TALL HORSE TROUBLES ! ! !

[Louise]

I put a message in Cythia's "half leasing" topic some time back about the 2 pony riders I met when I had fallen off our neighbour's 17.2hh and was trying to remount. I am only 5ft 3 and when I asked for a leg up they were extremely sarcastic. Thanks for the sympathetic replies and advice. But as you can imagine I often have problems getting into the saddle, and although it is always very frustrating, most incidents have been humorous rather than spiteful.


In fact I had a problem the first time the owner said she thought I'd be OK to go out my own instead of just riding around the field. But this first problem was my own fault - all due to VANITY. I rode it straight to my friend Carol's house, wanted to show off on MY (!!!) Big Horse. I got down, tied horse to front gate, walked up the path and knocked on her front door. Big Mistake !!! Always make sure the person you're visiting is at home before dismounting. Her brother Paul answered and said Carol would be home in about an hour, so I said I'd continue my ride and call in on the way back.

I had planned to get back on from their garden wall by the gate. Viewed from the saddle it had looked OK, but when I positioned the horse alongside it now seemed much lower. I stood on it and tried to get my foot in the stirrup. This wall was way too low. I eventually got my foot in the stirrup, hopped and jumped for ages but couldn't pull myself up. So near and yet so far I either needed a push or a higher wall. So I set off down the lane in search of a suitable bank or wall.

There was nothing so I returned to Carol's wall and tried again. Paul then appeared. "You're back quick, " he said . "Carol's not home yet." Then he looked at the horse . "Oh wow . That is really one hell of a big horse . I'm surprised you can even get on it ! "

I thought, it's no good trying to bluff this out, because he's bound to stay and wait until I ride away. I was already red from exertion, but went even redder as I said, "Well actually I can't. Would you mind.........................."

"Should have said sooner. We've got the very thing for that." He went indoors and emerged carrying a small kitchen stepladder. With such a high mounting block I had no trouble getting into the saddle this time.

I discovered Paul was very tactful. When I returned an hour later he had taken the stepladder indoors and hadn't mentioned my difficulty to Carol. I let her have a quick ride up and down the lane (should have asked the owner first though) but did it because she would need a leg up to get on so would not tease me when I needed help

To test out my theory I used their wall again, and this time with Carol pushing me, I successfully (though not elegantly !) reached the lofty saddle.

You know that Paul is very nice. Perhaps I should ride over to Carol's again when she is out so I can get him to help me up ? No I'm NOT SERIOUS, only joking. I also ought to add (before Mike does) that these days it is definitely NOT a good idea for a rider (especially a lone female) to ask complete strangers to help her get on her horse !!!!!! I also read some alarming statistics that the majority of horse riding accidents occur whilst the rider is mounting the horse.

Has anyone else had problems / embarrassing moments when getting on or off a horse.

[Sarah]

hello!

That is a most amusing tale! I reckon this tale is in the running for 'most amusing posting this year' along with the ones by sidesaddle about her horse sleeping with a rug as a pillow and the recent one by Mar (not sure if i got the name right) about the hedgehog.

Good luck with Paul, that really is an original way to meet someone!

bye!

[Brenda]

Oh that is good! <LOL>
I am only 5'2, I can imagine how huge that horse is when your standing beside it. My question is " how do you saddle it??" My Dolly was over 16 hands, I had to trade in my western saddle for an english saddle because I couldn't lift it onto her back! (NOBODY uses english saddles around here - I was strange). But I can relate, I fell off her once away from home- she zigged, I zagged, only my pride was hurt! :) and I had trouble getting back on her. The thought of having to walk her back home, 2 miles on a busy highway (how embarrasing) gave me the boost up! I have seen an extra stirrup that you can carry with you in catologues, have you tried that?? The worst thing is if the horse won't stay still while your climbing up. She would stand like a rock even when total novices were on her.

