Just a comment for everybody like me who is short and tends to ride taller horses: I find it easier when dismounting to remove my left foot from the stirrup after I swing my right leg onto the left side of the saddle, and then dismount from that position. Since I'm 5'1" and my horse is nearly 16 hands, the step-down method just tends to be too difficult.:)

You are absolutely right Meg. A person of your height might have a bit of a problem stepping down from a 16 hander! :) We should have mentioned the option you suggest. That's what I get for being 6'2"! :)Thanks for sharing!

I think that for dissmounting it is always safer to take your left foot out of the stirrup to befoe you hit the ground in case you horse, for some reason, would move or spook because it would be pretty easy to get you foot caught in the stirrup. I volunteer at and equestrian therapy program and for them that is the only way you dissmount because they also feel it is safer.

Hi Amanda,

Although removing the foot from the stirrup is a common practice in English riding, it usually isn't in Western, unless you are too short to reach the ground. I agree that it is a safer practice, especially for an equine therapy operation. Most western stirrups are pretty wide and if you wear a western boot that slopes to the toe, it should slip out pretty easily in case of emergency. They also now make break away western stirrups for just such an incedent. Thanks for your comments and keep watching the Western Way section for more to come.

Tim

I've ridden english from almost day one but have decided due to the politics involved on my college's englsih team, that western is a way to go, after shwoing once I was hooked and plan to show this summer western. Is the method of getting off shown above the way you would if the judge askes you to dismount? I've seen it done once or twice and I was wondering if there was a big difference in the way you get on and off at a show. thanks

Hi Tany. In my exoerience, I have never seen a judge ask a competitor to dismount in any western riding class. But the way of it is as shown. I would seek out and ask some western class judges, but I really don't think they require a contestant to dismount.

As far as I know Tanya, I don't think mounting and dismounting are requirements in any western class. I have never seen a judge ask a rider to do that, even in trail classes.

I have just recently gotten into western riding and have a bit of a problem dismounting...Not only do I have a 16+hh percheron, but I'm a heavy rider and when I try to swing my leg over I either make the saddle slip or catch my ribs on the horn. Is there some kinda trick to this I'm not getting???

I ride english and I was thinking that dissmounting with your left foot still in the stirrup would put strain on the horses back.