So, I recently had a back pain episode that resulted in going to ER, getting meds and going to physio. What came out in physio that my hips are not flexible enough and my left far more so than my right. I thought it was odd that my hips would not be 1. flexible and 2. uneven. I still don't understand the not flexible part overall, but figured out something to do about the uneven part: mount from the right as often as from the left.
I mount from the left 90% of the time, out of habit more than anything. Since I've been riding again after my episode, I have started tacking up from the right and mounting from the right almost every time now. I'm hoping this will help "open up" my left hip. I always mount from the ground.
I can not mount bareback from the right. I always figured it was just that my muscles weren't trained and just went to the left again. No more. Starting this winter for bareback I will be attempting to mount bareback from the right as well.
Should be interesting to see how this fares out in my daily exercise routine I've been given...
When my friend's mare was being funny about me mounting, I would get on from the right because she didn't care about that. So that's how I learned! Ahaha
If you ride English, it also stretches your leathers evenly (if you're too lazy to switch them like me) Posted via Mobile Device
We mount and dismount from the left and right side of our horses. I never did see a point in the standard left side except for tradition, and it can make for a poorly trained horse. I tack up on the left just because I tighten my cinch on that side, but I don't see why you couldn't tack on the other side if you reversed your rigging.
It is very hard for me to lift my left leg very high, so mounting from the right (and I always use a block) is hard. But you are right, we ShOULD do both sides , to maintain versatility.
You know, it's interesting because I always trained my horses to work from both sides, but I still always used the left most of the time. Old habits die hard I guess.
I've trained all my horses to mount/dismount from both sides. I also use a block now to mount due to arthritic knees and yes I do look funny when mounting from the right. Even after all these years, it still doesn't feel natural.
There was someone somewhere (possibly on here?) who explained how the mounting from the left got started... Something to do with knights and how with the armor it was easier to mount from the left????? If I remember right it had nada to do with the horse etc.
Zexious, you should learn to do it!! Then, you will REALLY understand how a horse learns from both sides. =b
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