Mounting Techniques!

HollyWoozle

HollyWoozle

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www.farandride.com
Right, I'm basically incapable of getting on Belle without someone holding the stirrup and me having something to stand on. I think if I fell off when I was out then I would manage to get back on by standing on a fence or something, though it would be tricky.

The main problem is that the saddle does slip, though this is mostly because she breathes out quite a bit (as soon as I am on the girth can be tightened quite dramatically, even when I have been doing it gradually). I'm also paranoid that it will slip - I used to weigh quite a bit more and was far less fit so couldn't get the bounce to hoist myself into the saddle.

Does anyone have any tips for me? To be fair to myself, Belle is 16.2 and I am 5'8" so she is a big girl. I have managed to get on a 15.2 on my own before, from the ground (and I was hugely proud :p ). I might be riding trails for work next year where I need to be able to mount on my own and now I'm worried that I'm incapable! Perhaps I should just try getting on Belle from the ground, still with someone holding the other side?

*feels like a numpty*
 
I can mount from the ground onto a 16.2 but it ain't pretty :o

It's all in the spring...get a firm grip on the saddle...one, two, three, UP and really jump up there. Easier said that done though of course...
 
I'd like to see some answers to this because I kinda have the same issue but mainly because I had a back op 12mths ago and before that I was getting on from which ever side didn't hurt me :D
The horse at the time I was riding was 17.3hh but Ollie is only 16.2hh (but will grow as has got no top line atm) and I am 5 ft 2! :D
 
I feel very strongly that, other than in emergencies, you should NEVER mount from the floor.

I went for a yard visit to Tom Stockdale's some years ago and he will never mount from the floor and his staff are not allowed to - he always uses a decent mounting block.

Research has shown that it is really bad for the horse's back, and also the saddle. Both are put under considerable strain as we hop around, grabbing bits of mane and saddle for support, before we heave ourselves up. At this point all our weight is hanging off one side so the horse has to tense the muscles on the other side to compensate - watch someone else mounting to see this. There was a good piece in H&H some years ago, which showed horses have uneven back muscle development when regularly mounted from the ground, and sensor pads put under the saddle showed several pressure points along the right hand side where the saddle gets pulled.

So - use a mounting block, or a lorry ramp, or a log, or a fenceline - anything in fact other than the ground where possible.

Where not possible (I fell off last week and couldn't find a log anywhere!) - I would suggest lowering the stirrup, training the horse to stand quietly with the aid of a friend to make it easier for yourself, and lastly, what about the stirrup lengthening device - is that still on sale? I think it was a lightweight stirrup that hooked on to the existing one, you mount using it then take it off and put it in your pocket. Would that work for trail riding?
 
I'm totally in agreement with Llewellin. I would never mount from the ground and if your saddle slips now I don't see how you could! Why pull the horse's back and the saddle if it is simpler to mount from something. I always find a dip to stand horse in or a wall etc, although I am pretty nifty at getting on when necessary. I also always have chosen horses I can open gates from as and when necessary, so I normally stick to 15.2hh. Then there is the leg-up if all else fails.
 
There is also an article in this months Your Horse about mounting from the ground and how much pressure various methods put on the horse's spine etc.


I much prefer mounting from a block or failing that a wall or fence or something. I managed to get on a 16hh cob the other week from the ground but I wouldn't say it looked pretty :o :p :D
 
I rarely mount from the ground (partly because i dont want to stretch the leathers too much, and partly because im quite incapable....) :D
But i can do it, when my ipod fell out my pocket on a hack i had to jump off then hop back on again, i was very proud :D but was wearing tracksuit bottoms. its impossible in jeans :p
I think its easier if you kind of.....hop..... :rolleyes: grip the saddle then launch yourself upwards whilst pulling yourself up with the saddle....coorr effort :D
 
Thanks for all the replies. :)

I must say that I do prefer to mount from a block or similar as I agree, it's not best for the horses to mount from the ground. It's more that I would like to know that I can do it for situations where I would need to get on from the ground without other option.

