Struggling to get my leg over

Auslander said:
I have resolved to be a bit less theatrical about dismounting in future. I was too busy doing groaning to watch where I was flopping off earlier. My mounting block is very high - so it was VERY lucky that Alf was there as I straightened up and realised that my centre of gravity was well over the end of said mounting block! I grabbed several bits of horse, at least one of which may have been an ear, and saved myself from a high velocity faceplant. Alf sighed deeply and rolled his eyes...
Click to expand...

That made me laugh - visions of grabbing various horse parts on the way down!
Thankfully my mare is only 15.2 and I can slither off without too much impact. Wouldn't fancy trying to get off (or on) anything bigger these days.
 
case895 said:
I get on, then get a horribly painful cramp/spasm in my hip flexors. The only way to relieve it is to lean forward, which is not a good idea as my ginger tit has a habit of pratting about when you get on.
Click to expand...

Been there - whilst in the process of getting my leg over! My horse has a reputation for taking off broncing when people get on - so hovering above his back with my nose buried in his mane, and my leg outstretched like a prima ballerina was a little nervewracking.
 
I can get on without any issues, and always use a good sized mounting block or jump block.

It's getting enough clearance with my leg to swing over and back off where I'm struggling. I end up looking like something hideously uncoordinated.
 
Last edited:
Very surprised a certain male member (arf arf) hasn't jumped on this thread yet.

My hips blocked so to get off I first have to 'unstick' my hips, especially the right one, by swinging it back and forth and manually lifting it away from the saddle with my hands then get somebody to physically throw my right leg over the back of the saddle whilst I lean forward and then slither to the ground usually in a heap.

However, two months ago I started weekly one to one Pilates. Fired my cleaner (who was useless) to pay for it and can now get on, ride and dismount like a 'normal' person. Worth every penny and no more pain.
 
To get off my Clydesdale I have developed a new technique which I have yet to name, it's hardly elegant but so far I have avoided breaking anything, it's a long way down. Being short and tubby I find that by grabbing a handful of mane and leaning right over the neck I can then swing my leg over, I then wiggle on to the saddle and lower myself down and drop the final piece to the ground. Kevin was a bit surprised first time, now he just sighs and pretends not to notice.
 
IME the smaller the pony, the more un-elegant is the dismounting - I've got a 12.2hh Exmoor on loan and the problem is that you don't really get a chance to organise yourself properly and get the (ahem) leg over, before gravity takes control and you just end up flopping down any old fashion and lo and behold the ground is way too near!

Whereas on my 15hh cob, tis much easier: you've got more time to think about and organise the mechanics thereof, and the ground rises gently to meet one's descending form rather than the short sharp shock of the ground hitting you faster from the 12.2.

But for those of us who are, shall we say, mechanically challenged with raising the said limb: tis best to avoid dressage saddles or anything with a sticky-up cantle. OK so let this be a warning: I tried a treeless Barefoot Lexington saddle once; for those that don't know, the cantle on this is HUGE, I mean huge, it sticks up something chronic like Mount Everest :( - the one and only time I did try dismounting from the poxy thing, my right knee got thoroughly hooked around the cantle of it - and there I was, hanging like a side of beef off the side of my horse. I couldn't get back on again, and couldn't get off either, in the end I had to somehow straighten out my right knee (still don't know how the heck I did it) and sort-of half fell in a heap. VERY embarrassing, and that was one cussed saddle that went straight back on e-bay, damn stoopid thing! Friend was watching it all and wetting herself laughing.

Don't go there gals....... avoid high cantles like the plague, the last thing you want!
 
Nicnac said:
My hips blocked so to get off I first have to 'unstick' my hips, especially the right one, by swinging it back and forth and manually lifting it away from the saddle .
Click to expand...

'unstick' is a good way of describing what I'm feeling when I go to get off.
 
I now have an extension on the mounting block so that when I get on I can just step over my horses back. Getting off though is more of a nightmare and the main reason I no longer ride.

My horse is a treasure at lining herself up and standing stock still for me but I still struggle. I now do the cowboy dismount - I leave my left foot in the stirrup and bring my right leg over, then brace myself on my arms by holding saddle back and front straightening them, kicking the left foot out of the stirrup and then follows the 'Slug Slither' while my feet find the extended mounting block - Its not a glamorous sight! But it does protect my very tender knees.
 
Last edited:
This thread :D
I'm working on my dismount. Sometimes I nail it spring away from the saddle and land in such a way Max Whitlock would be proud. Other times I end up kicking my horses bum with my right leg as it comes over, then I get caught on the saddle by my body protector (a bulky but comfy Airowear) and just hope for the best.
We have a high mounting block so I'm going to start getting off onto that, now I know my horse isn't going to do one (he just rolls his eyes at me when I kick his bottom on the way down).
OP you might find a bit of Pilates helpful? Or a couple sessions of physio?
 
LHIS said:
This thread :D
I'm working on my dismount. Sometimes I nail it spring away from the saddle and land in such a way Max Whitlock would be proud. Other times I end up kicking my horses bum with my right leg as it comes over, then I get caught on the saddle by my body protector (a bulky but comfy Airowear) and just hope for the best.
We have a high mounting block so I'm going to start getting off onto that, now I know my horse isn't going to do one (he just rolls his eyes at me when I kick his bottom on the way down).
OP you might find a bit of Pilates helpful? Or a couple sessions of physio?
Click to expand...

Know this problem from when I had a riding school - stems from trying to bring the leg over to soon. Make sure that you use your body to get the momentum to swing that leg over the horses back - Swing upper body forward strongly as you swing your leg behind you - it will then clear the saddle.

