finding it hard to dismount

[Fieldlife]

I am 43 and nothing obvious wrong. Regular chiro / physio / sports massage etc.

But I am starting to find it harder to dismount. Seems to be an issue in all three types of saddles I ride in. I get stuck and cant get off, and have to almost throw myself off.

I am not pregnant / rotund enough for my stomach to be an issue. I ride 6 times a week, and have been riding same horse a few years, nothing changed.

I think it is hip stiffness. Body protector makes it worse, but I have been wearing it hacking longer than I have had the dismounting issue.

Anyone know what it might be / what exercises / treatment might help?

 

[splashgirl45]

I have had hip issues resulting in 3 ops and I always dismount by keeping my left foot in the stirrup, swinging right leg over and keep it beside the left then slip left foot out of stirrup and sliding down while keeping hold of a bit of mane ..there was a video on here somewhere showing that type of dismount . Can’t help with exercises but I am sure Google will help

 

[Tracking_up]

I had this issue recently after a fall and a newly acquired (but after the fall!!) air jacket. Predominately it was my back that was stiff, not allowing enough forward bend at the hips, plus lack of flexibility to get right leg to clear the cantle (probably tight hip flexors).

I do have an apple shape of tummy/boobs that gets in the way, plus was worried about fasteners on front of air jacket scratching the saddle, so all added up to reluctance to dismount in my normal way

I resorted to slithering off about 6 inches down from stirrup onto large mounting block built at yard, until my back was better....

Working on your hip flexors may help?

 

[Skib]

I always dismount by keeping my left foot in the stirrup, swinging right leg over and keep it beside the left then slip left foot out of stirrup and sliding down while keeping hold of a bit of mane ..there was a video on here somewhere showing that type of dismount .

I am over 80 with lower back problems and I was shown this dismount by my first RI when I started to ride aged 61. I have used it ever since.
The household cavalry need to dismount that way as their breast plates prevent them lying flat over the horse. I did have a video somewhere, which kindly sent me by an officer at the Whitehall barracks. I will try and find it but the actual dismounting comes right at the end of the video.

Before looking for it, I would add that you need to keep your left ankle strong to use this dismount and I did some NHS ankle exercises when I resumed riding after Covid lock down.

 

[stangs]

If you go on YouTube, there's various yoga routines and exercises to help stretch the hip flexors. Sitting and working on the floor, rather than in a chair, also helps open up the hips.

I would strongly advise against dismounting with one foot in the stirrup - that's a huge amount of strain to put on a horse's back, and it's not great for the saddle either.

 

[Skib]

The video i was sent has gone from You Tube. I will see if I can find another.

 

[Skib]

I would strongly advise against dismounting with one foot in the stirrup - that's a huge amount of strain to put on a horse's back, and it's not great for the saddle either.

I realise the arguments against it. And it is used only by people like me who are physically unable to dismount in the normal way. I was taught it at my first riding lesson by an expert RI at a BHS recognised school after a very elderly male rider returned from a solo hack and fell on the cobbles when dismounting.

Here I hope is a video. Unfortunately it shows the right hand side of the two horses.

 

[Polos Mum]

I would ask your regular physio, maybe show them 'dismounting' from sitting astride a chair so they can see what's what and you can show them what is stiff / hurting / not wanting to move as it should.

I had a c section and merrily 3 weeks later hopped on to ride, all was lovely (I was chuffed with myself). Until I got back as I was totally stuck and couldn't get off at all.
I had saint of a horse wedged into a fence and me slithering / falling off. I had a bit more rest after that.

When I was pregnant and riding I got off cowboy style (off side leg over the neck and step down) that might work temporarily but I'd want to fix what's going on to go back to normal eventually

 

[Skib]

We mount with one foot in the stirrup so I cant see that my getting off using the stirrup is any worse. I always called it the Granny dismount until I rode out with an ex cavalry officer who was quite cross and told me it was military.

I dont think cowboys dismount with a leg over the neck. I have ridden western and it is like the cavarly one with the leg going over the back of the saddle.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I'm not sure how or when I started but some rides I feel stiff when I get back to yard so I slide right leg over neck and slide off.

My friend keeps left foot in stirrup, brings right leg over and then drops left foot out of stirrup before lowering to ground (like video above).

I'd look at a physio session to see what's going on and what they recommend to resolve it.

 

[splashgirl45]

If you go on YouTube, there's various yoga routines and exercises to help stretch the hip flexors. Sitting and working on the floor, rather than in a chair, also helps open up the hips.

I would strongly advise against dismounting with one foot in the stirrup - that's a huge amount of strain to put on a horse's back, and it's not great for the saddle either.

I can’t explain exactly how I do it but I don’t have my whole weight in the stirrup as I would be taking weight on my hands on top of the saddle, and any weight Is momentary. Most people mount with their weight in one stirrup so what is the difference?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I know it us frowned upon by the various bodies but I train my horses to stand close enough to the mounting block for me to dismount onto it.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I always feel as if I have a long way down to go because I am so short ? and I have learned through experience to keep my face away from the stirrups as a flex on rattled off the cheek bone hurts ?

