Dismounting disgracefully

[Laetitia]

Anybody suffer from an inability to dismount in a graceful manner ?
I dismount in an extremely ungainly fashion. Takes an age to get my legs organised, then I do a right heave ho, get the old leg across nag's back eventually and slide off. Have tried the sprightly dismount and ended up underneath nag's tummy in a heap. Lucky for me nag thinks its hysterical and shrieks with laughter , but doesn't move, bless her. L

[tarkia]

Nag?? Don't call the horse a nag.
Why can't you get off the horse, can you get on her easily? Why do you have problems getting off, explain yourself more.

[Peace]

LOL, Laetitia!:) My favorite dismount I ever executed was right after I switched from riding english to western.

I blithely kicked out of both stirrups, then went to swing my leg over and slide to the ground english-style. Somehow got my leg stuck on the dadblame cantle and my shirt hung up on the enormous horn protruding from the pommel!:p

I just sort of dangled there for a while, head-down in the manner of some enormous, badly coordinated bat. :D Finally managed to free my right leg and get my left foot back into the stirrup for a proper "step-down" dismount.

I don't know if Quanah thought it was funny - as it was our first ride together he was probably thinking "Millions of horse owners in the world and I get this one!":rolleyes:

So don't worry - you're not alone! Mounting and dismounting have made for some great stories on the board over the years. What part of it gives you the most trouble, do you think?

[mikka]

LOL. Dismounting is the only thing I CAN do gracefully!

Peace, that's hilarious! I did the very same thing the last time I rode western!

[kedwards]

Peace, that's hysterical and your description was priceless.

As far as grace, I make a point of doing everything gracelessly, so noone expects any less;)

But seriously, any dismount which involves landing on one's feet is graceful. It's the flying dismounts I try to avoid (though my ability to evade them leaves something to be desired).

[Miriam]

Originally posted by Peace
LOL, Laetitia!:) My favorite dismount I ever executed was right after I switched from riding english to western.

I blithely kicked out of both stirrups, then went to swing my leg over and slide to the ground english-style. Somehow got my leg stuck on the dadblame cantle and my shirt hung up on the enormous horn protruding from the pommel!:p

I just sort of dangled there for a while, head-down in the manner of some enormous, badly coordinated bat. :D Finally managed to free my right leg and get my left foot back into the stirrup for a proper "step-down" dismount.


I know that one :D :D . I took both legs out the stirrups and then thought how do I get off. Katie told me to put one foot back in the stirrup and then get off. Brill I thought why can't I do this at home with the english saddle instead of the ungainly dismount (I always seem to trail my leg over Rhi's back and leave dirty marks :rolleyes: ). Unfortunatley my western dismount first time was just as ungainly, I caught my top on the horn :o Good job there ws only Katie me and her instructor around :p I think dismounting from a western saddle does take time to learn after english. I think it is a case of remembering to keep some distance between you and the saddle :D

[ros]

My best dismount ever was entirely unintentional - I was vaulting on bareback and overdid it, and slid right off over the other side! My horse looked at me like I'd landed from another planet, and I just creased up in a heap on the grass laughing.

[Wally]

Better to get off in a controlled scramble giving the horse plenty of warning that you are going to scramble, than b'doing off and scare the both of you!

[Mossy]

Great idea Wally unless the horse has more warning than you that you are going to bdoing off!! "No I do NOT want you on my back today!! You are leaving!! NOW!!!"
Scene me in field just about to mount horse.
1 Me foot in stirrup.
2 Other foot comes up to meet it and body bends over prior to swinging leg over.
3 Horse has other ideas sticks head betwwen legs and rodeos
4 I keep going head first straight off opposite shoulder and land on head and shoulder,
5 Horse careers back to see friends in other paddock and I stagger groggily to feet. :mad:
He had plenty of notice I was leaving. I on the other hand did not!!!

[Wally]

Now Mossy, let me guess who did that to you!...........

[ros]

I reckon the Knights of Old must have ridden Highland ponies - that's the real reason they used to get lifted on via a big crane in full armour :D

[sarahh]

i've only just learnt to bend my knees when i get off (no wonder i was getting sore knees!).

i've certainly never managed to get off in anything approaching a stylish manner, and indeed sometimes have sat paralysed on a tall horse thinking how am i ever going to get down from here. i think it's really difficult if you have short (and plump) legs to sweep them across the horse's back elegantly. my main aim is not to kick the horse as i get off and then not to fall over. the horses do give me a pitying look after.

