[churumbeque]

It is hard for a horse to get up. Just watch one and they struggle a bit. With her size vs yours I don't think it would be an issue though.

 

[Gmac]

Don't know much about bowing, I'm with you I have to stay on or make sure something to step on is around before I get off. Thats why I don't ride as much as I drive, I can manage to get in & out of the cart by myself (at least for now) , but I love her coloring.

 

[FaceTheMusic]

First, I would like to say that I think your mare is adorable! Second, I am currently teaching my horse to bow for mounting. I won't use it much but it's something fun to do and he already knows how to bow. When I first decided I wanted to teach him to bow I went online! lol Youtube, of course! And I found this guy's videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmiULvJ2Qr8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M6nACPmaqI

I couldn't figure out how to get the videos to show up on the forum.

 

[tim62988]

let us know how it goes.

i got my horse becasue the lady never rode her since she coudln't get her leg up to the stirup any more. so I would like to teach my mare how to do this too, she does a stretch/bow a lot when we open the door to the barn in the morning but it's so fast can't catch it and reward.

i will have to look at the videos, and keep us posted how it's going for you 2

 

[Clayton Taffy]

Wow! you horse is beautiful!
I would not do it. It is very dificult for a horse of your horses size to get up.
The bigger they are of course the harder it is. Even without you on top it is difficult. I have had three Clydes and the reason I eventually put everyone down was because of bad hips. They just couldn't get up any more. Draft horses have a shorter lifespan to begin with, I wouldn't want to do anything to shorten it any more.
Whenever I get off on a trailride I make sure there is a log or a ditch or some such to get back on.

These are photos of Sam when He was down in the stall and couldn't get up. I was lucky Missouri has a group of large animal rescue people that could come and help, otherwise I would have had to put him down that day, as I had no idea how or the means to get him up.
It was dejavue, as 17 years earler I put Seamus to sleep in the same stall for the same reason.
Anyway after Sam was up I knew he was living on borrowed time.
He lived another year, sometimes he got up after a roll sometimes I had to get the tractor out and get him up myself, I had bought all the staps and such I needed. He was never let back in his stall again.

I wish I had another Clyde.

I had to take the wall down between his stall and the next because he had wedged himself up against the stall wall.

The rescue group put Sam on a glide and pulled him out after the front of the stall was removed.

Then they winched him to standing position.

 

[Oldhorselady]

Yeah, I'm saying to not do it either, especially with the big guys. There is so much weight and height for them to push up. I imagine it would wear on their joints.

I would opt to have a stepping block built. It will probably be very heavy, so you won't be able to move it around, but that is ok. You will just have to teach the horse to circle around the stepping block. It's not hard. I make my percheron do the work. I just stand on the top of a stepping block, picnic table...whatever I'm using and make her circle it until she is close enough for me to mount. She understands what I'm asking remarkably well.

 

[Cacowgirl]

I knew an older lady that had a QH..The horse was tall, the lady small...she would say I want up-the horse searched for a log, a fence panel, or something to help her climb up. All her horses were extremely well trained & did well in the show ring.

 

[2BigReds]

I would agree with a lot of the posters that you don't want to put undue strain on your heavy horse, however if you ended up ONLY using it for emergency situations, I don't see an issue. Of course you would have to spend awhile doing it repetitively for initial training, but once she really gets it down you might be able to practice as little as once a month eventually, maybe less, just to keep it fresh in case a trail emergency DOES happen.

If you do decide to go this route, PLEASE remember to only use it in emergencies when you have absolutely no other options, or for VERY occasional refreshers.

In any case, best of luck to you and your mare. You two are adorable together and you both look super happy!

 

[usandpets]

I am going to disagree that larger horses have a harder time getting up. They can due to age or health issues, including being overweight or out of shape. But not just because they are bigger.
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[Breezy2011]

I would think it is your decision. I was going to teach my horse to bow or even lay down when she is older so I can get on bareback easier, although she is a quarter horse, not a clyde.

Have you heard of Stacy Westfall? Is so, Her horse Roxy (roxy died a few months ago though) was trained to bow while Stacy got up on her. She was a quarter horse also, but it still worked.

I would say, it is safe as long as you are not constantly doing it (like 4-5 times a day) but if you did it like 2 times a day, or less, it should be okay.

 

[Captain Evil]

Ahab, my Percheron, is not hugely tall, but still a problem if bareback. This is what I'm thinking of teaching him. What do you guys think? It looks safer for the horse than bowing. Wouldn't want to try it in a western saddle though...

The Natural Horseman: Neck Up mounting on a draft horse

 

[Oldhorselady]

Ahab, my Percheron, is not hugely tall, but still a problem if bareback. This is what I'm thinking of teaching him. What do you guys think? It looks safer for the horse than bowing. Wouldn't want to try it in a western saddle though...

The Natural Horseman: Neck Up mounting on a draft horse

I've seen him do that before and LOVE it! My perch could totally do it with her huge neck. She has picked me up off the ground before bridling her. If I wasn't so chicken, I'd do it.

 

[appyponyboy82]

I have a large Appaloosa 16+ hands and when i ride bareback on trails i sometimes can not get back on. Instead of the bow I taught him to lie down and let me on then get up. Its much easier on them especially if you can just swing on as they are getting up. My vet recommended this instead of bowing.

 

[usandpets]

I will agree about it being easier for them to get up from laying instead of bowing. Their strength is in their rear end. The majority of their weight is in the front end. So with bowing, they not only would have to lift their weight but yours too. With laying, they can lift their weight first so they are basically sitting then lift your weight with their rear end.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Temslove]

I agree with laying down being the better option. You can also try sit. I really like this girls instruction on how to lay down. Not only is it the easiest way on the horse I've found to teach lay down it also works their back to make it stronger. https://youtu.be/hho4lQBMQb0

 

[QtrBel]

Just a note temslove that this post is over 5 years old. The OP is likely not going to see the reply. Several of the members posting replies have also not been around in forever.