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Pathetic at ground mounting :(

9K views 68 replies 35 participants last post by  Blue 
#1 ·
So I HATE admitting this, I mean I'm only 28, but my knees and flexibility hate me for mounting from the ground. So generally I just DON'T.

I keep a mounting block in my trailer and I've trained my horses to "line up" to me on anything I get on.....ok my mare we're still working on it some but Jax is a pro at it. So I've never had an issue getting on and off on the trails....I just walk until I find something, no biggie...when I'm alone at least...

Went riding with friends last week, had to hop off mare because boot came off. I'm happy as can be to walk until I find a nice place to give me that few extra inches I need, I'm only 5'2. But they seemed pretty insistent that I just hop on...and from the off side oh boy!

Of course, when I finally get my foot up in the stirrup....even more awkward since I'm doing it from the off side....I go to jump and saddle slips..ugh treeless saddles...and my hatred for trying to kill my horses from over tightening the girth. I was SO embarrassed!!!! My friends daughter hopped off and gave me a counter balance and I got up fine. I just can't shake the feeling they probably thought it was so terrible that I had trouble.

I've been looking through old threads and saw a few people linked
Easy-Mount Step Stool in Trail Riding / Accessories at Schneider Saddlery

Are people still using this and happy with it? Or do I need to suck it up and try and get more flexible again? I mean my knees will still suck but I'm sure being more flexible wouldn't hurt.

:( My friend is older then me and hops up no issue....makes me feel so pathetic UGH.
 
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#2 ·
All my friends know that if I get off on the trails, I'll be walking until I find a log or bank that will serve as a mounting block. I'm 5'4", in my 60s, and don't mount from flat ground. Not only do I not have the upper body strength I used to, it's just better for the horse to use a mounting block.
Have you seen the slow motion video that shows a very fit and thin rider mount from the ground? The impact on the horse's back is easily seen as she settles in the saddle.
As for that mounting stool, it has good reviews, and might work for you. I'll just stick to looking for something nature provides. On one ride after dismounting, I must have walked over a half mile before I remounted.... but hey, walking is good for me, too!
 
#3 ·
Yup! I've seen the video that's why I've always just used something too! I've prob walked 1/4 mile to find something :) I honestly only need a few extra inches.....so good uneven ground...rock or stump works for me great. I just hate feeling like I inconvenienced my friends :( But I HATE struggling! It makes it even HARDER on my horses back that I can't just swing on up there in half a second :(
 
#6 ·
I just hate feeling like I inconvenienced my friends :( But I HATE struggling! It makes it even HARDER on my horses back that I can't just swing on up there in half a second :(
Must be my age, since I don't worry about my friends being inconvenienced. I figure they can just ride on if I'm taking too much time. :cowboy: They never have though, and most of them are in the same boat. It helps that I ride with other lovely seniors, and one understanding 40 something!
 
#4 ·
If I tried to mount from the ground with the shape I am in right now, I know beyond all doubt my tail bone would suffer from my efforts! I would land on my bum! LOL! You've hit on one of my fears. I got hurt, and could not walk for a year. I had a bad fall, tore out every single ligament, tendon and soft cartledge in my right knee to the point it was swinging from right to left before we got the brace on it. Sitting around for a year, not able to put any weight on it. You can imagine the shape I am in. I'm as stiff as I can get. I started some Yoga, it helps, it helps a great lot, but I'm still miserably out of shape. Every part of me creeks! >.< I gotta get back into shape. If any of you ladies know some good stretching techniques that help especially with horses, I'm all ears.
 
#5 ·
Even if you're good at it, mounting from the ground is so hard on their back. It takes at least 15minutes for their muscles to return to normal after you've mounted from the ground. I never do it unless I absolutely have to. I've had one of my horses 7 years and never mounted from the ground !
 
#7 ·
In the past few years I've only mounted from flat ground MAYBE 3-4x, I avoid it like the plaque. Bad for my horses back and bad for me lol! Glad to know I'm not the only one. My last horse, I had a few unplanned dismounts from him...most of which happened literally while I was swinging my leg over to get on. So I def have a bit of a mental block on top of my bad knees. Maybe next time I'll just try and explain myself better to them.
 
#8 ·
I never ever ever mount from the ground unless I *HAVE* to. As I can't always find something to use to hop back on while on the trails. I usually just lower my stirrup a couple holes and hop on then fix my stirrup when I get on. Even then its not pretty to watch as my body just doesn't work the way it used to lol. So don't feel bad. Anyone I trail ride with knows I will walk until I find something to climb on to mount. As already mentioned, its better for the horses back anyway.
 
