Mounting from the ground.

I think it's well and good being self righteous about horses' backs and telling people off who mount from the ground, but surely a good rider who mounts lightly from the ground and sits squarely and with good balance damages her horse's back a lot less than someone who ostentatiously mounts from a block every time, banging on about backs, and then sits like a sack of spuds and thumps around all over the horse's back sitting slumped over to one side for the rest of the ride?! Collapsed hips on sloppy riders do far more damage to horses' backs, I should say.
This is not aimed at anyone here, as I am using quick reply again, but I'm afraid to say a lot of 'recent experts' are given to telling us all how much damage we're doing, when actually, if they did but know it......
And by the way I use a mounting block now as I am too old and stiff to mount lightly, but agree that everyone who is learning (unless they begin at this advanced stage of decrepitude!!!) should at least be *able* to mount from the ground.
 
We mount from either the block or have a leg up - no matter what size of horse or pony.

There is one judge who insists on mounting from the ground and we therefore train all our horses to accept this (except one who goes bananas if you mount from the ground and therefore does not get shown under this judge!).
 
fixed me puter , thumped it lol
i,m 43 amy may , i have oesteo arthritis of the right hip , i regulary mount a 17,2 and my two horses are 16.1 i,m 5ft 6 , recently i had a fit 14 yr old lad who could ride reasonably well and is almost 6ft , his mare is 14 ,3 and he clambered up her like he was climbing a ladder, it was extremly uncomfortable for the horse and for me to watch , i then taught him to get on his horse properly which he does , horse is happy hes happy , and hes been taught at a bhs approved riding school for past year , begs a question doesnt it
 
This post has really made me think! I use a block but its not very high so essentially I am still mounting from near the ground and my horse has a few back issues!

So how high should a mounting block be to protect the horse? Are we talking about a block that is high enough for you to get on without even using the stirrup?

And where could I get one?

(I could get one built in the yard but need one for the arena)
 
not a cat in hells chance as Pidge is 17hh
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I use a large mounting block and sis gets off out hacking to do gates as she can get on sunny from the floor.
 
I always always use a mounting block to get on, I'm not as springy as I used to be and I believe its better for the horse and saddle.
I had to get off Axey the other day out hacking and there was nothing to stand on so I mounted him from the ground. It was ok but I can see why it would seriously bugger your saddle up and your horse if you did it all the time.
 
I always mount from a block at home and if I'm out competing (endurance) and have to get off to open gates I always try to look for something to stand on to get back on. As a last resort I'll get on from the ground but even then I'll position the horse on lower ground than me (providing the ground isn't totally flat!)
 
I ALWAYS get on from a block on mine as i dont want to pull on my horses backs - Archie is 17'3, so its a long way up!!

If i was getting on a pony i just get someone to hold my other stirrup for me.
 
I try to use a block/ramp etc whenever possible, I can get on from the ground on my two, easily on J (15hh) and not quite so easily on T (16.1hh) but no chance OH's mare (16.3hh and BIG with it).
Our block at home is high enough that i can stand on it and swing one leg over him, and sit straight on the saddle, which I would guess is ideal really as no tuging on either side at all?
E.x
 
I was always told it's better for the horse if you use a block but you should always learn how to mount from the ground and maintain the flexibility to do it in emergencies.
I use a block because I admit its easier but am able to spring up from the ground if neccessary (and if horse is less than 17hh!!)
 
Im 5"2 so struggle getting on bigger horses, and will use a block/gate/hill if available but will get on from ground if I have to (lazy).
 
It's really good to read that the majority of riders use a mounting block to ease the stress on their horses back. We've come a long since the 70's when it was the correct way to mount.

It's quite frightening though to read the ones that are proud of the fact that they mount from the ground regularly (the ones that use a stirupp as apose to vaulting in ppc) but even more frightening, to read the ones that cant see why it's so wrong!
 
I mount from the ground. Now I feel terrible.

I am pretty springy though and I don't do that 1,2,3 thing ever since my boss told me that was the one sure way to fall off a youngster. I just put my foot in and spring.

I don't vault on bareback any more though unless the pony is under 12.2hh.
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My Pony Club upbringing demanded getting on from the ground at all costs and my friends and I used to have competitions to see who could get on the biggest horse with the shortest stirrups. But then we probably all weighed next to nothing, too!

