mounting from the ground??

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wildpoppywild

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how many of you mount from the ground??

we all kno that its bad for horses backs etc

i always mount poppy from the ground (13.2hh) she's never stood at a mounting block in her life, never really thought anything of it since she's such a wee stumpy buggar

i always mount abby from a block (16.2hh) would be able to get on her from the ground lol!! she will stand fine at a block wont let someone give me a leggy on and wont stand at a gate or log for me to mount just a block?? making hacking in new exciting places very limited
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so i was just wondering how everyone copes?? i vote for all gates to have a mounting block beside them :P
 
mounting from the ground affects horses backs..... well you learn something new everyday. what'll be next kicking horse affects their sides. lol sorry.. ive always got on from the ground, only use a block to get on my 16.2hh:)
 
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mounting from the ground affects horses backs..... well you learn something new everyday. what'll be next kicking horse affects their sides. lol sorry.. ive always got on from the ground, only use a block to get on my 16.2hh:)

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always what i've been told
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I can physically get on from the ground, although I am a short ass so its not very elegant!!
But always get on from a curb or wall or anything really, I wouldnt fancy someone hoisting themselves onto my back every day from the ground
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I never get on from the ground, leg up or mounting block.
I pay someone to check my horses backs so I'm not going to pull them about unless I really have to. Out hunting would be the only exception.
Also have one with broken withers so the saddle wouldnt stay any way, and the youngsters would probably be off!
Out hacking, open gates from on top and if I have to get off, either find a verge that is higher or a fence.
 
I can get on from the ground - it's not pretty mind you, with my age and lack of spring and it's certainly not dignified, but it is possible
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I generally use a wall, higher piece of ground, hedge, bench anything to get on if we are out hacking and I will lead either of them until I find somewhere to get back on.

At home I use the wall. FB (15.2hh) had a back injury so I will not pull on his saddle - OH gets on him from the ground beause he can just leap aboard. Ari's (16.hh) girth is too big at the moment so getting on from the ground is just foolish
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OH is not allowed to ride Ari but could get on from the ground.

I also think mounting from the ground is not good for a horse's back - especially if the horse is big in comparison to the rider and it involves a lot of scrabbling and clambering.
 
A girl i used to work with could vault onto the 18hh shire. I mount from the ground or a block whatever is easyest at the time. I can even mount from the wrong side but i can't vault on though unless it's under 11hh!
 
I can get on my mare who is 15hh from the ground but always try to use something to give me a bit of extra height , my mare thinks we are in a gymkhana race if i get on from the ground and hoping along with one leg in a stirup is not a good look for me anymore!
 
Captain is 17-2hh, no way I could get my leg that high, even if I believed in mounting from the ground. It damages backs and can twist saddles. Fany is 14-2hh and even though it is actually easier to mount her from the ground I never would. As another poster said, I pay for my horses to see the back man, why risk their backs?
 
I will be teaching my boy to stand at a gate,fence, hole in the ground anything that will aid me in getting my old bones on his back when I am out and about.I haven't mounted from the ground properly since my knees started crunching.
 
I've never needed to get on anywhere other than the yard or a show where someones there to give me a leg up, so I've not got on from the ground. Although I have the shortest legs ever, lol, and bad hips, so I don't think I'd be able to anyway.

I also don't really like the idea of all that weight pulling on my 4yo's back! It can't be good for his bones!

He's a fidget when you first go to get on but if you get off and get back on again he always stands stock still, so I think he'd be Ok if I needed to find a fence or something when I was out.
 
I occasionally mount from the ground after opening/shutting one particular gate when out hacking as hard to do from onboard - never feel comfortable about it though. Even though I've got a small horse I do worry about how I might twist/tweak his back. On yard and other places will always use mounting block, steps, handy log etc if I can.
 
it just depends what mood my boy is in there are some nights its easier to jump on from the ground and others its safer getting on from the block that was built for the yard owner who is a midget and has an 18.3 irish druaght lol i prefer using the block though
 
I always use a mounting block where possible, however I think it's important to know you're able to get on from the ground too just in case you fall off out hacking etc. I had to get off the 17.2hh I ride a few weeks ago whilst out hacking, I am 5ft3 and couldn't get back on, there were no gates/verges either, had to walk all the way home
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I am pants at leg ups so only accept one if I'm really desperate, it's not a pretty sight especially trying to get onto a 17.2, I normally come very close to falling off the other side
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So yes, mounting block every time when possible!
 
I would say that 90% of the time I get on using a mounting block (or something similar!). However - I will get on from the ground every so often in order to make sure I still can. Sometimes we will be in a situation where I have no option, so it's handy to know I can do it!
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I agree wholeheartedly with Victoria, and am shocked that despite plenty of research (don't some of you read your H&H?) showing just how much damage is done by mounting from the ground, still some people insist it is absolutely fine!

It isn't. As you heave yourself up from the ground, the extra weight suddenly suspended from one side of the horse causes the horse to contract strongly the muscles on the other side to compensate. It causes pressure points along numerous parts of the saddle too, particularly just behind the withers. And then you wonder why your horse isn't straight?!

Full marks to anyone who uses a mounting block or leg up, detention for the rest of you.
 
I will only use a mounting block...isnt just the horses back(which is the most important)but you can twist your saddle
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I always make sure he has been walked about a little first so i can get girth as tight as poss before gettin on to prevent slippage!!
 
Definitely a mounting block. Ideally a mounting tower. I am flexible but 5'3 and my horse is 17.2hh. Even getting a leg up is tricky, she is so big! Would I be able to get on from the ground? I doubt it!
 
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I dont 'heave' myself up, Im light on my feet
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Im like a spring chicken
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My horse' backs are all fine and dandy
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he he :P

ive never had any issues with poppy back, i can hope onto her no bother and she'd rather i got on like tht than off a blocki think, but i wouldnt risk getting on abby from the ground she'd probably break
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Full marks to anyone who uses a mounting block or leg up, detention for the rest of you.

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i do both....

IMO there is NO difference in someone who can spring up from the ground lightly than a fat lump mounting from a block...

show me any evidence, and i'll reconsider............
 
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