Mounting from the ground. help?

Nope, not horrible. It's really not a bad idea to do just so long as you don't overdo using it. I may end up having to teach my colt to either bow or camp out for mounting because he's going to be huge.

With Mia, I have to stand facing her rump, keep my balance with my left hand and use my right to turn the stirrup. Then I have to hop and jump to get my left foot into the stirrup. Only then can I twist around to face forward. If I start facing forward, I can't keep my balance in the jump.

After 2 years, I can ALMOST get my foot there without jumping. Sure makes me appreciate the 4" shorter legs of my gelding...if I ever get another horse, I'm putting a 15 hand limit on its height!

To strengthen, I'd start with using a chair. Put your left foot on it and step up 5-10 times. With more repetition, your leg gets stronger. Then raise the chair until you can practice on something close to stirrup height. You might try it with both legs, so you won't look like Arnold with one leg and Olive Oyl with the other.

I don`t know if this will help but I kind of grab the front of my calf and try to get it up to the stirrup then once it is in the stirrup I bounce like four times and sing my leg up you look kinda silly while bouncing and my riding friends all laugh but its effective :) . Otherwise if you are riding with a friend you can always ask them to give you a leg up. I tryed so many ways until I was able to mount from the ground now I can get up on horse that are like 16 hands :) it`ll come to you too.

Just had to say I have one of the stirup extensions. The first time I used it I more or less climbed up. As the stirrup length was alot lower I couldn't get my leg over properly and kind of had to hop over the saddle. It was great from the point of view of I could get my leg in the stirrup extension with ease but I wasn't thrilled with trying to get the extra 8 inch over the saddle. I have to say my mare was great and just stood still while I kind of bunny hopped the rest of the way up. I haven't used it since but i'm sure you are a more graceful mounter than me. Infact I might get it out this weekend and have another go with it, see if it happens again. needless to say my friend just stood and laughed the whole way through.

These posts are wonderful!! I laugh, learn and make friends at the same time!! I have the same trouble mounting, so I am going to try the stretches~the camping out thing is awesome!!

Netty,
I am the least graceful mouter you can see. I recently injured my lower, rightside back and this makes lifting my LEFT leg really hard 'cause you are torqueing from the right side to lift it. I litereall am incapable of lifting it high enought to meet the stirrup and even if I did, I would not be able to push hard enough to mount. I must find a mounting surface.

I get on from logs, little hills alongside trails, fences you name it.
I made a cute little video about mounting from mounting blocks .

Ever have trouble mounting at a block?

I have seen a device at some tack shops that connect to the saddle horn that basically extends an additional stirrup to extend longer than your saddle stirrup. As far as teaching your horse to bow its fairly simple although time consuming and a few treats involved.

1. Get horse to stand stationary
2. Show him the treat and keep the treat below the his mouth moving it further down making his head drop.
3. Make sure if he backs up or moves his legs that you start back at step one.
4. Each time you do this slowly get him to reach down further and further, if you find that he can reach down between his legs then take the treat hand and put it between from behind his front legs. (it may take a treat in each hand to get him to recognize the treat coming through his legs)
5. You will start to notice he may extend a front leg out as to drop his body farther down. Then after you get him bowing then you can teach him to hold that position, this will depend on the horse as to how long you can get him to hold out for the treat then you can practice mounting in the bow position.

Hope this will at least help you to get started and please be safe when trying this if you have any other questions please let me know.

When I was 16/17ish(i'm 25 now) I could get on a 17.2hh TB with no mounting block, now I can hardly get on a 15hh horse without one, i'm getting better, but it's still tough, I look ridiculous as I try to pull myself onto my 16hh OTTB lol...i have a much easier time getting on my 15hh appy who I ride western Bella I ride english

Well, extrapolate that out til you are 53, as am I!

Amazon.com: Easy-Up Stirrup: Kitchen & DiningHere's one that I've found on the web, or you could make one like it.