when getting on your horse? do you get on from groung? or do you use a mouting block?

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SKY

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hi,
was just wondering what you all do, i used to always get on from the ground years ago, then heard that not good for horses back the strain in years on. so always use a height to get on, have done for years now since i heard that.

but was getting on my friends boy the other day and someone mentioned oh can you not get on from ground lol. i said of course i can but do you not know its strain on horses back so i always use a height to get on, better for horses back and of course when getting on a tall horse its easier for me too. but reason is because less strain for horse.

so who uses a mounting block or a height to get on from and your reasons for this, or who gets on from ground.

also can you all get on a 17hh horse from the ground, with ease, as was riding my friends 17hh horse and apart for his back i couldnt have got on from ground with ease, legs too short, i needed a mounting block for him. but wheater i am getting on a small horse or a tall horse, i prefer to get on from a height as less strain for horses back.

just curious to know
 
Always use a mounting block or mounting step or in the school the fence :)

If out on a hack a fence, gate or log work well:D

I have never (even as a child) been able to get on from the ground without the saddle slipping, I've got no spring :o

If someone is feeling strong I'll have a leg up!!
 
I always use a mounting aid (that doesn't sound right :p)

Not only is it the horses back that suffers, but also the saddle and the stirrup leathers. As a child I was forever swapping my leathers from side to side as they'd stretch.
 
also forgot to add, my own old horse is barrel shaped and all saddles slip on him, so have to use mounting block or height for him, but use on all horses for there backs too.
 
Nicnac
good tip about swapping leathers, will do that. although when oiling they prob get swapped anyway :p as i forget which one i took of when putting them back after they dry.
 
I use a mounting block, grass verge, garden flower bed etc if I can. Today I couldn't find anything to use so got on from the ground a few times.
 
I usually mount from the ground as my horse does not stand still but I will use height if I can. Mounting from the ground, I have to lengthen the stirrup as he is 16:2 and I am 5'3". I always hold the mane with my left hand and the far side of the pommel with my right to try to minimise the strain on his back and the saddle.

There was once I was using the ramp of the lorry as a mounting block. I got my foot in the stirrup and was swinging aboard when the horse turned and before I could do anything, he was up the ramp and loaded! So funny. I had to ride him out of the lorry.
 
Nearly always get on from a block, if out on a hack, I try and find a handy stone or whatever. I can get on my 15.3 from the ground, but don't want to pull the saddle or hurt her back, I am blooming sure I could not get on a 17hh from the ground!
 
this person that asked me could i not get on from the ground, was looking at me as if i was mad, when i said it was better for there back. thought i was making an excuse.
 
I always use a mounting block. I dropped my friend's phone in the snow a few weeks back and had to dismount. Getting back on was tricky as although he's just 15.1hh he's mastered the art of moving slightly when I try to hop back up. So I've bought a stirrup extender. It'll come in handy if her 17hh ladyship ever unseats me:) (when:eek:)
 
I mount from a block whenever possible, if on a hack it will be a stone, log, anything! Even the three inches on the edge of a pavement makes a big difference.

I can get on my 16hh from the ground in a pretty unwieldy fashion, but I avoid it for the reasons above - bad for the horse, bad for the tack, and I look like an idiot trying. Pretty sure I couldn't get on 17hh without something to stand on, unless the horse was a saint and could be trusted to stand still despite me clambering up. Can't remember the last time I "sprung" on...
 
stirrup extender, will have to get one of them, would be handy, i usually use a big stone, mounting block, grass verge, but if i was stuck with the 17hh that would come in handy.
 
Mounting block 99% of the time.
Used to re-mount on occasions from the ground onto my 15.2, a struggle but I could do it.
Used to vault on anything up to around 16.2 when I was younger :o

However, have got 16.1+ NH (new horse) and coupled with being out of a cast for less than a week from my broken leg, I will most definately be using a mounting block & someone to hold horse too once I get going properly!
No way with current 'flexibility' could I manage to get on him from the ground :(

I will progress to using gates/fences & other things when I get more mobile :D
 
I've been teaching my daughter to mount from the ground, but her saddle usually slips a little, so im thinking about getting her a mounting box sorted, as we are not allowed to stand on the fences at our yard.

I agree it must be a lot easier on the horses back that way.
 
I can get on my 17hh boy from the ground if I have to but much prefer not to, as you say because of the strain on his back. Why make life harder than it needs to be for both of you?
 
My 14.2 I mainly get on from the floor, but with 36" legs its more of a vault than swinging my weight from one stirrup. Anything bigger usually a mounting block, but only for the sake of back & saddle. Can't vault onto anything over 15hh without a run up anymore, but I can get on anything from the floor easily still, whatever size. But with long legs its easier!
 
Mounting block or anything that will give me some added height to get on quickly, quietly and without pulling horse, saddle or me off balance!
 
Always a mounting block mainly because or their backs but I am also the least agile person I know. In a dire emergency I have been known to get on a 16.1 from the ground but will always try and find something to stand on. I also very much doubt my ex racer would stand while I booted her in the stomach and kicked her on the bum as I clambered on.

Also, I HATE LEG-UPS!! Ahhhhhhh
 
I stand on top of the gate and get on from there, I'm saddle height at that point so no pull on the stirrups, I just step across him iykwim? Sometimes I use the farmers gates which are a bit higher, that's a bit of a Zorro mounting experience, lol :D
 
i get on off the floor on to rio (15.2hh) as thats all he has ever known so gets anxious when mounting from a mounting block

taz, i get on from a mounting block (17.2hh) but i can get on him off the floor but he has had back problems previously
 
I normally get on from a high block so I can just swing my leg over without putting my foot in the stirrup.

I can get on from the ground but only attempt it with someone holding the other side.

I've put a lot of work into getting my girl to stand nicely at a block as before I bought her she'd only ever been mounted via a leg up but I need to be able to get on alone.
 
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