Er... getting on?!? (blush!)

[Judy]

Hi. Thanks so much for this wonderful Web site! I've learned so much already, and this is the only place I've seen on the Internet so far where I feel like I can say this without feeling totally stupid...

At the ripe old age of 46, I am finally fulfilling a lifelong dream and taking horseback riding lessons. (Sure wish I'd done this about 20 years ago!) I am into about my 12th lesson with the local park department and planning to continue. Here's my biggest problem at this point:

I can't get on by myself!!!

I'm tall and a bit overweight, so they keep putting me on big horses. I'm not in very good shape, so my legs aren't very strong. And we're doing English riding, so I don't have a pommel to grab to help me up. They tell me to grab a handful of mane and the saddle, but I'm afraid I'm going to hurt the horse by using his mane to pull myself up (they tell me there are no nerve endings in a horse's neck, but I guess I don't believe I'm not going to hurt the horse).

After 11 weeks, it's getting very embarrassing that I can't do this by myself yet. I can do it on smaller horses, but not these big ones. I thought by now I would have strengthened my legs enough to do this.

Any suggestions? Are there exercises I could do to strengthen that part of my upper leg? Is it really okay to use the mane to pull myself up? Anything else anyone has discovered that might help?

Thanks in advance! It's pretty hard to practice this kind of thing between lessons. :)

Judy

[Waltz]

Hi

I used to have trouble getting on a horse. I'm short and quite light but my technique was the problem. I used to face the horse and try to pull myself up. You have to stand side on the the saddle, facing the horse's rear, grab a handful of mane along with the reins, put your left foot in the stirrup (shorten it as much as you want!), bounce on your right foot and pivot round intil you are facing the saddle full on. By this time, your left foot should be under the horse's tummy and you should be bouncing fairly well. Make your last bounce a big one and grab the other side of the saddle (or the back if you can't reach) to lever you up. if you grab the back of the saddle you must move it before you sit on it! Oh, and whatever you do make sure the girth is tight or you'll be on the floor with the saddle somewhere on top of you! it helps if someone can hold the saddle the other side. I spend a few lessons struggling and then suddenly it came togethert and I almost leapt over the horse! But don't be afraid of the mounting block - esp. with big horses. meanwhile, build up those thighs!

[Sidesaddle]

Some good exercises to strenghten your legs are as follows;

Lean with your back flat against a wall. Move your feet approx. 1 foot from the wall.
Lean your back and shoulders against the wall and slide down it until your knees are bent (approx. 45 degrees) Hold that position as long as possible or until your legs start to tremble. Do not do this until it hurts. Slide back up the wall and slide back up and down the wall several times before trying this again. Repeat as often as you are able.

Also to strenghten your calves and ankles, stand on the bottom step of any stairs you have (or a solid piece of wood, etc). Make sure you just have your toes and the ball of your foot on the step and lower your heels as much as possible over the back of the step and then up onto your toes. Repeat this 10 times to start with.

Tighter thighs - Lie on your left side with your right leg crossed over your left leg positioned in front of you with your foot flat on the floor( you will have to raise your upper body onto your elbow), then raise the left leg an inch off the floor, keeping back straight. Breathe in. With ankle facing up to the ceiling, breathe out as you raise the left leg six inches, while squeezing the inner thigh. Hold for a count of two, lower to an inch above the ground. Repeat 10 times. Swap sides and repeat.

(These were given to me by a Physiotherapist after I broke my leg)

Hope they help.
Regards
Sandra

[Gail May]

Dear Judy

I identified with your problem immediately - I took riding up at the start of this year and I was then 46 - and I STILL have problems with mounting. I am short and also slightly overweight and I have to use a mounting block. I feel terribly embarrassed and have tried to mount from the ground but just end up getting tired and annoyed at myself.

I was told not to worry it would come - but I have noted the tips other people have given, so will try again!

Let me know how you get on!

Kind regards

Gail

[Karin]

Judy,

You are not alone. Don't worry, you'll get it. I force myself to always mount from the ground as I do not want to become too dependent on a block as there are none in the ring or out on hacks! I figured if I dismount for whatever reason, the barn might be a long walk away. Here are a couple of tricks.

Think about what's it's like when you climb stairs. 1 step is easy, 2 is manageable but 3 is really a stretch. So, make your mounting easier. Start with your mounting stirrup 2 or 3 holes lower than the length you are going to ride with. That way you can get more power and balance from your foot on "liftoff". Also, when you begin your hop(ping) focus on the sky not on the saddle. Think high, and as you start to pivot your left ankle pretend you are in slow-motion that way your bum and right leg ease into place instead of fall. Once in the saddle you can re-adjust your stirrup to the right length. (Don't worry the first few times I tried to shorten the stirrup with gloves on it took FOREVER. But it does get faster everytime).

Good Luck! Karin

[Myrmex]

Don't be embarrassed. I can't get on either and I'm a very fit 30. I damaged my knees mountaineering a few years ago so they don't take well to mounting and I can't get on any horse bigger than about 15.3hh without resorting to a leg up or mounting block. And there's nothing wrong with using a mounting block incidently - it's better for the horse's back, is less likely to twist the saddle and it's easier for you. You're doing the horse a favour if you use a block. Obviously though, you need to be able to get on and off if you're riding out on a hack. I use a step ladder to improve the strength in my left knee and leg - first make sure the ladder is secure, then put your left foot on a rung level with, say, your mid-thigh. Bounce up and down as if you were mounting. Repeat several times a day and gradually increase the height of the rung you put your foot on. Worked for me. (But I still use a block wherever possible!).