I still remember trying to get my mum off a horse - she had been extraordinarily brave and agreed to get on one of the schools quietist horses, (she is the Cautious Queen - her most remembered phrase was "Be Careful"!) She got on a horse for me and went for a walk - then csme the most hilarious time trying to get her off again. WE ended up with the Cowboy dismount. I was so proud of my mum
 
I can totally relate to the undignified dismount. I hate getting off my mare when anyone's watching in case I get my leg stuck over the cantle. Will try the Tnavas swing! My mare has bronced me off twice but stands stock still when I scrabble; heave and slide off. Once when getting on she shot forward and I ended up behind the saddle. I sat waiting to be launched as couldn't get into the saddle and she stood still whilst I descended backwards over her bum.
 
Me too!

I have to count - one, two, three, and then lean forwards and swing my leg over - hang there for a minute and then drop. 9 times out of 10 I usually catch my jumper on the stirrups and end up flashing my bra to the yard!!!! I do tend to dismount in the school, as it's a soft rubber landing!
 
Haha nice to know there are a few of us struggling

I just can't get off on even a high mounting block, I fall off

So I lean forward and swing my leg best as i i can, more often than not my big toe snags on horses bum, so I use it to push my leg the rest of the way. Then I am left dangling asbi hooked my left elbow over the horses neck and holding 'something' with right forearm.
Then I slid down :)
Even young horses or unsuspecting ones so far haven't bothered. They just give out a huge sigh when I'm done :)
 
Nothing of real value to add, but this thread is absolutely hilarious!
Luckily never had an issue dismounting (or at least planned dismounts, unplanned however...ahem) but I've gotten into the habit of swinging my right leg over the saddle and I've mastered sliding off and twisting so I'm still facing the horse and saddle when I land. But then that's because I had to when preggers as the mahusive bump stopped any leaning forwards and now
I'm lazy.
 
On reflection/analysis - I can get off with no trouble. It's hitting the floor that does me in. The fear of what might happen when vast flubbery body lands on teeny skinny ankles is what drives me to collapse in a groaning heap on the mounting block
 
Tnavas said:
Know this problem from when I had a riding school - stems from trying to bring the leg over to soon. Make sure that you use your body to get the momentum to swing that leg over the horses back - Swing upper body forward strongly as you swing your leg behind you - it will then clear the saddle.

I still remember trying to get my mum off a horse - she had been extraordinarily brave and agreed to get on one of the schools quietist horses, (she is the Cautious Queen - her most remembered phrase was "Be Careful"!) She got on a horse for me and went for a walk - then csme the most hilarious time trying to get her off again. WE ended up with the Cowboy dismount. I was so proud of my mum
Click to expand...

Thank you - that would explain it, I learnt to ride in a RS (and have unlearnt all of it, and learnt a different way after a eureka moment). Today as I was dismounting I thought of this thread and pinged myself from my saddle and may have flung my arms in the air to show off to my adoring audience (1 hen that follows me around everywhere).
 
Tnavas said:
Know this problem from when I had a riding school - stems from trying to bring the leg over to soon. Make sure that you use your body to get the momentum to swing that leg over the horses back - Swing upper body forward strongly as you swing your leg behind you - it will then clear the saddle.

I still remember trying to get my mum off a horse - she had been extraordinarily brave and agreed to get on one of the schools quietist horses, (she is the Cautious Queen - her most remembered phrase was "Be Careful"!) She got on a horse for me and went for a walk - then csme the most hilarious time trying to get her off again. WE ended up with the Cowboy dismount. I was so proud of my mum
Click to expand...

Will remember this when I ride during the week.
 
I lean forward and hook my left arm over the withers so my elbow is on the right and the wither in my armpit. Then you can support your weight however you scrabble the leg over the cantle and lower yourself under control to the floor. Very good for when you have frozen toes.
 
Flibble said:
Your pelvis is crooked go to a chiropractor. Mine sneaked up on me when I had a break from horses and I was mortified that I could only dismount by falling off in a sort of slidy manner.
Click to expand...

Actually, quite true. I started having problems getting off after having back/sciatic problems. My right leg is weak and not as flexible as it was.
 
Auslander said:
On reflection/analysis - I can get off with no trouble. It's hitting the floor that does me in. The fear of what might happen when vast flubbery body lands on teeny skinny ankles is what drives me to collapse in a groaning heap on the mounting block
Click to expand...

OMG I remember the final time I threw myself off my horse in gay abandon when the Riding School kids insisted all the staff play musical sacks at the schools gymkhana, the pain! Now it's the slug slither down the side.
 
Flibble said:
Your pelvis is crooked go to a chiropractor. Mine sneaked up on me when I had a break from horses and I was mortified that I could only dismount by falling off in a sort of slidy manner.
Click to expand...

My only concern is that I've not done anything to crook my pelvis. I swear it started after having to deal with the idiotic bog hoss.
 
High cantled saddles and bigger horses dont help . (ok thats not true ,my "bigger "horse has effectively dismounted me a number of times). My secret for an impressively athletic dismount is to swing my right leg forward and then back ,Fast. At the same time I lean forward and push hard on the pommel with my right hand . This gives enough lift for even a porker like me to totally clear the saddle and land nimbly facing forward and holding my horse. It looks good providing I can hide the look of pain as I hit the ground.
 
My problem is getting on. Getting off I sort of lean forward, feet out of stirups, a push and slide down my horses side. She is very forgiving and I am 63 years old so still happy to be riding. Would love to be able to get on from the ground. If I have to get off out hacking as there is not always a mounting block laying about on the roadside and it is a long walk home!! Saw something some years ago, think it was called LEGUP and was like a stirup extender but I never bought one
.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top