Mounting big horses unassisted sidesaddle?

kippen64

kippen64

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Australia
thinkingabouthorses.blogspot.com.au
Always wanted to ride sidesaddle but my ongoing concern is the business of getting on. Can a short woman with a passion for big horses and no loving OH or friend to hoik me on, ride sidesaddle? It's the appeal of having a super secure seat that I like. The elegance is just the icing. Cheers.
 
I'm 5'9" and cannot get on my 15.3 TB from the ground when I ride side saddle (and I ride aside nearly everyday!) but have one of those nifty big plastic mounting blocks: http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/mounting-block-3-step.html
and standing on the top step, I can swing my leg over and get on my saddle without putting my left foot in the stirrup. Best £80 I ever spent (I bought mine last year when they weren't £88!).

Yes, it can be a bit hairy swinging your right leg over onto the fixed head once you are on but you soon get used to it and I can do it even when my wappy horse is walking away from the block now. You have to have a sticky seat for side saddle riding!! :D

In my Mrs. Houbloun book written in the 1930's, she does have photos of her getting on her side saddle from the ground but maybe she was more flexible than me or taller than me!!

It's not really a good idea getting on a side saddle from the ground anyways as it can damage your saddle and/or shift it over so that it is not in the correct position.
 
I used a mounting block and got on "normally" (ie astride) and then swung me leg over for my last lesson (on a 17hh horse). I spent the day with these crazy ladies and I think they all admitted that none of them got on "properly". You can find old sidesaddle manuals on archive.org which tell you how to do it, but it's tricky.

http://susannaforrest.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/flying-side-saddle-with-the-foxes/
 
Me too^

i have seen people at shows with all manner of crazy mountin blocks....including what w would class as a decorating table lol
 
kippen64 said:
I apologise in advance for the idiot question. How does that affect safety please if you lifting your right leg over the horse's withers after mounting astride?
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If you had never put your leg over your horses neck you may want to try it a few times with some assistance (eg when your instructor comes) to check they are ok with it, but most accept it pretty readily.
 
If the reason you want to ride sidesaddle is so you have a more secure seat for idiot and/or strong horses, is swinging the right leg over still an option please?

I realise I am being pain in the neck. My only excuse is that it is a real concern of mine.
 
Years ago I was forced to go for sidesaddle lessons at somewhere in Warwickshire, where the chief instructor/owner picked me to do a demo on how to be assisted to mount sidesaddle.
It seemed to involve being thrown up with your back to the horse, and had that horrible 'falling off a cliff backwards' sensation. Not only that but I was forced to mount/dismount several times for the edification of some old sidesaddle trouts who were loitering. :D
I fully recommend a very, very tall mounting block where you can just sit down elegantly on your horse, to reduce any 'wall of death' experiences. :p
S :D
 
Shilasdair said:
Years ago I was forced to go for sidesaddle lessons at somewhere in Warwickshire, where the chief instructor/owner picked me to do a demo on how to be assisted to mount sidesaddle.
It seemed to involve being thrown up with your back to the horse, and had that horrible 'falling off a cliff backwards' sensation. Not only that but I was forced to mount/dismount several times for the edification of some old sidesaddle trouts who were loitering. :D
I fully recommend a very, very tall mounting block where you can just sit down elegantly on your horse, to reduce any 'wall of death' experiences. :p
S :D
Click to expand...

Thank you. Will use the solution of a mounting block that can be seen from space.
 
I would certaily suggest that you take some lessons side saddle before attempting to ride a headstrong or unpredictable horse. I also wouldn't advise trying to ride such a horse side saddle without help and guidance from an instructor or experienced side saddle person. If the horse is inclined to be cold backed or unbalanced when ridden astride it wouldn't be advisable to ride side saddle until these issues are rectified.

Whether or not you could swing the leg over the front would still depend on the horses acceptance of this. In short, other than a very large mounting block which would allow you to get on sideways (which, until you become practised, will still take some 'shuffling' to get into the correct position and may be as impractical as the leg over technique) it is the only real option without damaging either your horse or your saddle.
 
ruth83 said:
I would certaily suggest that you take some lessons side saddle before attempting to ride a headstrong or unpredictable horse. I also wouldn't advise trying to ride such a horse side saddle without help and guidance from an instructor or experienced side saddle person. If the horse is inclined to be cold backed or unbalanced when ridden astride it wouldn't be advisable to ride side saddle until these issues are rectified.

Whether or not you could swing the leg over the front would still depend on the horses acceptance of this. In short, other than a very large mounting block which would allow you to get on sideways (which, until you become practised, will still take some 'shuffling' to get into the correct position and may be as impractical as the leg over technique) it is the only real option without damaging either your horse or your saddle.
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Thank you for this excellent answer. Will stick to astride for big silly horses until have conquered sidesaddle thoroughly.
 
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