[Judy]

Wow, you all are great! It seems like everyone else in my class is doing just fine, and the instructors kind of roll their eyes and give me these lectures like, "You've GOT to learn to do this, because if you're out on a trail ride you have to be able to get back on" and "Once you start to mount, don't change your mind midway!" (Gee, thanks! As if I was CHOOSING to have this trouble! :)) But I feel greatly reassured just reading all your notes. And there are lots of great tips here. Thank you so much!

I have also been pleased to note on this message board that I'm definitely not the only one who waited till later in life to learn to ride. Whew! Sometimes I think I must be nuts to be doing this now, but I guess I'm not the only one who's nuts! ;)

Thanks again, I feel a LOT better already and will try out all the suggestions. I'll let you know when I'm victorious and can go sailing daintily into position. (I'm sure the horse will be most grateful, too!)

Judy

[Marlena]

Hi Judy!

I found that stretching my legs was really beneficial; if you're really supple you'll get on with less power!

Good luck,
Marlena.

[Gail May]

Yes - I have read all the tips and thanks a lot to everyone who has made me feel a little less silly!

The horse I ride is 17.2, hence the fact I have problems mounting from the ground. However, will persevere and try again.

I too, am pleased to know that I am not the only 45+ person to decide to learn to ride - gives me hope!

Gail

[KarlR]

I've heard the trail ride theory too Judy.

Whilst I can get on most horses from the ground (especially if I put the left stirrup on that last notch!<g> ) I rarely do.

I've been on many a day ride and I've never had to dismount (intentionally or otherwise) without a fence or raised area of ground against which to reposition the horse.

Always mounting from the ground also puts much more of a strain on the horse and saddle too unless you are very athletic (which I'm not!). Repeatedly pulling up can't do much for the poor horse!

As the others have already said, a gradual increase in exercises designed to supple will certainly help and I know from experience that regular riding helps improve the leg muscles so it becomes easier anyway.

You'll get it in the long term - until then insist on a mounting block...or even one of those blocks that are always lying around the menage.

Karl R

[Poko'sridr]

Hi Judy,
I sometimes have a problem getting on my horse (I happen to be very short) but I do have the advantage of having strong legs. This really helps me in many ways....stretch before you ride. Do a few squats (it looks funny but squat down as low as you can with your legs spread and bent at the knee). everyone here has posted such great advise. I use to feel bad using the mane to get myself up but when I started riding bareback alot-that's all I had to get up with--I might add that I can mount better bareback than with a saddle...I guess it's the jumping and swinging my legs over that gives me more power.

[ClaireB]

Hi Judy,
Many riding schools I know positively won't let you mount unless from a block, because of novices pulling the horse's back (and I mean that in the nicest way - we all have to learn and many of us have short legs). There is a device you can buy which is sort of like an extra stirrup - you hook it in the stirrup and it means you don't need to raise your leg so high. It folds up so you can carry it in your pocket. I think the trade name is LeGup.
Be careful of that mane - I once went trekking and whenever I put my hand anywhere near the front of the saddle, the horse shook his head violently. I asked the owner, and he looked it up in his book - an elderly man had last used that pony and was a bit too reliant on the poor creature's mane.
I also have short legs and a big horse, but you get very good at using gates, fences and making your horse stand in a ditch if you have to! Enjoy your new hobby.

[allison]

Hi
I am not quite 45 yet but getting there quickly. I have always used a mounting block it is much kinder on the horse. I too am small and a bit overweight it realy does not hurt the horse to hold the mane or at least it doesn't seem to.
best wishes
allison

[Concorde]

I suggest that you use a milk crate or an actual block to get on the horses back with.

I'm a short yet fiesty 5'2" , and I must use a mounting block.

The mounting block will prevent the horses back from wretching everytime you go to LEAP aboard.

[Judy]

Hi Everyone,

I can't tell you all how much I appreciate all the really good feedback. It's rough because no one else in my class seems to be having the same trouble I am, so it really helps to hear from you that I'm not alone. I also never thought about how much it may hurt the horse if I make several attempts to climb aboard and keep failing. Some of the horses in the riding class are very old and have back problems anyway, so now I'm really trying to make sure I don't hurt them worse, even if it means I have to insist on using a stool or block.

One of the most humiliating things of all was when I was riding a big horse named Bucky whose father was a Clydesdale. I couldn't get on him without help to save my life. Then, when I was assigned to a different horse, a woman much shorter than I am, and also on the heavy side, was assigned to Bucky. She had trouble getting on him, but she did succeed on her own. That made me feel even worse, of course.

I'm also a bit nervous because in one of the sessions, I didn't get the girth tight enough, so after all the trouble getting on, the saddle went sideways and I went with it. So now I'm worried about that happening again, too.

But! My legs are getting stronger, I can tell, and this is something I've always wanted to do, so I am going to persevere. The other night I actually posted properly for awhile and really felt in sync with the horse, and I actually got tears of joy in my eyes. I love this!

So, thanks again for all your encouraging words and good advice. When I'm in the lessons, I feel like there's a whole crowd of people (you) standing there cheering me on. It's a tremendous help!

Judy