How do you dismount?

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Equi

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There are only several ways you can get off after all, so how do you do it?

  1. Stand up in the stirrups, lift the leg over and down
  2. Both legs out and swing over and down
  3. Leg over the neck and hop down forwards (or onto a block)
  4. Generally just end up on the floor not really knowing how you got there
 
Generally number 2, but occasionally number 3, however as i swing over i also push away from the saddle, do this after i had an unpleasant incident between the saddle and my body protector.

After a long hack I slither off onto a high wall to avoid the excruciating pain on landing on cold stiff feet!
 
Both feet out, swing right leg over, push away from horse (basically jumping sideways) otherwise it hurts, and jump down onto ball of feet!

That's the sensible way....

When I'm being lazy I'll go feet out of stirrups, right leg over neck (so sitting side saddle) then slide down the side all while the horse is walking so I have some momentum when I land!

I have dismounted many a time onto my head too! Not my favourite way, but effective to reach the floor quickly!
 
I once did an amazing dismount that went as follows....

1. attempt to mount horse
2. put foot in stirrup
3. Enthusiastically mount onto horse
4. realise I have too much momentum
5. Not so stylishly dismount the other side
6. land on my ar*e in the sand
 
When I was agile, I dismounted lightly: swing the body forward towards the neck, and the legs will rise as if by magic as you swing them over the croup, if you tich the croup of some horses, you will be on the ground pdq.
With one bad leg and a quiet horse I have to slide over the saddle very inelegantly to land very carefully on my good leg.
 
2, although I'm another one who dreads dismounting from the 17hh mountain after long hacks when my feet have frozen, so I do sometimes ride over to mounting block so there's less distance to the ground.
 
Usually both feet out and slither off onto a bench/mounting block, but occasionally I forget I'm not 12 anymore and lean forward and push up as I swing my leg over horse's bum so I can jump off - all is well until I land and remember my various foot, knee and back injuries and vow never to do it again, until the next time I forget!
 
Paint Me Proud said:
I once did an amazing dismount that went as follows....

1. attempt to mount horse
2. put foot in stirrup
3. Enthusiastically mount onto horse
4. realise I have too much momentum
5. Not so stylishly dismount the other side
6. land on my ar*e in the sand
Click to expand...

Haha! My most confusing dismount was on a day where I'd ridden that many horses I didn't know if I was coming or going. Just kept sitting there for about a minute taking my feet in and out of the stirrups trying to remember if I was supposed to be getting on or off!

But normally no. 2 unless less elegant dismounts required.
 
1 - as I have bad knees and it is painful to dismount using no 2

Anyone using no 3 needs their head testing - the moment you start to swing your leg over the front you lose control of the horse as you have to drop the reins - quickest way to end up either damaging your back and/or hitting your head!
 
Paint Me Proud said:
I once did an amazing dismount that went as follows....

1. attempt to mount horse
2. put foot in stirrup
3. Enthusiastically mount onto horse
4. realise I have too much momentum
5. Not so stylishly dismount the other side
6. land on my ar*e in the sand
Click to expand...


Lol, I did that while practising vaulting on to a 14.1 pony. At 6ft1 you would think that would have been quite a simple task!
 
I start with

Step 1 look down at the ground and wonder why you ever thought 17hh was a good idea.

I once hurt my leg as I took a call on my phone and attempted to do method 2 but without hands. Never realised how much just resting your hand on the neck slows down your descent.
 
Take feet out stirrups and place hand on Friesians neck asking him to lower it - once he does I can lean forward and swing a leg over the back like no 2.

The first time I rode him was in a deep dressage saddle and he hadn't learned yet to lower his head. I was stuck! Big huge neck in front meant I couldn't lean forward, and high cantle meant I couldn't swing a leg over without having leant forward! I literally had to throw myself off lol!
 
No 1, damaged left knee and dodgy right hip means I seize up, after getting fed up of having to help me off, OH suggested method 1, before that my lad would get bored and put his head down and I would sort of slide down his neck
 
Last edited:
Toz said:
I'd like to think that I do 2, all elegantly, but it seems to turn out as 4....
Click to expand...
I'm extreamly proud of my dismount. Although it is the part of riding I like the least it is the part I do with the most style and élan, or at least when I do it intentionally.
 
I am a two some times I have a hang over the saddle on my tummy for a while to brace my self for the nasty business of my bad leg hitting ground .
MrGS does three it freaks me out but he won't listen to me , hey ho he is well insured .
 
Method one - I am old and somewhat stiff! A friend of mine used method 3 to get off her ex-eventer and caught her jacket on the cantle on her way down result - she could only just touch ground on tip toes, couldn't undo the jacket zip and spent a very long 10minutes tottering round the yard as horse meandered around, shouting for her OH. Fortunately horse was a laid back soul who just kept giving her very puzzled looks!
 
Anyone on this forum for the first time might think they've made the mistake of clicking on "geriatrics r us" rather than a site for active fit horse riders.....I'm option 2 by the way, but have to push myself away from the saddle on my descent due to an over-zealous body protector which like to help me go flying backwards off-balance.
What are we all like, there's not a creak-free response on this thread ha ha!! :) :) :)
 
I know someone who dismounted recently, in the normal way, whilst out hunting, but close to a hedge so she slithered down the saddle.

Saddle had peacock 'safety' stirrups.

The upper hook caught in the worst place imaginable. There was LOTS of blood and an emergency trip to hospital :( stitches required.

So even though I don't use peacock stirrups, I dismount the usual way, but make sure I push away from the horse. (Tbh, usually tried to avoid the slither anyway, becuase if the horse moves, you can end up underneath them, but I make extra sure now!)
 
Usually a number 2 - however, it is rather an inelegant slither down the saddle, usually leaving my teeshirt up round my ears and showing off my underwear!!

When my sister first rode after having her first baby, she over did it a little as some of the girls from the yard were watching, so put quite a lot into her riding. As she got off, she landed on her feet, then her legs just gave way and she collapsed on the ground. We all stood looking at her in astonishment for about 30 seconds and then just collapsed in hysterical laughter! After she had her second baby and was back in the saddle for the first time, I made sure I took the video camera with me just in case it happened again, sadly it did not.
 
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