#9 ·
One of my daughters is 5'2" and rides polo horses for a player. She had the tightest hip and knee flexion I'd ever come across with no injury, and I'm a therapist.

I had her do increasingly extreme lunges at first. Later she graduated to stretches using the rails of a board fence. Slow process. She'd stand with first one foot on a rail, and change to the other after a bit, put some weight into it, and read a book.

She still uses a mounting block, but when she started even that was difficult. I've since met others with similar tightness.
 
#23 ·
One of my daughters is 5'2" and rides polo horses for a player. She had the tightest hip and knee flexion I'd ever come across with no injury, and I'm a therapist.

I had her do increasingly extreme lunges at first. Later she graduated to stretches using the rails of a board fence. Slow process. She'd stand with first one foot on a rail, and change to the other after a bit, put some weight into it, and read a book.

She still uses a mounting block, but when she started even that was difficult. I've since met others with similar tightness.

This is what I was thinking. For those of us that exercise and therapy can help why not give it a try? The quicker and more gracefully we can get in the saddle even with a mounting block the better it is for both horse and rider
 
#13 ·
Whats sad is splits ARE something I used to do daily!!!!!! I did gymnastics for years! Thats partially how my knees got messed up, then some unplanned dismounts twisted and turned me in ways I shouldn't twist and turn. I used to run 3-5 miles a day 4days a week...can't do that anymore either. People kept telling me "keep at it it will hurt less!" Yeah no, my knees just hurt more and more. We bought our farm here in Ohio in September....you have NO idea how excited I was that its a rancher....single level!!! My condo in DC was two stories...on bad nights I've literally crawled up those stairs.

So those extra inches really do help me so much....and I know it helps my horses :)

Boots I think I'll try doing your stretch program though! I'm sure it would be great for me.
 
#11 ·
I'm in my 70's now and I do not mount from the ground unless I really have to. Why should I if there is a mounting block or a rock or log. It's easier on the horse and me as well.
People are usually very good if I walk for a while to find a good place to mount.
One thing I do though is mount occasionally from the off side just to keep in practice in case I have to out on the trail. Years ago I broke my left leg and the knee fused and I couldn't bend it well for several months so I rode with one stirrup and always mounted on the right side and it is amazing how quickly it becomes the normal.
Use the mounting block as often as you can and if you have to walk to find a good place do it, your horse will appreciate it.
 
#12 ·
That's really cool. I figure if I expect any horse I plan to won, to be in good shape, then it's only fair I try to keep myself in good shape too. Time for me to get to work on my over-sized bum. >.< Down 32 pounds now. Bit more to go! Can almost touch my toes again. Still dang stiff.
 
#14 ·
I've had my horse for 3 years and every six months or so I get out a saddle with a horn and spend 10 mins or so making an effort at mounting from the ground. I've never even gotten close to being successful. I usually just wind up injured and dirty. I'm 5'3" trying to get on a 16+hand horse. I'm overweight and not flexible. I just can't do it and it really bothers me.

I spent a lot of time early on teaching my horse to do awkward things to assist me in mounting. For a long time I stood him in a ditch. Then it was a sloped part off the side of the road. I bought various devices that are supposed to assist in mounting (though not the stool linked) and nothing worked. I finally gave up a few months ago and bought a 3 step mounting block. Best $100 I've ever spent.

ETA: My 55 year old mother rides with me sometimes and swings up on her equally tall horse from the ground without a problem. Makes me feel even more pathetic!
 
#15 ·
I've only ground mounted as a child and once when I test fitted a western on my horse. It didn't fit front to back, but didn't dare move side to side.

I only mount from a 5gal bucket or taller step. I don't even place my foot in the stirrup until I'm sitting on the horse. Then again, my horse makes darn near everything roll on him, so it's habit now.

I'm 27 or so this year, I could reach up my foot, but why bother? Nothing wrong with that.
 
#16 ·
I feel you. I've got a bad ankle, repeated tears that have never quite healed right. I physically can't put all my weight on that ankle to mount up.

I'm 19. I get the snarky remarks that its because I need to lose weight. Which is very hard with the bum ankle.

*hugs*

Mounting blocks are awesome. And if it makes you feel better my mare is only 15.1
 
#17 ·
Trouble is 14 hands and I'm 5'2", and I ride him in a bareback pad, so I have him that he will line up for absolutely ANYTHING. stumps, the tractor tire, tail gates, rocks, on the edge of a hill. But when I do put a saddle ok I just can't hoist myself up. My dad jokes about how I should be able to get on bareback with nothing but it's near impossible.
 
#20 ·
Hehe Jax is 15h and Orianna 14.3...I refuse to buy horses over 15 now LOL! My husband really wanted a big draft horse when we were shopping a few months ago....and I bought 14.3 Orianna haha! I knew he would only ride maybe ocne a year.....I'm not struggling my way up on a big draft!