I just thought maybe there is a secret method that I'm missing. ;)
 
Lol i actually havent tried to get on Alice from the ground....she is 16.1 i am just under 5 ft 4! I probably should try!!!
We are spoilt with the most mahussively tall mounting block at the yard and you just lower yourself on gracefully :-D
Although i did look silly using it on paddy....he was 14.2 and the mounting block was the same height as him!
You can get one of those stirrup extending things that you insert into the stirrup....although i have never tried one myself.
 
I can't mount from the ground...never have been able to, even as a child!!!!

I don't know why but i just can't get the spring in my leap and end up pulling the saddle round...I rely on a mounting block, trailer ramp, fence, log or if someone is feeling strong that day a leg up!!!
Even at shows or away from the yard i have to find something to stand on and have been known to walk half a mile (after falling off on a hack) before i found a log big enough to use!!!
I managed it once on to a 14.2hh when i was about 8 years old and that was after about half an hour of trying because the instructor refused to let me ride unless i got on from the floor (Cow Bag!!!!)
I haven't even attempted to mount from the ground since so i don't think i could do it even if i needed to!!!
A woman at our yard has a 17.2hh warmblood and she mounts from the ground and i always watch in ore!!!!
My saddle fitter told me to only mount from a block or standing on something as getting on from the floor is bad for horses backs and can ruin the saddle...I don't know if that is right but there is no shame in using something to stand on to get on :D
 
Excellent answers all round! I shall have to look into the stirrup extender thingy, sounds like a great invention.

As for the leaping up into the saddle...firstly, it would be HILARIOUS. Secondly, Belle would shoot off and I'd tumble off the other side. :p

ETA: I do feel better now, I was sort of feeling like all other riders can spring on gracefully from the floor and that I was just too inept!
 
You need to be ABLE to get on from the ground, dosent mean you have to everyday :)

I never mount from the ground if I can avoid it - but you still have to be able to :)

I am 5f6 and can mount quite happily from ground onto a 16.2 - as I did today when I though the horse I was riding had a stone in the foot.

To make it easier, have the horse on the downside of you,and I mount facing the horse (too many young horses!!) and hop on across :)
 
ok go to Robinsons website.......go to your horse....then go to tack....and in the accessories bit there is a thing called a stirrup mount. Its £6.
Or just type stirrup mount into the search bar on the robinsons website!
 
I am incapable of mounting from ground due to injury, and my horse has been taught from the start to stand quietly beside anything I can use to re-mount. Most often it is a fence, where by she stands, lets me adjust myself and then she positions herself over beside me until I can get on.
May have a look at stirrup mount as it's useful to know I CAN mount from ground for emergencies but dislike it due to pressure on horses back etc.
 
I can mount from the ground if necessary and despite my legs not working properly have managed it on all sizes of horse, but its far from dignified. If I cant find anything to stand on to give me sufficient height then I will find the nearest dip/hole to stand the horse in or if all else fails find a slope and position him lower down it from me to try and give me as much height as possible to reduce the pull on the horses back. I must say though I am very fortunate that I can use almost anything to get back on the horse should I need to get off.
 
I tried the stirrup extender thingey and yes, it let me get my foot in the stirrup mounting from the ground but I then found I couldn't swing my other leg over the saddle as I was too low down! It went to the car boot sale. Horse p*ssed itself laughing.
 
I don't mount from the ground unless in dire emergency. It's an unattractive and undignified process when it happens. My horse is 16.2, I'm 5'3 and I have to drop the stirrup so far I can bearly get my leg over the saddle!

Something else I can't do - absolutely can't - is mount from the off side, even from a mounting block. What's that all about??? My body won't work that way!

I opt for a mounting block, nice and high, with my horse pointing in the right direction. Then I'm good to go!
 
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