[LCA]

I am OK until it comes to dismounting while wearing a body protector. After several occasions when the bottom of the BP got caught on the pommel (?) and other bits I have become very cautious - I always check I am not caught on anything before the last little leap down (especially on a 17.1hh).

[galadriel]

Hehe, after my first time I learned to get somebody to hold the horse while I remove the BP before dismounting. Tho I suppose I could swing my leg around the front and slide down on my backside.

[Esther.D]

On saturday I managed a rather less than graceful descent caused by the combination of an australian stock saddle and a body protector.....I ended up catching the bottom of the BP on the poley at the front of the saddle flap and hit my chin (hard:( ) on the top of the BP - as it came up when I was going down!

[Bev Heron]

Peace, you gave me a great laugh! :p

My dismount issue is rather unique: after taking both feet out of the stirrups, leaning forward, swinging over, and supporting myself on the left side of the horse, I have to jump down at a 45-degree angle to the barrel, instead of directly facing it, so as not to snag my pierced belly button. :p

[Tina J]

Well, I can do the conventional dismount - sometimes. Little sensation in right leg, and foot problems mean that I often end up in a little collapsed heap. Only amusing when its not muddy! I have taught my horse to stand by the mounting block when I get off. Swing leg over, pause resting on saddle with my tum, feel gingerly for mounting block with left leg, weight on mounting block, step down, reward horse. He's a real poppet about standing still to mount from a block as well. Considering how exitable he is generally (ex-racer) it was easy to teach him. Plenty of praise and a pocket full of pony nuts and he got it in no time.

If I'm on anyone else's horse though away from home, I just make sure there are no puddles near by and accept that I'm going to look less than graceful! In fact one of my trainers (17hh schoolmaster!) takes the precaution of being ready to catch me as I descend!:D

[Laetitia]

Love it.
Didn't know you rode naked, Bev Heron.! any pics ?? L

[CityGirl]

I haven't stopped chuckling since I read this! My favorite dismount involves a rather disgraceful story which I shared in another post. Some years ago I lost a bet & had to pull a Lady Godiva in the park across the road at night. Pony & I both had to go bareback (no sadlle allowed)! Well, in a fit of stupidity, I had dismounted & then had to figure out how to attempt to mount back up sans stirrups & saddle. On my first attempt, I took her next to a park bench, hopped right on & TOTALLY misjudged the distance (it was night remember) , touched down briefly on her back & kept right on going to the ground on the other side. I wound up in an unclothed heap at her feet - thank god she was a bomb-proof pony:D
Lesson learned - I always make sure I've doublchecked the distances before I leap on & off;) (Well, that & never make stupid bets!)

[Laetitia]

***, not ANOTHER naked rider ! L

[jonto]

Another L? Being a bit on the heavy side, I get 16 hands plus, I unship both stirrups then right leg over and slide down the horses side. Remember trying the hollywood style dismount, left foot in stirrup swing right leg over, when I hit the floor was so unbalanced nearly fell over backwards. :o :D

[Bev Heron]

Originally posted by Laetitia
Love it.
Didn't know you rode naked, Bev Heron.! any pics ?? L

Oh, I don't ride naked! -- a fantasy for someday...on the beach...white horse... My navel stud gets snagged through clothes if I rub it on anything.

[galadriel]

You know, removing jewelry of all types is a good idea before working with horses. Earrings, necklaces, rings--anything that can snag. I knew someone who broke her finger when the horse took off on the lunge--she'd have lost the finger if she'd been wearing the ring she normally wore.

Horses aren't considerate of the delicate areas of our bodies; they don't really know where they are :) If they're going to bump, pull, snag, grab, etc, they're not going to differentiate between an earring and a lead rope.

[Bev Heron]

I always make sure to ride without hair ornaments, earrings, or my ring w/ the protruding stone; I tuck my little silver horse necklace inside my T shirt. But I don't take out the navel stud--too much of a pain to get it back in. It never gets in the way of anything other than dismounting from a horse!