[cynthia]

hey, louise... my, you do have amusing stories!

i shouldn't speak so soon, but i'm not having too much trouble with my 17hh Raven at all... he's fabulous! we had the most amazing extended trot yesterday (and WOW, does he ever "extend"!). but anyway... aside from the fact that i nearly broke my frozen feet when they hit the ground while dismounting the other day (damn, it's cold - even in an indoor arena), his height hasn't been a problem.

i suppose this is related to the fact that i don't under any circumstances ride on the trails with him (his mom's very protective, and he'd probably jump out of his skin).

as far as getting on and stirrup length and such, why don't you get one of those stirrup lengtheners (for some reason i can't remember what they're actually called) that attach onto the stirrup? i've seen them in catalogs, like Brenda mentioned, and someone else mentioned them in the other thread on my half-leasing... seems like a good idea for you. i myself just use a mounting block (regular size) and lower the stirrup a good amount so i don't have to break my leg reaching it.

ah well, i guess i have no amusing equine misadventure stories to tell... sorry! ;)

-cyn

[Sarah]

I think it is called a Le Gupp or something similar which is pretending to be french for leggup!

[amethyst]

This might be too obvious to suggest, but ...
sometimes it's not possible to manoeuvre a tall horse close enough to a wall or gate to mount from the correct side, but if you and your horse are used to you clambering up on the "wrong" side, this can sometimes get you out of trouble. If you are not used to it, it can take a bit of practice, and some horses get quite edgy at first, but it's useful. Another method is to stand your horse over a cavaletti or jump (this method was convincingly demonstrated during one of our "competition days" where one of our fun events is "horse most suitable for elderly or infirm rider"). The horse needs to be quiet and sensible enough to step or hop its back legs over once you're aboard. I have ridden camels, and they kneel down very considerately - can't see a horse being happy about that though!

[Horselover2]

Louise!! That is one funny tale!! And you certainly told it eloquently...have you ever considered becoming a writer???!!! ROFLMAO!!

[Catherine]

I've found something called the 'Gentleman's Stirrup' wonderful for getting on extra tall horses. It looks like an ordinary stirrup leather and has an ordinary buckle for adjustment to your length, but there is also a sort of hook and eye fitting, with a special leather insert, a bit away from the buckle that undoes to allow an extra few inches drop.

They're called gentleman's stirrups as they were invented for fat old men who fell off when out hunting!

Otherwise the Legup thing is quite clever, and can be kept in your pocket to take out with you hacking. It does only give you a couple of extra inches stirrup length though.

[Reiner]

Yeah, I have troubles too. My dad and I decided to train our drafts for riding - the spooky one's 16.2hh, and mine's 17.2hh. I'm only 5'3", too!! Thank god we're only working on getting on and off, though!! I don't really have to ride - just get on and off, sit, etc. I ran the stirrups ALL the way out, and I still have to find a rock to climb on!!
Good luck!! All I can say is, don't ever fall off in fieldy areas, where you'll have to walk a long ways before finding a natural mounting block!!
Reiner & Jack & Jake

[Karin]

One word for you. HILARIOUS! I burst out laughing reading your post. Karin

[Louise]

Apologies for delay in replying, unable to use my computer for a few days.


Thanks all the kind messages. Encouraging to know I'm not the only one with this problem. A friend has heard of an unorthodox solution. It seems a pretty young lady at a riding school was always teased when she couldn't get on her favourite horse. It was 16.3hh and too tall for her to mount. She solved the problem by buying extremely tight jodhpurs. No chance of even getting her foot into the stirrup but she never had to ask for a leg up. Stable lads and male riders were queuing up to offer assistance !.


I think my friend was only joking, (especially as I have an over-abundance of curves in places that need disguising- not emphasising) and of course that solution could only work in a riding school type environment where are always plenty of people around to help . No good for the lone rider situation !
On a serious note, I have considered the Le Gupp type device, but don't think it would be suitable for me. As Catherine points out, it only gives a couple of extra inches of stirrup length, and I need a lot more than that !!!!

