Dismounting to the 'wrong' side

[wiglet]

Do you use a mounting block to dismount onto? If you don't I suspect that is what is aggravating your hip.
I for one can't dismount onto the floor, it hurts too much.

Yeah, I dismount onto the floor - there is a mounting block but, it's in the arena and it means me opening the gate to get in there and it's down at the end of the yard and into the first field. It's a nice, quiet arena but, believe me it's easier to dismount onto the floor!!

 

[Arzada]

A question I've pondered for awhile about the tradition of mounting from the nearside in order not to get tangled up with your sword. What did a naturally left handed swordsman do? Were they expected to fight with the sword in their right hand or did they fight with the left hand, have the scabbard on their RHS and mount from the offside?

 

[tda]

A question I've pondered for awhile about the tradition of mounting from the nearside in order not to get tangled up with your sword. What did a naturally left handed swordsman do? Were they expected to fight with the sword in their right hand or did they fight with the left hand, have the scabbard on their RHS and mount from the offside?

I would think they just had to get used to using the correct hand! Or find a different regiment

 

[SpeedyPony]

I’ve only tried dismounting on the ‘wrong’ side once and horse was very confused about why I was on that side. Which is why it’s good to do it I guess! I could not get my head around how I could possibly get on on the ‘wrong’ side tho! I assume it’s possible?!

Very possible- but feels bizarre/nigh impossible the first few times- I started practicing by climbing gates the other way- so left leg over the gate first- which is a way of getting the muscle memory a little bit without trespassing on the horse's patience!
Once you're used to it it doesn't feel wrong anymore.

 

[Cortez]

A question I've pondered for awhile about the tradition of mounting from the nearside in order not to get tangled up with your sword. What did a naturally left handed swordsman do? Were they expected to fight with the sword in their right hand or did they fight with the left hand, have the scabbard on their RHS and mount from the offside?

Lefties tended to get accused of witchcraft in the Middle Ages, so they learned to fight right-handed pretty quick

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I have arthritic changes to my right hip and dismounting to the left is proving difficult - I can't throw my right leg up enough to get it cleanly over my horses back/bum so, I was thinking about dismounting to the right. I think it will feel a bit weird but it will be so much more comfortable for me... I think.

Does anyone else do this? Are there any reasons not to try it? It's got to be worth a go hasn't it?

we had to dismount both side equally with BHS exams.
have you tried steroid injections to release some pain in hip??

 

[wiglet]

we had to dismount both side equally with BHS exams.
have you tried steroid injections to release some pain in hip??

Steroid injections have been discussed but, the arthritis was not considered bad enough to justify them atm. If I was just a normal person (instead of a horse gal) I would probably be pain free much of the time but, when you're active, you feel it more I guess?

I was also told that steroid injections in the hip have to be X-ray guided because of all the muscle? I'm doing lots of exercises to stay flexible but steroid injections will deffo be the next step.