Mounting :)

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

Ok well, I have a veeery weak ankle, my leftie, which needs replacing eventually. I normally use a mounting block, but mum has to still stand on the block and support my leg as my ankle is struggling to take my weight and help me get on the horse. Was just wondering if anyone knew of any ways that i could get on more indepenently without needing mum to support my leg? I know some people on here have similar probs, so how do you all manage? Ie, if you have to get on yourself? At a riding school, i cant really use my rightie to get on, and frankly its probably going to be weaker than my left one! also, how do you get yourself off if you have to avoid landing with all yoir weight on one particular foot> is there a way of doing it?

 

[MelanieD]

I've had to use a few creative ways to get on while riding when a bit 'broken' and really not meant to be riding

If the block is tall enough then you can just stand on the good foot and swing the other one over the horse's back. Or get on normally but from the 'wrong' side. Most RSs should be ok about creative ways of getting on and they should hopefully be able to provide a horse that is tolerant of different ways of getting on.

For getting off leg over as usual then slide yourself down the saddle using your arms to lower yourself instead of just jumping off and land on both feet, you can get horse to stand next to mounting block and slide off onto a block so there's less height so less impact as well.

 

[titch_]

Mount from the other side!

 

[stormy's mum]

use a mount ramp then you can just swing your leg over no hopping required lol you can use it to get off also

 

[8-legged-pony]

If you have a big mounting ramp, or a small pony, you can like others say just swing your leg over. Maybe you could custom-make a kind of step-ladder block so you could get high enough to just swing your leg over (although i don't know if you have difficulty climbing steps because of the weakness in your ankles)?. The other thing you could do if you had a ramp high enough, and a very well behaved horse who would stand stock still, is sit straight on the saddle sideways, then swing your right leg over the horses neck. Wouldn't want to try this one straight away though without help, as would be a bit of a disaster if the horse did decide to move off!

 

[Jane.A]

I have a mounting block high enough to swing my leg over too. Can't get on from off side either as it means standing on bad left leg in order to put good leg in stirrup. I trained my girls to stand alongside the lorry ramp at competitions so I could do the same at competitions as you cannot guarantee they will have a block. Bit of an issue now I've changed wagons to a 3.5 tonne with low ramp! Have a portable block which I put along side wagon, stand my girl up to it, if I lose balance I am against side of wagon so don't fall back, then I just grit my teeth and push, its only excruciating for a second or too.

 

[molly34]

I've got dodgy knees from an old skiing injury and I simply can't mount anything higher than about 13hh from the ground. I'd echo what the others have said, that the higher the mounting block, the better.

Re. getting off, I swing my right leg round then kind of slide down so both feet touch the floor at once without too much of a jolt. We should start a busted legs club!

 

[stormy's mum]

I've got dodgy knees from an old skiing injury and I simply can't mount anything higher than about 13hh from the ground. I'd echo what the others have said, that the higher the mounting block, the better.

Re. getting off, I swing my right leg round then kind of slide down so both feet touch the floor at once without too much of a jolt. We should start a busted legs club!

hehe can i join i have a busted leg too

 

[HarveyDales]

At home I had my OH build me a mounting block to the exact height of my stirrup irons so I can sit myself directly onto the saddle without putting a foot in the stirrup iron. I dismount this way at home too and then lean on Harvey as I walk down the 3 big steps.

Dismounting without a block, I keep my left foot in the stirrup (which is the worst ankle) swing my right leg over which strangely doesn't hurt the left ankle, slip left foot out of the iron and carefully lower myself to the ground remembering to keep left leg slightly bent so it doesn't take the wieght as I reach the ground.

At competitions there is usually some one around to give a leg up. I do take a plastic set of steps for mounting though, just in case.

What I would like some one to invent is a portable mounting block which folds up small and is light and safe enough to take with you on a hack.

 

[oumbagirl]

What I would like some one to invent is a portable mounting block which folds up small and is light and safe enough to take with you on a hack.

Funny you should say that. My friend was saying the same thing to my husband who is an engineer. Her mare is 16.2 and she is only tiny so has had problems on occasions with finding somewhere to mount her girlie (we live in flat fen land!). Anyway, we were talking about inventing something like a 'self inflatable' cube that you could strap to the back of the saddle when going out hacking. This would be light and portable and could be rolled up. Pull a chord (something prob like they use for life raft thingies!) when needed to mount and it would instantly inflate. That way you could manufacture diff. sizes say small med large for really big horses/small people.


Anyone else got any ideas?

 

[smaggi]

Mount from the other side!

I regularly mount from either side. We live in very hilly country and sometimes it's more convenient to mount from the off side. It felt strange at first, but now it doesn't matter which side I mount on.

 

[kturner]

I have a 11h3 pony and a tall mounting block, I get on on the wrong side, snapped cruciate ligament (dislocates). I have taught the pony 'head down' and put my leg over his neck for getting on and off. He has never in 5 years put his head up, but I suppose there is always a first time. Probably tommorrow now I have typed this.

I take his sharer (10 yrs) with me and we take turns on a ride, her more than me. I only go on at a walk for 15 mins, on a soft foam cashel saddle.

We take the mounting block with us. Plastic. I am sure it looks odd to passers by, because he is so short already!

No amount of doctors can keep me off horses. See my post on back mobilisers and soon to be in your tack room for my problems. Not allowed to ride.

Where theres a will there a way.