However I was wondering whether to carry an extra proper stirrup iron and leather and temporarily loop/buckle this on to the existing stirrup to provide a lower step. In my case I might have to use both of them(almost like a ladder) because I am sure that if the bottom stirrup was low enough to get my foot in then I'd be too low to get my leg over the saddle. Has anyone tried this ? Of course the horse would have to be totally trustworthy to stand perfectly still while all this was going on, otherwise this could be rather dangerous.

[KT]

I know this is MUCH delayed, but I haven't been able to get online for quite a while, my browser needed to be reinstalled.

But while I am not all that short (5'6"), I have had my share of trouble mounting. In my first huntseat lesson, I was riding a small pony, Lonestar, typical bombproof school horse, probably 10 hh. While, I was used to riding a 15 hh morgan western before this. So, I got my foot in the stirrup, and proceeded to jump up into the saddle.....and right over the other side. (who knew huntseat saddles were so small?) luckily, my instructor was right there and caught me before I actually hit the ground, but I went headfirst into her arms and ended up with my feet sticking straight up and arms flailing. Haven't ridden Lonestar in the 3 years since then! :)

[dreamer]

My horses aren't too terably tall, only 15 hands, but getting on bare back is a pain, so I taught my horse to drop his head and then I lean over his neck and he throws me up onto his back :D :cool: now I don't have to worry about finding a nice hill or stump or asking my fater to give me a boost (He's thrown me over my horse twice! :eek: ) That and I'm a very independent person so it works to my advantage :) And I get to inpress non horsey relitives :D

[Louise]

Hi there. Hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year celebrations. After all the kind replies to my earlier messages thought I should give you an update / progress report. But before I start have realised I never told you the name of my Big Borrowed Beastie.

Well he's about 12 years old and called Baynard. The owner (Caroline) called him that for 2 reasons. Firstly she wanted a French sounding name because he is a Selle Francais which is a LARGE French saddle horse. Secondly she remembers reading a pony story called Four Rode Home about 3 children who take their ponies on a camp and ride holiday accompanied by a cousin who is about 20 who has borrowed a horse called Baynard for the holiday. She tells the children she thinks Baynard is must be quite the tallest horse in England. She split her jods the first time she tried to mount and had to ride in slacks until they were mended. When the children see Baynard they realise she was not exaggerating about his height and throughout the holiday they have to give her leg up whenever she mounts. I wondered whether to ask Caroline if she had ever split her jods getting onto Baynard, but decided against it !!


Right now, back to the update. Out of desperation I tried the two stirrup method of mounting from the ground. But I do NOT RECOMMEND IT , unless the horse is very quiet and already trained for this . This is a DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME FOLKS type of warning. I removed the right stirrup leather and iron and looped /buckled through the left side stirrup to create a lower step. I managed to get my left foot into this quite easily, pulled myself up, but couldn't get my leg over the saddle. I was way too low. So I had to get down and start again. I put my right foot (normally this would be the wrong foot) in the lower stirrup, pulled myself up, clung onto the side of the saddle, put my left foot in the upper stirrup (like climbing a rope ladder) pulled myself up and was now the right height (normal height) to swing my leg over the saddle. But Baynard had not been trained for this. He was not used to the extra stirrup against his side so low down, and was already a bit restless from my initial failed attempts top get on board. By the time I was using the 2 stirrup trick and was hanging onto his side as I was halfway up he was getting really wound up ! Even when I got into the saddle my problems were not over as I had to haul up the stirrup, remove the lower one and its leather and refasten it on the other side of the saddle. All this time Baynard would not stand still. When you've e got both feet out of the stirrups and are leaning over to fasten/adjust stirrups a and a huge horse is swinging around underneath you like a boat in a storm it feels very precarious. I was worried that I was going to fall off and would then have to start all over again.