I read an article about a study that measured various forces exterted on horses when we ride. The section about mounting determined that the "average" (I think it was something like a 5'7" person getting on a 16hh horse) mounting from the ground in an English saddle put 400psi on the head of the tree and therefore on the horse's withers/shoulder! Yikes! That's the equivalent of hitting it with a hammer every day.

And I've been soundly chewed out by saddlers about the damage done to especially modern flexible trees from hauling on the cantle getting up. I've certainly seen lots of used saddles twisted noticably to the right.

I try always to get on from a block, although I like to at least familiarise any horse I'm training with mounting from the ground because you never know. And I always recommend to clients that they use a block.

Getting on in a western saddle is very different. The structure of the saddle, stirrup placement etc. is not at all like an English saddle and the horses, by and large, tend to be smaller so it's not really a fair comparison.

Of course someone mounting awkwardly in any way is not doing the horse any favours. But as far as "modern" attitudes being inherently wrong, well isn't that learning? If we know something CAN cause a problem - even if we don't think it is at that moment - why do it? Especially if there's an easier way. In my youth there used to be a lot more "it hurts so it's good for you" attitude but that's a specious argument. SOME things that hurt are good for you but it's faulty logic to then say doing something in the most difficult way is "best". And then there's context - some things used to be done the way they were because we either didn't know better or couldn't change the situation because we lacked the resources, technology etc. Of course this doesn't mean everything new is better - that is not MY opinion at all - but it does mean each practice/device etc. has to be assessed by its own worth, not just taken as gospel because someone said so.

Why make life harder than it has to be? Isn't the fundamental precept of horse training to make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard?
 
If I was going to try a horse then I would want to mount from the ground but with someone holding the other stirrup to balance it, as I would want to make sure the horse would stand still for that.

Normally I would use a fence, mounting block or trailer ramp to get on as although I have plenty of spring its easier for me and more comfortable for the horse.
 
It's quite frightening though to read the ones that are proud of the fact that they mount from the ground regularly (the ones that use a stirupp as apose to vaulting in ppc) but even more frightening, to read the ones that cant see why it's so wrong!

Really, I think it's not necessary to be frightened when someone disagrees with you! I still maintain, that, whilst you are quite right, mounting from a block is far better for the saddle and the horses back, what you do while you're up there may just have a slight bearing as well!
Some of those who mount from the ground just might possibly just conceivably ride better than some of those making a song and dance over the mounting block.
I wonder, if I were a horse, which I would prefer?
 
Ha Ha I didn't mean it literally!!!!! Maybe I termed it wrong, lets say...Alarming or disturbing then.

So, "It's quite alarming though to read the ones that are proud of the fact that they mount from the ground regularly"

I find it alarming, not because you disagree with me! - Because it's FACT that constantly mounting from the ground damages muscle and I'm surprised that people are ignorant to it, that's all!!

You are so correct, injuries to horses backs hindered by a rider doesnt end there, but if the rider isn't educated in the mounting department for care to their horse then their riding skills are not going to be up to standard either.
 
I think there is mounting from the ground and then there is mounting from the ground!! No way would I ever let most of the people who ride here mount from the ground - they can barely bend down to do up their shoe laces and I wouldn't allow them to scramble up onto any of my horses backs.

To be frank; unless your mounting block is higher than the level of your stirrup, then you aren't saving your horse one iota as the stress is exactly the same.

I doubt anyone is "proud" to say they can get on from the ground - I doubt anyone is "proud" to say they use a mounting block.....maybe some people are "proud" that they can actually get on a horse .....

There is nothing ignorant about mounting a horse from the ground - some people can do it beautifully and lightly; others? Well they should have a tall mounting block or better still don't bother.
 
I can get on from the ground with a decent bounce including bareback BUT i always have a leg up or use a fence to get on. I always feel a bit mean to get on from the ground so only do it if i 'really' have to and have no choice other than that to get on. It really does annoy me when i've seen people get on from the ground when there is a perfectly good mounting block next to them!!
 
I can get on from the ground if I need to, but usually mount from a mounting block or from a wall. So much easier! Particulary when mounting pickle who si 17.1hh!
 
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