How do you dismount?

Cant quote as on phone, but Hexx, thats my move, either sliitter down the side of horse, with my top riding up, or do a big, swing clear of the horse, then discover i've got jelly legs, and fall on the floor.
Luckily my horse is used to me and hasnt decided to ' help me out yet '
Kx
 
Very rude to disparage us geriatrics. Questions about dismounting often come from people who find it hard to dismount and only know the one way - No. 2. It is really important to advertise method 1. which I called my Granny method, until an army RI told me it was the cavalry dismount.
 
My sweet sweet boy has taken it apon himself to line up with the mounting block so i can use method 2 without the tendons in my ankles exploding but if i dont have the block handy I have to lower myself slowly so i dont hit the floor so hard otherwise I just collapse in a crying heap.

Are there any promblem free nimble riders out there!?
 
Well I rode my girl this evening - lovely to be in the cool. I have to dismount using the no 1 method and my friend who I ride with guides my feet to the top of the mounting block.

I like riding with a friend as getting off is the hardest part for me with my bad knees and with her to ensure I don't miss the mounting block means I land in comfort.

We are going riding on the beach tomorrow!! Yeah paddles in the sea - its been 80ºF today 27ºC so looking forward to the cool sea.
 
1 and 2, although a wide variety of other cool moves! I forgot in my excitement at riding at a new yard for the first time to tighten the girth, duh and my dismount was super swift as I immediately slid to the floor under the horse's belly.

Another classic was getting off, or trying to, in front of the yard gates. I got caught on something on the way down and ended up hanging along the horse's side for ages til I untangled myself! My mate's horse was spooking at the idiot on his friend and fortunately, my boy stepped sideways to save me. Somehow, I landed on my feet. Countless times, I've nearly crashed straight onto the ground after a long ride when my knees totally gave way.

Latterly, I found getting off on the block was easier. My gorgeous OH made me a good solid block that was the exact same height as the stirrup. Because it was for my 17.2 Hanoverian, it's now a question of almost stepping down into it for my 15.1 cob! :D
 
Usually 2, but often ending up as 4. I try to alternate the side I get off on (feels realy weird first few time getting off the 'wrong' side). When I was pregnant it was a combination of 1 & 3.
 
I spring lightly from the saddle, utilising option 2. All goes well until I am about 6 inches from the floor, when i remember that its going to hurt when my feet hit the floor - so I grab his neck and abseil the last bit.
 
criso said:
I start with

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

t.
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Oh yes! Have a damaged shoulder so can't push down very well although it is improving. The first few times after it happened I used to sit there for ages considering my options.
Tried nr 1 and leg swung forwards almost depositing me on my behind and pulling said shoulder again. Seriousley was dumb thing to do seeing as I needed block to mount so why I should think ground would be any closer getting off ..doh!
Also tried the land on bum option.. Horse looked surprised : D
 
It used to be 2, but these days it's 1 due to bad ankles. Sometimes it's the unlisted method of returning horse to mounting block and getting off onto that.
 
2, but I have been known to get my offside leg caught on the back of the saddle and have found myself flat on my back on the floor. When my pony is off work I ride other horses and the different saddle shapes catch me out if I'm not concentrating. Very embarrassing.
 
Number 2. I don't feel I have enough control for 3 on any of the horses I ride. They would have to be a really quiet plod for me to attempt 3. I am very careful to dismount lightly and not touch the back of the horse or saddle, but sometimes forget that I am on a 17hh occasionally and the ground isn't always where I expect it. I did once fall over due to this. Thankfully I was on my own so no one saw it! :redface3:
 
Start no.2 with great gusto the remember how blinking far down it is and that I'm not 14 anymore, bottle it, grab saddle, hang there for a while groaning and finally slither inelegantly to the ground (pausing only to get body protector caught on something) with an encore of colourful language as knees/ankles/general body gives out and I stagger backwards.
 
Gloi said:
It used to be 2, but these days it's 1 due to bad ankles. Sometimes it's the unlisted method of returning horse to mounting block and getting off onto that.
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Since I broke my ankle and had to have it pinned, that's the method I use. My ID was very officious and once took a friend who had ridden her across the yard to the MB unbidden. Friend was laughing so much she nearly fell off!
The Draft mare goes to MB when asked but often manages to stand just *too* far away for me to be able to get off safely onto it, or she finds some other way to make life difficult. She obviously thinks 'What is the matter with you, frame yourself!' Unfortunately for her she just has to go round the yard again and back to the MB.
 
Thought I was on a thread from geriatrics anon!

I have just dismounted and it goes like this.

Please stand still
Feet out and wiggle ankles a lot
Swing knees a lot
Mare looks round and sighs - you still there mum ?
Yes, put your head down
Lean forward and carefully throw right leg over cantle, struggle and kick mare on bottom
Mare looks round - do you have to do that every time ?
For xxxxx sake don't move
I then have to get my right hand up to my right boob and protect myself from banging it on the saddle as I jump down and try to turn away from the side of the horse.
Land in a heap, still clutching operated on sore boob and hold myself upright on the mares neck until I can straighten up and my ankles, knees, hips and back come back to life.

Ah, the life of a horsey old bird.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I then have to get my right hand up to my right boob and protect myself from banging it on the saddle as I jump down and try to turn away from the side of the horse.
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hehe! that reminded me, I have to grab my air jacket canister and spin it to my side, so it doesnt whack me on the face if I catch it on the saddle on the way down :p
 
AdorableAlice said:
Feet out and wiggle ankles a lot
Swing knees a lot
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I'd forgotten about that! I have a long drive, and as soon as we turn off the road, I take my feet out of the stirrups and waggle everything to get the joints moving again. It's usually successful, but Alf is a bit bonkers since he was clipped out, so the last time i did it, we arrived back at the yard a bit faster than i intended, cantering sideways, waving head around and doing dragon snorts.
 
30 minutes or under ride (yes sometimes evening school after work is 20 minutes but better than nothing) = option 2. After the ubiquitous wiggling of ankles, knees, hips to ensure all still listening to brain of course.

Anything nearing or over 60 minutes - yell for OH; or just sweetly ask nearest person if they wouldn't mind terribly throwing my right leg over the back of the horse as if they don't I will be stuck on said horse forever. The joys of a dodgy hip.

To mount it's always the fence in the school or mounting block if going out for a hack.
 
With a bit of luck there is a chiropractor reading this thread and we might all get a bulk discount.

I did lots of trot transitions today, now lay on electric blanket watching the racing, the pain will ease by 4pm.
 
2 virtually always but sometimes it's an athletic spring off and others it is the slowest slither down depending on the temperature and the state of my dodgy ankles!
I'm another one who wiggles joints before getting off but have found things a lot better since getting bendy stirrups.
Slightly older stiffer friend teaches all her horses to stand at the mounting block so she can get off
 
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