So if you have to use theses sort of methods to get on a horse, make sure its very well behaved and train it first with someone else holding it still. Also it puts a greater strain/drag on the horses back so should be done by a light weight rider.

[bren]

Hi my horse isnt particularly tall, 16 something but I'm short :( I havent even tried to get in the saddle from the ground yet. The first couple of times I used the trough to give the boost. Then I sent a desperate email to my dad (wonderful man!) who does carpentry and he built me a mounting block for the pasture so I use that now. Since I havent had Marty long I havent rode him anywhere that there isnt a place to climb up but I will be riding him thru the fields probably this week. So i will have to learn how to get on him from the ground , luckily his years of standing still to be harnessed comes in handy since he stands like a rock to get tacked up and for me to scramble on. If anyone wants plans to make a mounting block email me,it cost about $20 to make and should last a few years.

[Laya]

I've also had problems like that, where I can't remount onto my horse. Most of the time, I have someone give me a leg up if I can't reach the stirrups. Now, have you ever tried getting up on a horse bareback??? Jeezoo!!

:)

Laya

[Louise]

Laya; What Me ? Get on bareback ? You have got to be joking !!! I can't get on Baynard when theres a saddle on his back with all those convenient bits of leather and ironmongery dangling from it for me to grab hold of . The only way I might get on bareback was if Baynard could be persuaded to stand patiently alongside a mini trampoline or springboard and I took a run and jump at ………… Or I could climb a tree and get him to stand below it so I could drop down onto his back. Alternatively I could use a variation on this and get him to stand under my bedroom window and lower myself down. It worked in the film Robin Hood - the Mel Brooks comedy version. Maid Marion gets on her tall sidesaddled horse by jumping off the castle walls and landing in the saddle.

Bren: I agree with you, mounting blocks are very useful. I need them (or something similar to stand on) every time I get on when there's nobody to give me a leg up . But I am having problems with mounting blocks because Baynard has started to be unco-operative. He used to stand fairly still by them but he now starts moving away from them. I think he is just having a game with me, knows I can't get on if he moves away from it. Caroline has said Baynard has realised that I'm not as strong as her so is trying it on with me. We are going to have a few retraining sessions with him before this habit gets any worse, because Caroline uses a mounting block where possible. A 17.3 that won't stand by a mounting block is a real nuisance.

Also it can be dangerous because he might pull away from the block just as the rider has a foot in the stirrup. Could be towed off the block, and if you can't get your foot out of the stirrup in time or pull yourself into the saddle your other foot would drop to the ground. And if you can't normally reach stirrup from the ground then you would certainly strain leg muscles, and in the worse case would overbalance and with your foot jammed in the high stirrup be dragged and perhaps kicked by the horse


To end on a lighter note, after my first message Administrator Sarah said needing help to mount was an interesting way to meet someone, and wished me luck with Paul. He is the very nice brother of my friend Carol (yes I know it's confusing, Baynard is owned by adult called Caroline and friend Carol is my age) who discreetly provided me with a stepladder when I couldn't remount Baynard at their house and Carol was out. Well I rode there again over Christmas, and Carol said she'd give me a leg up. Well we tried several times but she is same height as me and could't throw me quite high enough. Once I managed to hang onto the saddle and hook my right foot over but I needed someone to push me up higher. Carol was also hanging onto Baynard because he was now getting very fidgetty so did not have a spare hand to help me. So we gaveup on this idea and aws about to go back to then method we'd used before ( I stand on their rather low garden wall, jam my foot in the stiill very high stirrup and Carol to push from behind as I pull myself up ) when Paul came out. He had seen us struggling so now knew how to give a leg up and being much taller than Carol was able to lift me up high enough so that I easily got into the saddle. But I don't expect a romantic friendship to develop, he's 3 years older than me and has already got a steady girlfriend…………….But, I wonder if he got a younger equally pleasant friend ????