Mounting a Horse on the Left?

Sorry posted that too soon by accident! That's the reasoning behind it anyway-not that many people ride with swords these days!
 
Its always a good idea to get on from the other side too - imagine how one sided the horse's muscles get as a result of getting on from one side.. even from a mounting block..
 
Ditto above. I mount from the right sometimes. Once a rather haughty horse woman saw me do this and was aghast. "Oh, she's mounting from the wrong side!"
 
Having attempted to get on my very flighty and silly welsh cob X at a Trec comp, and him turn himself inside out over it, I will be practising getting on from the wrong side regualrly now!

You'd never think I did WEEKS of mouting and dismounting for both sides with him when I broke him! :rolleyes:
 
bettyboo222 said:
I do both, also just in case of emergancys I dismount occasionally by bringing my leg over the horses head and sliding off
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I keep my foot in the stirrup and step down, my saddle isn't designed to chuck a to leg over the wither and slide!

I get on from which ever side is closest and most convenient to the nearest raised object. :) The horses don't seem to be bothered.
 
Knights used to do it apparently. I think it was so it didn't interfere with their swords...

I had to re mount from the right during a mounted games rally at PC last year and Sketch was not too happy about it. Ever since then, I'll do one day of mounting/dismounting from the left and then the same the next day, except from the right. Just to avoid him going bananas again lol.
 
Thats really funny! I got married recently (oh...actually 1 and a 1/2 years ago!) and the vicar said you always hold your lady on the left. Two reasons, one so you can draw your sword with your right hand while protecting your lady and two... its furthest away from your wallet in the right pocket lol
 
A tradition from way back when the men carried swords, same as we get posting (rising trot) a shortenered term for the postillion rider on the carriage horse. We shake hands with the right hand so we can't draw a sword.

I get on both sides too - good training for your horse and for your own co-ordination. When I try this on my riders at Pony Club they fumble aroound like novice riders - it's quite funny!
 
I remember when I was riding at a riding school after having a break and the Instructor told us all to get off on the right side! I was the only one able too and her comment has stayed with me ever since - "If you expect the horse to be ambidextrous, you should be too!"
 
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