I feel totally pathetic at the mo'...

C

clairew

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After a good ten years (at least) I booked a lesson in a local riding school, and had a brilliant couple of lessons (made me wonder why I'd left it so long..!!). However....(here comes the long story) before the third lesson I had, the YO caught me and weighed me, and as I was over the weigh limit she said unfortunately she couldn't let me ride. She said she had spoken to both instructors that had taken the lessons and they had both said that I ride light and have a good seat. I was gutted that I coulnd't ride to say the least, but understand totally why she wouldn't let me ride.
A friend of mine spoke to one of the instructors the day after and said that the one thing that's letting me down is dismounting - I've given myself a real mental block when it comes to it, and obviously when I dither about it's not good for the horse's back. I don't know what is going through my head, but I seem to 'overthink' dismounting and it doesn't happen in one fluid movement, I seem to get 'stuck' halfway through with my leg stuck on the horses bum (looks very unladylike too I have to say..!).
This friend has a horse that she would be happy for me to ride, but she says that if I dither about getting off then he'll bugger off down with me clinging on for dear life if I don't dismount like should be done!
I'm sure that some/a lot of the issue is to do with the excess weight I'm carrying, but I am doing well at losing it - a stone this month so far and I go to the gym five days a week so my finess levels are increasing by the day.
What I'm basically asking (after a lot of waffle..!!) is for a kick up the arse/some friendly advice as I am desperate to ride again but seem to have hit a brick wall...
(Medal to any who have got to the end of this post without drifting off..!!)
 
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my friends uses a mounting block to get on and off - don't know if that's any help ?

the only other thing is practice I guess, but try the mounting block..sm x
 
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Just swing your leg over and go for it!! Sometimes you literally have to get on with it and just do it. Don't make a big deal doing this or that, or practice this or think about that. Just do it. Just get off.


Goodluck.
X
 
Maybe try doing some flexibility exercises (yoga, pilates?) so you feel more bendy and confident swinging your leg over the back. Ideally you need to find a gym or school, (you're not a teacher per chance) that had one of those pommel horses, then when no one is around and there is a crash mat present - practice flinging yourself off!
 
I have a similar problem when dismounting on concrete as the taller the horse the longer the drop and the more the impact affects my bad knee. So I either use mounting block or if horse is nice and stands still I'll slide off if I'm on concrete. Usually get off in the school as it's a softer landing so there is no need to dither :D
 
hmm I think the YO might need a bit of a rethink there. If someone holds your horse by the block, and you are fairly quick about getting off onto it, where is the problem ? Peeps who have back/knee injuries must need this surely ?? I have a back injury, and no matter how careful I am, there can always be a bit of a jar on sliding onto concrete.

Is there another yard you can go to ? Or maybe have a chat with the YO, and see if there is a way she will help you. I think the more of an issue that is made of this, the more it'll be in your mind, and sooooo many peeps have the same problem.

Good luck, sm xx
 
I have a gimpy right hip and could sometimes struggle getting off 'properly'. When it was particularly stiff I'd bring my leg over the front and drop down that way, as if getting off side saddle. As a plus if you're not confident you can see where the ground is and don't have that feeling of 'oh sh!t, here we go!'. It's not an ideal way to get off I know, but it worked for me on the bad days. Not sure whether the YO would go for this tbh - I was on my own girl - but your friend with the horse may be ok with it? Not one to try with anything funny about its head mind

Good luck with the weight/fitness regime :-)
 
I have to mount and dismount on the block. I suffer with a bad back and the jarring after landing off my 17.1 did me no good!! I did slide from him but he ended up with a sore back so had to stop.
I used to, when riding newly broken ponies' get the pony to stand square, take both feet out of stirrups then in my head say 1,2,3 and dismount. I hope you get this sorted because it would be such a shame for this to stop you riding,x
 
Have a chat with someone at the gym if you go 5 times per week and ask them to incorporate some exercises into your programme to strengthen your legs. Some sort of ballet type leg lifts Im thinking, or as someone has said if they have one of those oxer things where you can sit astride it and "dismount". When I first got back into riding 7 yrs ago I struggled to get off and couldnt lift my leg. I got stuck and it was awful. Ive lost 3 half stone since then and it makes a big difference.

Good luck with it!
 
"When it was particularly stiff I'd bring my leg over the front and drop down that way, as if getting off side saddle."

I used to do that too years ago, but I stopped after my jacket caught on the back of the saddle and left me dangling helplessly. Luckily I wasn't by myself and my pony was sensible otherwise it could have been nasty. Mind you, my companions had a good laugh!
 
Now that you have lost some of the weight you might find it easier too. I'd certainly be thinking about taking up your friends offer and then doing as the others say, don't over think it and just go for it!
 
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