mounting from the ground!:(

T

twinkleandtommy1999

Member
Joined
23 March 2015
Messages
20
Visit site
:mad:
people should not mount from the ground it really pulls on the horses back, and even only doing it once can severally damage your horse/ponies back. Getting on from a mounting block is still not ideal but should get someone to hold the stirrup down the other side, Or get a leg up. Post your thoughts and comments below: ;):):thumbup:
 
I would always use the mounting block if I'm in the school. As I don't touch the saddle when doing so, but lift a leg over madam's back and drop into position, I am not twisting the saddle and therefore don't need a stirrup holder. Which is good as there aren't any.

What are you meant to do when hacking? I agree it's not great, as anyone who has seen me virtually climb my girl to get on board will attest. But I can't see an alternative. Maybe a rope ladder up from the tail end??
 
It might not be 'ideal' but I routinely mount from the ground. Horse is super sensitive & shows no discomfort or displeasure at it (he used to try to throw himself on the floor, when I first got him - so he's not one to 'suffer silently'). He has regular chiropractic & physiotherapy & his back is just fine.
 
What if you fall off out hacking? What if you are doing a pony club hunter trial and have to get off to do a slip rail? What if you have to get off and open a gate out hacking?

Yes it might not be 'ideal' but sometimes it is necessary. I've seen a lot more people thumping themselves onto horses from a mounting block than I have getting on from the ground!
 
I always mount from the ground, I have young horses and they need to learn to stand still and behave in case I am out hacking and just for good manners in any circumstance. prefer someone to hold the stirrup on the other side but a good trick is to hold on to a chunk of mane and use that pull yourself up a bit (if your horse doesn't mind and has a strong mane). Tried and tested with a loose girth, it seems to put much less pressure on the back. Also putting your arm over the neck and putting some weight on that spreads the pressure a little, depends on how the horse reacts though!
 
Last edited:
It very much depends on how much the rider 'springs' when mounting from the ground, don't you think?
 
In the yard I get on my 17 2hh TB using a mounting block, if I have to get off out hacking, leading him over a stream for example, how am I supposed to get back on in the wilds of Northumberland? I find a slope and stand him at the bottom, putting me slightly higher than him, but it's still mounting from the ground, this is the nanny state in action, if you bounce before leaving the ground and land lightly in the saddle it's only a couple of seconds pressure on the back, they would probably do more damage hooning about in a muddy field
 
I mount from a high block, or have a leg up as often as possible, but unfortunately there's rarely a mounting block out hunting, and even if there was, my mare probably wouldn't stand still long enough for me to jump on.
 
I stand on mounting block, lean over, hold my other stirrup, put left foot in stirrup and then hop on.
Out hacking my horse has stood downhill, in ditches, beside any sort of log I can find.
If I get off to do a gate, I hold her reins loose, climb backwards up the gate, get my balance and then she comes sideways to me so I can hop on. Easy.
 
Why is getting on from a mounting block not ideal??? Is this assuming the mounting block is quite low, mine is high enough I can just step onto horses back (or horse is low enough!) so not much point having someone hold a stirrup.

I usually find something to mount from when out hacking, but have been known to mount from the ground occasionally without severely damaging my horses back. With my treeless saddle and horse's flat back the saddle spins around if I make too much of a hash of it.
 
I get on from a high block so I don't need to put my foot in the stirrup just swing my leg over! I ride in a treeless saddle so can't haul myself on from the ground.
 
I think we're all in agreement that mounting from the ground is not ideal ... but is often necessary. If I had to wait for someone to be available to hold the other stirrup when mounting or give me a leg up, I'd never get to ride.
 
Correct technique makes a difference.. I think there is a big difference between those who bounce quickly off the ground and lightly into the saddle with very little 'help' from the horse, and those you see almost hanging off the side before hauling themselves up because they have no momentum. The latter would definitely benefit from a mounting block.

Unfortunately it is not always possible to find somewhere ideal to mount from.
 
I don't have enough money for a mounting block so if I'm too lazy to go get a jump block I mount from the ground.. The trick is that if your stirrup is too short and you'll have no momentum then lengthen your stirrup and leap lol :)
 
Is there no one who can leap straight in to the saddle, thats how we used to get on board bareback, ribs on withers then leg over. alternative method is like a trick rider, using forward momentum of the horse.
 
I normally use a wall when I get on my horse. But sometimes on hacks for lots of different reasons such as gates I have had to get of and then mount from the ground
 
Spreebok said:
I prefer to use my powers of telekinesis to hover up and into the saddle.
Click to expand...

I think that this is probably the kindest method of mounting. However, not all of us are blessed with such powers, in their absence I choose to be gently lowered into the saddle by our telehandler.
 
minesadouble said:
I think that this is probably the kindest method of mounting. However, not all of us are blessed with such powers, in their absence I choose to be gently lowered into the saddle by our telehandler.
Click to expand...

Hahaha - your horse must be very well trained to stand still
 
MargotC said:
Correct technique makes a difference.. I think there is a big difference between those who bounce quickly off the ground and lightly into the saddle with very little 'help' from the horse, and those you see almost hanging off the side before hauling themselves up because they have no momentum. The latter would definitely benefit from a mounting block.

Unfortunately it is not always possible to find somewhere ideal to mount from.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking.

Hauling yourself up the side of the horse and clambering into the saddle is always going to be detrimental to both horse and saddle. Springing lightly into place from the ground won't cause damage to either, although many don't seem able to master the ability to be 'light' generally, and a mounting block just gives them the ability to thump into the saddle.
I really believe learning to mount from the ground is essential for many reasons, then, by all means, use a mounting block or leg up when ever possible, but there is no reason to 'never' mount from the ground, providing you do it correctly.
 
Last edited:
Webble, yes I do agree. I was trying to say that its not ideal to get on from the mounting block, but yes I do mount from a block most of the time if I'm mounting when alone . and its not as bad. And yes now how do you get on! ;) Just a quick tip if someone is in the school IE: Your riding teacher, your mum or anyone you know get them to hold the stirrup down the other side and mount from the mounting block, or give you a leg up. :) sorry for the confusion.
 
My horse is too big and I am too small and completely devoid of "bounce" to be able to mount from the floor. I'm lucky to have several stone mounting blocks around the place but out hacking I'm in trouble unless I can find a wall of a suitable height. I had to dismount whilst out due to a quarter sheet malfunction and after walking for some distance came across a couple of "old boys" dismantling a car in a driveway. They kindly provided a plastic garden chair, which one steadied whilst the other held the stirrup. Thankfully there are still gentlemen around to help a lady in distress. It would have been a very long walk home!
 
I would always prefer to mount from a block, with someone holding the stirrup of my treeless saddle. When not available i will use a bank, a gate or another high area to get up. My knees would not allow me to mount my lads from the ground, it would be bad for them and bad for my horses. The rider who rides my young horse, mounts from the ground as part of his training, she does so with such grace and speed it is unlikely to cause any major issues. Both my horses have their backs done regularly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top