Help dismounting

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Sue Roberts

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I'm Brand new to the forum and I'm really hoping someone out there can help me. I seem to be having difficulties dismounting from my horse and it is so bad I'm thinking of giving up.

When I take my feet out of my stirrups I'm rigid with fear at the thought of getting off its as if I've forgotten how to do it. I lean forward and then freeze I'm terrified of getting my leg stuck on the back of the saddle which when I tried to get off slowly today I did

Can anyone out there help me??

:(
 
Iam guessing you have had a bad experience with getting your leg stuck?
Is it that you aren't very supple or that you are really scared? Only because if its suppleness maybe doing some exercises on a big gym ball might help.
I would have someone hold the horse as you are getting off then you know the horse isn't going to go anywhere.
 
I like to go on holiday to Germany, to watch the Hannovarian auctions. It is interesting to see how other people dismount. A lot of german and other european riders, keep their left foot in the stirrup and only remove it, when their whole body is on the near side of the horse.

I suggest you have a lesson and explain to your trainer how you feel, and ask for their help.
 
Why not forget the "proper" ie, English way of dismounting and keep your left in the stirrup to support you while you take your right leg over the saddle then kick the stirrup out and slide down. Lots of riders in other countries dismount differently from us and the world doesn't stop spinning, and I bet plenty of older, less agile riders do exactly that and don't give a stuff what other people think. Otherwise, could you get access to a gym pommel horse that the men do their swinging stuff on and practice on that? Its all about swinging the leg high and smoothly and a pommel horse isn't going to complain if you don't get it quite right first time!
 
When I first rode a horse, I was so worried about the long way down (the said horse was 17.2 :p) and getting stuck, like you :) What I did for the first few times, was to take both feet out of stirrups, and swing your right leg over the horses neck so that you are sitting facing away from the horse, then have someone hold your arm as you jump down. A lot less scary, as you can see where you are going!!

I also tried the stirrup idea, but there is nothing more freaky than jumping down and underestimating the distance, and still having one leg in a stirrup! I landed right on my bum..
 
You are not the only one. I teach so many people - mostly older female riders who, like you just dare not get off.
Mostly, they can't explain why, but I think it is a fear of jarring the body on landing.
Do as is suggested above, where the left foot is kept in the stirrup. You then stand and simultaneously swing the right leg over to join the left whilst allowing the rest of your body weight to go over the right hand side. You are now in a position of leaning over the saddle. Slip the left foot out of the stirrup and slide down to the ground.
You should not hold onto the saddle too much as this pulls the saddle over.
It does get easier and some stretching exercises and movement in the saddle should help you to overcome your fear.
Just remember, you aren't alone.
 
I'm hopeless at dismounting but thankfully have an understanding horse. I do it in stages and the first stage gets my right leg up on to her bottom. I then slither down the left side. I've seen people dismount using the mounting block but my instructor won't allow that!
 
After I broke my left ankle, I really did NOT want to land on it as I dismount, so I had a high mounting block made and now, I train my horses to stand next to it for dismounting. It is so high that on a 16hh horse I can take my foot out of the stirrup and reach the block with my toe. I then dismount in the normal way. I should add that my horses are also very understanding and will stand still whatever.
 
I am currently suffering from sciatic (anyone else get it could do with some tips) and getting off really hurts, I am currently swinging my right leg over but as I do so sort of laying on my tummy on the neck/pommel area, then I grab the offside stirrup (all very slowly) and sort of slither down slowly to the ground, whereupon my left leg collapses and I then hang onto the left leather until the pain subside and I can walk. Sounds gross I know but it's that or not ride at all!
 
I had a problem like this after I dismounted from my old cob and forgot I had hogged him and there was nothing to grab.

I spent two years messing around, I even dismounted on the muck heap in case it all went wrong.

I guess I fit the profile being an older lady.

There is hope for everyone. I worked out that putting the right stirrup leather over the front gives you something to hold onto. I also stop and actually lift and swing my right leg over the back. I think before I sort of slithered to the ground.

I am positive I am cured now. I got on my daughter young warmblood after it hadn't been ridden for a couple of months. I was so busy worrying about how far up it was that I forgot the big mounting block was in the yard and it was blowing a gale. Needless to say I had to do a rather hurried dismount from a 16.2 plus.

And I survived, so its all down to confidence and not forgetting when you hog your cobs
 
Jackson said:
When I first rode a horse, I was so worried about the long way down (the said horse was 17.2 :p) and getting stuck, like you :) What I did for the first few times, was to take both feet out of stirrups, and swing your right leg over the horses neck so that you are sitting facing away from the horse, then have someone hold your arm as you jump down. A lot less scary, as you can see where you are going!!

I also tried the stirrup idea, but there is nothing more freaky than jumping down and underestimating the distance, and still having one leg in a stirrup! I landed right on my bum..
Click to expand...

May I say I used to do this until I read on this forum of a nasty accident a member had dismounting this way. I am sure she broke something and I stopped it immediately. If you think about it it is a dangerous way to dismount as you are not jumping away from the horse and if it spooks allsorts can occur!

I am a 'older' rider and my mare is 16.3hh and Ihate dismounting. However much you try to take the bounce into your knees to stop any jarring it is not so easy. I have tried keeping my left foot in the stirrup but not released it on time and then you end up with groin strain.

I think the ideal is to slither down the side of your horse and bend your knees. You are not alone with this problem!! :(
 
4x4 said:
I am currently suffering from sciatic (anyone else get it could do with some tips) and getting off really hurts, I am currently swinging my right leg over but as I do so sort of laying on my tummy on the neck/pommel area, then I grab the offside stirrup (all very slowly) and sort of slither down slowly to the ground, whereupon my left leg collapses and I then hang onto the left leather until the pain subside and I can walk. Sounds gross I know but it's that or not ride at all!
Click to expand...

I use a very similar method to this if I have to dismount away from home and can't find a high wall etc.
 
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