[Laetitia]

Bev Heron, at least you can tuck your navel stud out of harms way.
Imagine getting a lip stud caught, ouch.
I digress, really concentrated on my dismount today, to no avail. Still dragged elderly leg over nag's back and ended in a heap. What is so irritating is, that my clothes always end up, right up above my bosom. The tyres are then in full view ! L

[Caitlin]

Peace, your story reminded me of a different one, except the opposite -- western dismount to english dismount! :D

My friend has only ever ridden western, and after we got back from a hack together she asked if she could have a quick ride of Aussie in the paddock -- so I hopped off, took hold of her horse while she mounted and went for a little ride. Got back, happily talked to me for a while from Aussie's back and then dismounted. Now we'd been for a long, long hack, and Aussie's girth was a little loose... and so when Coney dismounted western-style, the saddle slipped right around onto the poor boy's belly! :eek:

My friend was utterly useless because she rolled around on the ground laughing while I panicked trying to get the saddle off, hoping Aussie wouldn't freak out and hurt himself! :rolleyes: :D

[Peace]

Hi, Laetitia!

You know, I was wondering if you were leaning far enough forward when you go to dismount, but if your clothes are riding up, I guess you are!:) What do you suppose is causing you to land in a heap? Do you think maybe you might be starting to slide off before you get your right leg all the way over onto the horse's left side?

Caitlin - I have to say that dismounting western from an english saddle sounds more potentially disastrous than vice versa!:) Eeek!

[Bev Heron]

Laetitia--I had the same question as Peace.

There is that moment when after leaning forward and swinging my legs over, I am propped up with my hands on the pommel, suspended with my legs together (at a 45-degree angle :p ). That second or two of suspension lets me jump down in a controlled way, away from the horse and absorbing the shock w/ knees & ankles. I'm short w/ short legs, so it's ways down.

[Laetitia]

Again really thought hard about the dismount, did the usual scrabble, this time swung about under nags tummy. You might be right tho', probably commencing the slide before my leg is fully over- thats obviously gravity working against me. No, I don't achieve position of legs at an elegant 45 degree angle, but will aim to next time. Thanks for the tip.
Jonto, I have tried the Hollywood leap off and fell flat on my face. However did you manage to fall backwards? L

[Bev Heron]

Oh dear, I seem to have confused matters.

The 45 degree angle is between the sagittal plane of my body and the side of the horse (so I don't scrape my belly button). For the moment I'm suspended, my legs are hanging straight down--just facing a bit toward the horse's head, rather than w/ my belly fully against the saddle. You have to be willing to give a little bit of a push up and out from the pommel from the suspended position.

BTW, in hippotheraphy and the therpeutic riding program, we dismount disabled children and adults the way I describe. We have a quadriplegic client (quadraparetic, to be technical) who can virtually dismount by herself this way.

I'd say the secret is going slow, getting organized, aiming the feet.

[Laetitia]

Right, think I've got it Bev Heron, I'll have a go tomorrow. Thanks L

[Mossy]

My only excuse was that I was so tired I could scarcely move! A v. long day in the saddle. I leant over and my leg would not swing over Moss back! I got hung up on the cantle so had to have a couple of goes to achieve that bit. Managed that far, then half fell down to the ground, and discovered my knees had locked up so I staggered off to Moss' box with him using him as a grey hairy crutch! Elegant NO, effective NO Hilarious to watch YES YES YES.

[Yann]

Somewhat similar experience here. I went on a very long slow hack on a cold windy day a couple of months back, and I was definitely underdressed, so ended up freezing cold. Without realising it my leg muscles seized up. When we got back onto the yard we had an audience including the yard owner, on attempting to get my leg across behind me I found I couldn't! An ungainly shuffle ensued and I managed to slither off, and led Rio down the yard barely able to walk, limping and bow legged John Wayne style with everyone in stitches:)

[james]

One former instructor used to sometimes make us click our heels together in the air (over the horse's back) as we dismounted. Her theory was that if you could do that, you could dismount gracefully from anything as you had to do it in a single fluid movement.