 

[black and brown]

Another one who has used a mounting block for dismounting. Both feet out of the stirrups, left foot on the mounting block and then I literally stepped off my horse. I probably did this for a year after an injury.

 

[Spotherisk]

I do (did) the military dismount for years, but as I have a tight and Tammy left hip which doesn’t open I dismount to the right. And you need a low cantle!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I know it us frowned upon by the various bodies but I train my horses to stand close enough to the mounting block for me to dismount onto it.

Same here. I have taught both mine stand next to the mounting block so I can dismount. They stand for me to get on so why not to get off. It saves my back, knees and ankles.

 

[Spotherisk]

I also trained my horse to edge a bit closer to the mounting block for mounting and dismounting,, that encouraging ‘one more step!’ meant a little sideways shuffle, very helpful!

 

[dorsetladette]

I've got hip problems and have got off by swinging my right leg forwards over the cantle for years. I've done it so long its second nature now. I twist and land facing the same way as the horse.

Its such an easy work around that I don't even consider it an issue anymore.

 

[J&S]

As an old rider (75) I can't vault off any more so I sort of absail down the side of the horse! It is a slow process but less concussion to my feet.
One of my quite capable RDA riders used to dismount by putting her leg over the front of the saddle and then turning her body using the strength in her arms so she was then facing the horse and would then carefully slide down. I would suggest you might contact your nearest RDA centre and explan your problem and see if they can offer a solution for you.

 

[Auslander]

I have built a dismounting block, which is exactly the right height for me to take my foot out of the stirrup and place on the top of the dismounting block. It's made from stepped pallets, covered in an eva mat, and has a much larger surface area than my mounting block, so you can get off blind, and not fall off the thing.
All my liveries are now using it instead of the expensive handcrafted mounting block!

 

[Glitter's fun]

I have built a dismounting block, which is exactly the right height for me to take my foot out of the stirrup and place on the top of the dismounting block. It's made from stepped pallets, covered in an eva mat, and has a much larger surface area than my mounting block, so you can get off blind, and not fall off the thing.
All my liveries are now using it instead of the expensive handcrafted mounting block!

We need pictures!

 

[Auslander]

We need pictures!

I'll take one when I go back up to the yard!

 

[Auslander]

I'll take one when I go back up to the yard!

No need - I've found one that we took when it was first built. It has since grown 3 pallets higher so that it's the right height for me and Alf!

 

[mustardsmum]

I know I replied to a post a couple of weeks ago about joint pain and HRT - so apologies if anyone thinks I either work for a drugs company or I am weirdly obsessed with the menopause, I am neither!! however the issues you describe are exactly how I felt, albeit at mid to later 40’s not early 40’s. People don’t realise that as our oestrogen levels drop our overall joint health starts to be affected. I think there is a growing realisation that peri menopause has many symptoms that are dismissed in our 40’s. For me - I started finding dismounting harder and harder (couldn’t swing leg over) then hip pain kicked in big time, to the point I thought I can’t ride anymore. I would have to slither off and walk on rides as it would get so painful. I did put up with it until other joints started to be painful and I couldn’t roll over in bed. I am on oestrogen now and my joint mobility is fine. It was the only symptom I had. Just worth keeping an eye on things and if your hips are not due to any injury, then it maybe a chat to your GP might help.

 

[Birker2020]

My dad made me a box that sits on top of the stool in the photo.

He put hinges on the flat bit on the edge of the top step and the box had a fixing so it would sit tight, it gave me an extra 8 or 9 ". I could get on and off easier as I had hurt my back (disc problems) and I couldn't physically lift my leg high enough to get my foot into the stirrup as it hurt too much - Bailey was 17.1hh.

 

[sbloom]

A low cantle can make a ton of difference of course. Big high RDA style mounting block, should be standard kit on all yards and would be if I was King

 

[Fieldlife]

thanks all. Oddly was easier after my lesson today.

It isnt the jumping down that is the problem, it is swinging my right leg over to start the process that is hard. So dismounting back onto a block doesnt make it any easier.

I havent changed saddle / cantle height.

I did stop doing regular yoga / pilates in May, so maybe restarting will help.

 

[sbloom]

I havent changed saddle / cantle height.

I assumed you hadn't but looking at something flatter will help, whatever the cause. Dave Sanders, Rider Reboot would be a good person to see, as this is brain-body connection as much as anything purely physical.

 

[oldie48]

I was thinking about this today and wonder if this might help. I always ride with a neck strap and I use the neck strap to get a little bit of momentum so I can lean forward safely then as my leg clears the horses bum come upright ready to slide down the right side of the horse. It's difficult to explain but without the neck strap I find I am a bit stuck.

 

[Fieldlife]

I assumed you hadn't but looking at something flatter will help, whatever the cause. Dave Sanders, Rider Reboot would be a good person to see, as this is brain-body connection as much as anything purely physical.

Thanks, I saw him a few months ago, and I think he is next my way in November. I do have some lingering issues from breaking my left big toe and damaging my right knee MCL in May. Some strange compensation patterns, but been doing the exercises he suggested.