Funny story....Few years ago I did co-op boarding, it was just me and one other woman, I had my QH and she had 3 horses. She never had time to ride all hers so would let me ride them sometimes. Well once my QH was lame...so I was going to take out her one arab pony that was a saint...got her out and she was a little off too....so that left me with the arab pony that was NOT a saint. The neighbor was riding with me, she met up with me on her 18.2H WB BAREBACK....and I was on little 14h arab sassyness. Well she becomes a jiggy mess and I just really didn't feel like fighting with her, so I was going to dismount and walk back....neighbor insisted we trade horses (arab's mom didn't care neighbor had ridden her horses before). So Im looking at her......then looking down atmyself...."You want ME to get on your GIANT bareback IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD?" We were riding down the road towards trails lol...She just said "Well...yes! He'll be good". We lined him up to a fence....and I literally had to climb up to the top rail...and I'm sure it was still quite a show watching me get on him. I did make it though and he really was a great horse. Later that week she gave me a dressage lesson on him, with a saddle at least!

Thats the day I decided drafts aren't for me :) Love them and still say I want one but I know I don't wan the height of one!
 
#21 ·
I'm only 23 and can't mount from the ground due to a few reasons:
1. I have Patellofemoral, and it hurts too much to mount from the ground.
2. The two horses I have undersaddle are 15 HH and 16.3-17 HH and I'm a short 5'2; the filly I have is coming 2 and already 14 HH

I'm also lucky to have a group of friends who don't pressure me to mount off the ground, instead they help me find tall enough logs and rocks to use as mounting blocks.
 
#34 ·
I don't think it's hard on the horse......I think, some of those who can't ground mount, justify it by thinking it's bad for the horse.......I almost always mount from the ground....not to say I don't take advantage of the terrain....I also usually mount facing the rear....

Now, I ride with many who can't ground mount or have difficulty with it.....one fellow is 71 and about 350 pounds, and another one 85.....and that impresses me....and also gives me hope that I might have several more years left to ride.

I'll try to help them mount, how ever I can....sometimes by holding the stirrup on the off side, or finding a down tree and holding the horse by it.....the thing is, they don't let that stop them from riding...:D

One day I probably won't be able to ground mount, maybe someone will help me?

Get on the horse how ever you can....and enjoy the ride....it's all good!
 
#24 ·
Slowly raises hand since I went from easily vaulting into the saddle to a 3step mounting block in just over a year about 3 years ago. Fortunately my mare has figured out that she has to hold rock still if I have to mount from the ground, but normally I can find a low spot to put her in or a log to use. Getting old sucks when your mounting from the ground mechanism fails!
 
#26 ·
I'm 5'3" and my mare is 14.2 on a tall day. But with her old lady back, I stopped mounting from the ground years ago. I almost never use a regular mounting block with her either, because we board at a therapeutic riding facility that has two tall mounting ramps to accommodate people with disabilities. I basically get on her back while standing at her back level, so no torque at all. I've had to mount from boulders/stumps on the trail a few times, and she's fine with that but I still feel guilty about any pull on her back at all.
 
#27 ·
Yeah I've taught Jax to pretty much line up to anything on the trails so I can get on :) Still working on it with Orianna. Makes me feel better that I'm not the only one!! I mean I'm sure if my life depended on it I could....My friend just make it look so easy, she like steps into stirrup then steps onto horse! When I rode in an english saddle I could lower stirrups a hole or two and it made my struggle much easier....but much harder to do that in an endurance saddle. My struggle is not pretty so I'm sure my horses appreciate my efforts to find something to get on from!
 
#29 ·
If a western saddle fits very well, you should be able to mount the horse without the cinch - so I doubt that hurts the horse much. My current saddle and current horse are not that close a fit, and I haven't tried it with him.

There was a style of mounting I was shown years ago. You stayed facing the rear as you went up, then rolled around your leg as you swung the free leg over. That allowed the mounting leg to stay straight, which helps. When you face the front, your mounting leg is at an angle that robs it of strength.

However, when I tried that on Mia some years back, she bolted. I still ended up on top of her, but it wasn't something I've wanted to repeat. I ought to teach it to Bandit, though. I do have to jump to get my foot in the stirrup.
 
#30 ·
Yes if a western saddle fits well that is true. I do not have western saddles though anddddd I can't swing up nice and swiftly like you need to be able to do to get on without a cinch lol! I have treeless endurance saddles, which while they do fit GREAT, much better then my tucker did, I have more trouble getting up from the ground...unless I get myself a few extra inches.
 
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