[FRED]

My worst dismount was from western saddle:o while on holiday, I ended up flat on my back with one foot dangling in stirrup:o and a ripped coat, it seemed odd looking up at horse from the floor.
too.I sure would advise against trying to click your heels together
while dismounting from a western sadddle:D

[Yann]

This thread must have started something as I came off ungracefully twice in quick succession on a 'quiet' hack this weekend - the first was a vault on and over and off again, resulting in a muddy backside, then a few minutes later Rio took me by surprise by enthusiastically pawing and then falling to her knees apparently for a roll in the middle of a large muddy pool, which resulted in wet muddy boots and my fastest ever intentional exit out of the side door:D

[Laetitia]

Yann, coo. fancy vaulting, you must be mega fit. Must confess, never actually been on a horse that went down to roll,don't blame you for doing a rapid vanishing act.
Fred, perhaps you need ballet lessons? You always click your heels together when dismounting Western style. Where have you been? L

[FRED]

L :D to be honest I would be useless ballet dancer:D but I'm ok rolling about under aggricultural machine fixing problems.
anyway, I prefer the one foot touches the floor dismount from western saddle, just sometimes its so easy to forget about coat getting snaged on the horn and then everything goes pear shaped;) I'm going to take some convincing about clicking your heels in the air dismounting from a western sadle:eek:
Its odd Yann when sometimes a topic crops up and then folk end up coming a croper so to speak, maybe we need to change topic:D

[Yann]

Not that fit, vaulting on is a necessity with my saddle unless I find something to climb on to when we're out and about. Rio's only about 15hh which helps, and very good, as my technique is sometimes a bit lacking, as witnessed by this incident:rolleyes:

[Sidesaddlelady]

16-hands-worth of horse and a degree of arthritis means I climb down hand over hand in a rather undignified fashion when riding astride.

Side saddle is better - one swings one's right leg over the fixed head (central pommel), sits sideways with reins in right hand holding fixed head and has a friend ready to take your left hand to assist you as you leap down - very elegant. We won't go into the dog's breakfast one makes of it when the friend is off having a cup of tea!

[Laetitia]

Fred, take your coat off before you dismount... ! you could always practice your pirouettes around your farm machinery, practice makes perfect. I know someone who makes fabuous tutus.
Talking of sidesaddle, I'm going to have a go on Sunday. SSlady, have you put me off the dismount? Am I going to get up there and never be brave enough to get off again, especially if helper has gone off for a drink. L

[FRED]

L:D to be honest ive never practised ' round the worlds'
has any one else:eek: I know the children love it, but perhaps Im too grown up....thats my excuse anyway.

[chapsi]

Because I am such a short rider, dismounting is always a bit of an effort. I swing my leg over the saddle and then I slide off until I hit the ground with a thump. It has happened before, that because I was tired, I landed on my buttocks instead of my feet.
However, the most embarassing dismounting happened the few times I rode and tried a Portuguese saddle; because my legs are so short and this saddle model has an armchair shape, my legs got stuck; I cannot swing it over and someone has to prevent me from falling sideways (rather embarassing, in particular the day I went to the saddle maker to try one). Here is a picture of our saddles (but I still ride English)

[kedwards]

Wow, that's some saddle! I can see how one could get stuck. On the other hand, I bet it feels quite secure during those times when you want to stay on the horse.

[Laetitia]

That is some saddle! Amazing. I would never get myself out of that let alone get in it. Bet its really comfy. L

[chapsi]

Yes, to ride in a Portuguese saddle is not just comfy, but it gives you a superb luxurious feeling; it just rocks you like a craddle and it helps you to stay on. However, dismounting is an issue for me and one has to develop a good strong back, as trot is done sitting.

[Miriam]

Originally posted by FRED
L:D to be honest ive never practised ' round the worlds'
has any one else:eek: I know the children love it, but perhaps Im too grown up....thats my excuse anyway.

I was 30 yrs and older when I did round the worlds you have no excuse :)

[Laetitia]

I think nag would buckle at the knees if I did 'round the world' on her. She staggers when I get on her and thats from a mounting block!!!L

[kyanya]

Does anyone have any tips about how to get on a horse when your riding bareback? The person I help gives me a leg up, but I always manage to cover her coat in the mud stuck to my boots. Oh, I DO clean my boots, its just that I've done all the stable/field work, and the fields are VERY muddy right now!

