FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
I'm 5ft8 and my horse is 14.2. I still don't get on from the ground, there's always something to climb on!
Ancient 5.9' rider on a 17.3 warmblood, and no, not a chance in Hell that I can get on from the ground! Can't even do the long stirrup thing as my poor legs will no longer stretch up that far, and if they do, then the ancient arms can't pull myself up, so it has to be a wall, mounting block, bank or anything high these days. I dread having to get off, in fact I hate getting off full-stop because it is an awfully long way down and the said ancient ankles no longer flex like they used to do in my youth.
And before anyone suggests I shouldn't have had such a big horse, he was bred to be 16.2 to take me into my dotage. Sadly he forgot to stop growing!!!
I have just taken on an ex racer, who has never been taught to stand still in any situation!! I can jump on with a foot in the stirrup on the move whilst hacking.. But when getting on at the yard I tie her to the gate and jump on from a mounting bock whilst she learns the concept of standing!
I have a question ... I always get on from a mounting block, and it is high enough that I can just swing my leg over without putting foot in stirrup. Horse seems to like that, stands like a rock. My horse is not very tall, about 15.0 but I really struggle with getting off, can't jump down gracefully as old with stiff ankles and knees now, and when I slide down carefully I feel bad because I am hanging onto the saddle a bit to ease my way down, and worry it is no good for his back. Should I teach him to stand at the mounting block for me to get off as well, just step off him basically, or is that a really mad and crazy/dangerous idea?? Does anyone else use a block to help dismounting (it's a big block, OH made it for me with breeze blocks and a big old flagstone on top).