Safest way of dismounting from a very tall horse?

I think it's all in the technique really, I never used to be able to get on from the ground and would often graze my belly getting off (I have a scar even!) unless you have physical problems of course. Just try and push yourself away and prepare your legs for landing :-) I think I would also slightly turn onto my left side so I am facing backwards a little.
 
I used to ride a 17.1hh schoolmaster and I am only 5ft 1! I generally dismounted in the school so the cushioning helped soften the landing! But certainly remember to bend knees to absorb the impact, and push slightly away. I forgot to do this one time and slid off and managed to catch my breeches, must have been on the stirrups, and ripped them when I slid off! I had a big hole by my crotch area, and they were my favourite breeches!
 
:o :o :o

I admire you all, I recently sat on my friends plus 17hh horse and my only thought was "heck how am I going to get down" I did but it was not pretty!

Having recently changed from a 15.3 to a14hh (still growing) lad I find I brace for impact and it comes all to soon, still surprises me!
 
I have both ankles fused and so cannot flex thru my ankles, which also massively reduces the amount of flex I can do thru my knees (try flexing knees whilst keeping feet firmly on floor without flexing ankles - very hard!) and so pushing / jumping off isn't an option as I can't absorb the landing. My girl is very good and stands nice and still for me. My method is both feet out stirrups, hold right side of saddle/pommel/bit of mane with left hand, lean forward and swing right leg over and lie over the saddle, hold back of saddle with right hand and slide down carefully so I don't land hard - haven't yet worked out a way to do this in a body protector so that comes of while on board ponio :-) Luckily she's very good and the lady who started her taught her to stand really well.
Love the sound of the military dismount but so couldn't do it - I can't get on from the ground as am unable to get my foot in the stirrup or have any spring at all due to ankles - I love mounting blocks :p
 
Im 5'4 and my horse is 17hh, I am also an OAP.Off a 17hh is only 4inches more to drop than off a 16hh!! so get off the normal way and just be prepared for a slightly longer drop :) The way I do it is both feet out, reins in L hand on pommel, R hand on top of saddle flap, push up, swing R leg over and drop. Who wants to flaff about with a block? Don't you lead your horse back the last bit of a hack with a loose girth to cool him?
 
No if its in the morning, he's washed off, or if its in the evening, he's just left to dry. The owner has to clip him even in summer so he's hardly got no hair anyway. I'll try it in the school on level ground I think.
 
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