[FRED]

*Cough* I have long legs..{.forgot to mention this}, its impossible to do 'round the world' with long legs{hopefully;) }
Chapsi that saddle looks very elegent.

Ive never ridden horse bare back.
Fred.
:)

[Peace]

kyanya: my (admittedly inelegant) method of mounting bareback is to stand facing across the horse's back. Then I put one hand on the mane, one hand near the rump, and jump up. I end up facedown over the horse's back, then I swing my right leg over and sit up.

My barn owner's daughter does this lovely little maneuver where she takes mane in her left hand and faces the horse's rear. She then kicks her right leg into the air and uses the momentum to carry her up and over. She turns in the air and lands in a sitting position facing forward. It is my wild ambition to be able to do this myself one day, but I'm fairly sure I'd wind up facedown in the dirt if I tried it right now.:o

Of course, the main thing is to have a patient horse who will stand still for all these gymnastics, or failing that, someone to hold the poor beast.:)

[galadriel]

Originally posted by FRED
*Cough* I have long legs..{.forgot to mention this}, its impossible to do 'round the world' with long legs{hopefully;) }

Nice try! I have done it recently to demonstrate to students ;P Almost all of me is leg! (Like my horse :> )

I even used to be able to do the bareback mount Peace describes, tho admittedly it was onto a 15-ish hand horse and not my 17-hand long-legs darling :) Learned it while I was spending a summer on a ranch in Colorado, and rode mostly bareback around the hills...if I had to dismount for one reason or another, I either got back on, or didn't! We ended up dismounting fairly often for many reasons, mostly to check on the sheep (UGH! I can still rmemeber the smell...though their personlities weren't terrible).

[KarinUS]

Yes, they make us tall, old folks do the round the world thing here too! I am 5'10" and turned 30 last year and I can do it, so no excuse...

I am still baffled by Bev's belly stud. I have one and after it healed I don't have it interfere with anything. Ever since I got my clothing stuck on a Western saddle horn however I make sure I tug my shirt into my pants so it's covered and during the first couple of weeks I taped a cotton pad over it (because the metal hooks of the breeches would sit right on the navel.)

Anyway I initially rode Western at a Hunter barn so they still made us take both feet out of the stirrups to dismount even in a Western saddle. Coming from that I haven't really though much about gracefully dismounting from an English saddle since it seems pretty simple in comparison

[Vicky25]

Lol - the worst is dismouting when you're feet have frozen into a couple of ice blocks and you're on a massive horse! Arghhhhh ... the pain!!!

[Laetitia]

Apart from being very modest, Fred, thats the worst excuse I've heard of for not doing round the world.
You ought to have a go bareback, its a lovely feeling. L

[FRED]

:o I didn't like to mention my big feet, its impossible to do round the world with big feet.
:)

[galadriel]

My husband has big ol' guy feet and he can do it.

[Tina J]

I'm over 40 with lower leg problems, and the instructor in France when I ride there uses me to demonstrate exercises to the kids. Her unflattering comment is that if "she can do it at her age, you can all do it" (I am usually the oldest one there by a loooong way). Mind you, I still have problems dismounting, but I reckon that not knowing what your right foot is doing is a good excuse for that one. So Fred, what's your next excuse? :D

[vclay]

Another take on the mounting and dismounting...we have been popping a little ten year old on 15.2hh Moonbird for led rides, and she does pop on and off gracefully.
So we took her to the regatta and they had pony rides with ponies more her size...she had trouble both mounting and dismounting; giving the super spring she uses to get on the big horse she almost toppled over the other side, and dismounting the ground was so close, it came to meet her before she was ready.
I still want to know how riding instructors keep straight faces,as I solemnly informed her she was possibly a bit dizzy from the Alpine Express and Gee Whizzer rides.
But she will stick to big Moonbird for her rides!
Vera

[Laetitia]

Oh to be ten and have that sort of spring. Know where she's coming from, the ground is really close if you're used to bigger nags. Any pics, sounds delightful.

