar problems - but they are exacerbated (well, nigh on imnpossible) if I use a very deep seated/high cantle saddle ad I can't get my leg clear very easily. Can you try other saddles, or even bareback just to see if that helps?
 
I was going to suggest RDA too but someone beat me to is. If it is possible you want to try to encouage your mum to continue riding - it will be good for the rest of her muscles and will also keep her active.
 
I no longer jump off easily, but remove my right leg from the stirrup, lean far forward and keeping my left foot in the stirrup get my right leg on the same side. (sort of standing)
I then remove my left foot and holding the pommel to brace my descent, slide ungracefully to the floor...
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A good sized mounting block - quite easy to make with some bricks & a bit of mortar

And that way she can dismount onto it as well. Also the RDA might be able to help
 
[ QUOTE ]
I no longer jump off easily, but remove my right leg from the stirrup, lean far forward and keeping my left foot in the stirrup get my right leg on the same side. (sort of standing)
I then remove my left foot and holding the pommel to brace my descent, slide ungracefully to the floor...
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I find this method more painful than slipping both feet out of the stirrups and vaulting off and hoping that impulsion will carry me over and off
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depends pn the temprement of the horse of course, but could she shuffle backwards and literally slide of the back??
 
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