As for you, Fred, what will you think of next !!
I've got a much better exercise for you, than boring old round the worlds.
You know in the cowboy films when the Indian falls sideways on his horse and gallops along hiding along the side of the horse ?? There you are then, bet you can't do that.
Big feet an advantage as you can hook them over the saddle.... L

[kyanya]

Laetitia, isn't that a bit dangerous! lol
You shouldn't put ideas in peoples head!
(hey, I'm joking, just in case you think I'm a grumpy grouch who can't take a joke)
((You probably wouldn't be far wrong if you did think that, but that isn't the point))
(((But I don't know what the point is)))

Changing the subject, I ws riding bareback the other day and the horse took off and I sat the canter and almost got control back, but then I fell off as we started goping downhill. I think that will be the last time I go bareback for a while.
Actually, it was one of the longest canters I've ever got. I was out in a field, thats why, but I've only ever cantered inside before. Well apart from on a trek, but the horses follow each other, so it doesn't count

*Shut up*

That was me telling myself to stop rambling on so I WILL

[FRED]

creeeek!
Did you hear that!!, no its not a new Western saddle you can hear..
I forgot to mention ...creeeeky knees too!, its impossible to do 'round the worlds' with creeeeeky knees!
{its getting harder to think of excuse!:o }

L, there is a stunt rider who lives in Staffs who doe's the stunt ridding for theTV series 'xena the warrior princes' *ive only watched the series sometimes to see horse*cough* anyway, we went to see her stunt show last year, she's jumping of her horse at canter..and then jumps back on again, it is breathtaking display.
At gallop shes hanging of the horse, no hands! too.

[galadriel]

My knees make a crackle you can hear across the room. No luck for you there ;)

[Laetitia]

Fred, you have an answer for everything.
How about vaulting ? now that would really put paid to the legs, feet and now.. creaking knees. It looks really easy, you just run alongside the horse, grab the bar thing and leap on and off. Solves the mount and dismount in one go. L

[vclay]

Pics of Moonbird Rowena and Annie can be found at http://groups.msn.com/NRphotos/moonbird.msnw
Lots of other New Rider people and their horses there (just click on pictures to the left of the screen)

Fred it's the immobile hips that stop round the world and that also puts paid to vaulting....
Vera

[FRED]

:) How did I forget about hips...I did mean to mention about them
too.

Tasmania is looking very nice, hope you are now all clear of those dreadfull fires.
Fred.

[jonto]

When I first started last year I was given Isis, 16-2. to a newbe it seemed a long way down to the floor and I carefully lifted my right leg over, held on to saddle and slowly lowered myself down, After a few weeks when I though I was becoming an old hand I remember one night lfting my right leg over and leaping off, hoo-hoo, I just about fell over backwards when I hit the floor, remember that very well, bin a bit more carefull since, then one night I fell off, thats a leveller. :(

[Laetitia]

vclay, thank you for the info', lovely pics.
Have the fires abated now, must be very worrying if they are that close.

Now that you've remembered your hips, Fred, forget them.
I reckon you should try standing across two horses at the canter, then you can leap off with a flourish.

Don't you start, Jonto, you're meant to dismount in a graceful fashion, not fall flat on your back. L

[vclay]

actually we had a terrible scare last week when we were driving my daughter's boyfriend home, and from the bridge Mount Direction, the hill behind Moonie's paddock was on fire. I think we broke every speed record to get there; luckily the fire was going uphill not down and not nearly as bad as it looked. The horses all thought the extra attention at night was great.
There are still bushfires burning, but not near us . The ones on the mainland werte horrific. Vera

[jonto]

Must say I rather fancy the idea of standing astride two horses at canter, must ask Charlton Heston for some tips. Then there's the chariot, what about doing a bit of that. I guess you could step off the chariot quite elegantly, If you survived, but then the armour might creek a bit on taking the bow! :D Will go now and dust off and polish my armour. :eek:

PS. shall need a servant to help me dressup, any offers?

[FRED]

what about this..
I just found photo of the amazing stunt rider who gallops about like this, isn't she, erm isnt the horse ace...:cool:

{sorry John, im no use with armour suits, but diesel engines and fancy hydraulics yes}
Fred

[jonto]

It looks so natural in the films, two white horses, often at the gallop to. I wonder how many takes before its in the bag, like to see some of the cuts, be a few involuntary dismounts in the scraps. :) The Indian rider is ace, they can touch the floor then swing up again into the saddle. Have a go Fred in a few weeks when its a bit warmer out on the chase. :D

[FRED]

Her husband is stunt rider too, he doe's round the worlds sort of thing on two white horse while cantoring.They live near Stone.
Ace day on the Chase with Dice John, sun was out too.
No good news about horse search:(
Fred.

[Esther.D]

What about this?

[FRED]

:cool: , Esther.

[bebophutch]

Here is a pic of me dismounting beautifully not my leg gets stuk lol he he:D

[Laetitia]

Coo, thats an amazing dismount, you must be really fit to get your leg that high. There you are Fred, thats the way to do it.
Jonto,you would have to take one leg of armour off first.
That stunt rider lady has certainly got some shoulder muscles, must need them to do all that swinging about. Jealous ? L

[Debby Riley]

The horse i ride has a very high back to the saddle ( not sure of the proper name ) my name for it would be bruised thigh every week, no matter how high i try and throw my leg over i always bash it,

This week i threw my leg over ( trying not to get yet another bruise) but went to high and to fast was left hanging off sideways with my legs swinging under the horse i could not get off for laughing, so i think i must qualify for dismounting un gracefully this week:o

[FRED]

L :) to be honest I would not dare to dismount like that:o

[bebophutch]

Lol thanks guys, I can get of much better now dunno why, becuase im riding another pony:D So i seem to be able ot do it a lot better hm i dont no why??????/:D

[Janette]

I did a painful one on Friday - got my bra wires caught on the pommel!!!!!!
In front of my DAD!!!! - who being nearly 70, thought it all exceptioonally funny. Mum sympathised as it was very painful. But I am a woman(!!!), and know the true meaning of pain, So I was sheepish, and hobled off clutching the offending part, underwear and horse. I sure she laughed as well.;)

[Debby Riley]

Janette

I am still wondering what you was doing to get your bra wire in the pommel, i am sorry but i would have laughed too, hope you have recovered from the pain and the embarrasement, i will stop laughing in a minute, BUT HOW DID YOU MANAGE THAT ??

[Janette]

Not quite sure how I managed it, Its branded in my memory though.
I leaned forward, as you do, and I think ,as I ws swinging my leg over, Star 'shuffled ' and I wobbled as I was coming down. Not to be repeated!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

[Debby Riley]

Janette

Sorry i am stil laughing, may be you should consider a non wired sports bra for riding they are so comfy and tight so nothing can get caught ;)

Hope you didn't hurt yourself, i used to go to aerobics classes and one day i was late, and if you miss the warm up you was not allowed to take part so i ran into the class and tripped on my laces on my trainers went skidding across the polished floor face down right up to the instructors feet who replied " nice of you to joins us - you might be better to stay on your feet for the warm up !!!" talk about embarrased:o

There must ba a moral to this story *Always check all your equipment Ha Ha :D :D :D

[Laetitia]

Love it, love it, love it, how delicious. The moral here is obviously don't use any ironmongery whilst aboard. Fred and Jonto take note - not recommended.
An aside, if you want an aside, I was having a private lunge lesson and my front opening bra opened. I looked down and grief. We simply had to stop, I couldn't cope with all that. L

[FRED]

ok..back to legs :)
My sisters dog Jed has amazing long legs too, says its impossible to do acrobatics on horse if you have long legs, theres no arguing with Jed:D

[Laetitia]

Jed is quite, quite beautiful.
Do we get to see a pic of your legs then Fred, to prove that you can't do aerobics on a horse.
I suspect Jed would leave you standing in the acrobat stakes. L

[FRED]

:o Nope!
Jed is dark chocolate colour and was rescued from poacher!.
He's ace and behaves too, he's like a gazel bounding about.

[Tina J]

I agree with Laetitia, Fred. I suspect that Jed can manouvre his four legs in all sorts of gymnastic ways - so, as you've only got two legs to worry about, no excuse for you!

He's gorgeous by the way. Can bounce around me any time (Jed that is!:D )

[Debby Riley]

Nice photo Fred, i can't remember the last time my husband and i sat together, like your jed our pooch sits in the middle but one of us get pushed off to accomodate his legs too

I too have a rescued greyhound with long legs, he never curls up either and i sleep with my legs hanging out the bed to accomodate his long legs:D

I know he shouldn't be on the bed but he is 12 years old now and I am sure that other greayhound owners will agree with me a cold greyhound is a miserable one;)

He is can trot and canter with voice commands, flexi lead makes a great lunging rein too LOL

May work on small jumps this summer if he is up for it :D

[mojo]

Oh my god Fred! He looks so much like my Lurcher Byron. I love greyhounds/lurchers. They are wonderfully loving and gentle dogs
and you're so right Debby a cold greyhound is not a happy one. Mine stands in front of me and barks until I put the fire on. He is also a rescue and I must admit we have over pampered him to say the least. I even find myself carrying his food bowl over to his bed sometimes, as he is the laziest dog ever (until he sees a rabbit that is) and likes to eat half lying down. My husband goes nuts with me for doing this. But he sometimes lies on his cushion looking at his bowl in the corner and then at me with his big brown eyes until I find myself getting up and taking it over to him, and he gets stuck right in. He has me wrapped round his little finger.

Will have to see if i can post a piccy for comparison.

[Laetitia]

Thats right, Tina, you tell him. Wasn't there a false armoured leg in amongst all this somewhere?
Anyone done Le Trec ? do you have to get off at all.? L

[galadriel]

We think my current foster dogs are greyhound crosses:
http://forgottenpaws.com/buddyhound2.gif http://forgottenpaws.com/samhound.gif
They can accomplish all sorts of acrobatic feats, usually by accident :)

[jonto]

May I put a word in for a shepard, Lizzy is quick to, chases crows around the field.

[Arabesque]

Just on the subject of rotten dismounts all I can say is thank god for nice quiet school horses. When I injured my ribs about 2 weeks ago I refused to not go to my lesson because I am sooo bad if I don't make it for a bit- like I have regressed or something! So I rode a lovely school master with the most incredible flowing paces, and it was a bit painful but tolerable though I couldn't bend myself from my waist around corners on circles etc. Getting off was virtually impossible though, I actually had to put a foot on his ample backside to shove myself off and down! And the landing was uncomfortable. But what a star to tolerate my grunting, shuffling and feet-in-odd-places!

[Arabesque]

love GSDs!!

[Laetitia]

lovely doggy pics.
My fat, odiferous Norfolk goes nowhere fast.
Hope your ribs are better, Arabesque. Sounds excrutiating..(sp)
I ask my instuctor to look away when I dismount, I can almost hear her cringeing in unison with nag. L

[ros]

I don't usually post non-horsey posts, but looking at Fred's lurcher pic reminded me of Sonny. He was a lurcher too, very thin-skinned, and he used to sleep in the bed (yes, IN it) across the bottom with his feet sticking up towards the pillows. Sometimes he'd fall off the end, and then he just used to lie there on the floor, all wrapped up in the covers like a mummy, usually snoring, and you'd have to untangle him to get your covers back!

(I suppose you could call it a SORT of dismounting?)

[FRED]

Galadriel the dogs look so cute:)
Iv'e met Jonto's Lizzy and she's ace,
Anyway, I had to smile at bedtime confesions because I got into the dog house big time about my dog.
My fiancee{sadly now ex} was staying at my house because we were going for two hour hack in the morning over on Cannock Chase.
In the dead of night my fiancee woke me up saying " Fred, Fred there is burglar in house,wake up!! he's on the stairs!!"
Anyway, suddenly she screamed "someones in the room!".

My fiancee jumped out of the bed and switched light on to see Sally my dog dissapear under the quilt, she was furious! and said now the bed is full of germs:o had to change all the linen and quilt:o
{miss Sally had never slept in end of bed before'honest';) }
When I stayed at fiancees house we woke up one morning and Sally was sleeping on end of bed:D :D and she never woke us up.

[Laetitia]

Good thing she hadn't met my fat, odiferous Norfolk.He is so disgusting I doubt any germ would deign to go anywhere near him, mud does in great quantities.
Sorry you're no longer affianced Fred.
If this storm doesn't blow itself out by tomorrow, not much chance of getting nag out at all. At least I've got some holiday soon, so will be able to play all day. Roll on. L