16' 2 - How do you get on him.

[Shazza]

Help please - I am now enjoying my riding - hacking out on the south downs, but there are lots and lots of gates.

Henners and me are new to all this, so opening gates whilst on his back is a learning curve, also is the getting on him without blocks.

I see all the youngsters leaping on and off their horses, well I am older and heavier and not so fit - are there any aids you can buy, exercises you can do.

I only need a block about 10 inches to be able to get on him. but from the floor I just do not seem to bounce enough to get my leg up

[Silvia]

I know exactly what you mean! Being a disabled rider I never get off on a hack because if I do there's no way I'll get back on. I have had to walk home on a few occasions.
You could try mounting stirrups - they don't work for me, but I know people who won't go anywhere without them.
Fits in standard stirrups, giving you an extra step up. Comes with a riding pouch so you can fold it up and take it with you. English or Western.
English 01-0733 $22.99
Western 01-0734 $22.99
available from www.freedomrider.com

[ANDREA BOYES]

Ive just given up a part loan 16.2 and usd to have to stand on the sink to get on being 5.2 and not of an athletic nature found it really frustrating ,at times to open gates was a matter of leaning a lot and found that I could sometimes use my crop to open and close the them got quite good after a year or so but Im now jumping on and off as Ive now got loan of a 14,2 it great and so is he Im having so much fun the mount that silvia spoke of sound idel good luck (do some stretching before you mount it might help) Andrea;)

[floppy]

leg stretching..
only other thing i can suggest is to drop the stirrup a hole or two and then bring them back up a hole or two when you are mounted.

[ros]

Of course, the good thing about not being able to get on from the ground is that you don't strain the horse's back half so much! I really don't know if I could get on Merly from the ground 'cos I've never tried - he's so blooming round that I know for a fact I wouldn't stand a chance, the saddle would be under his tummy as soon as I put a foot in the stirrup! I do try to avoid getting off on hacks, but if I have to I just look on it as an opportunity to give his back a rest, and I usually find something like a bank or a fence that I can clamber onto to get on again. He's very good about standing still next to strange objects.

[floppy]

or a tree stump :)

are there any hills? you could always stand your horse sideways on a hill and mount him..that way he'll be a few cms smaller :D

[Silvia]

I don't know... Is it just me who can NEVER find a tree stump or bench when I need it? ;)

[Shazza]

thanks all,

I like to idea of stirrup extensions, even though when I have tried to lower the stirrups I still do not have the bounce to get over him. His 16' 2 and a cob so quite round.

I also have found it difficult to find the occassional tree stump, I have used the water trough and nearly fell in. That is the other problem, henry is not that keen on standing very close to things - I must admit I have to move the blocks to him (or the other options, leap and pray), rather than him to the blocks - but we are practising that one.

Thanks again, its just nice to hear that I'm not the only one - and I have been told that its nicer to use blocks rather than mounting from the ground, it would just be nice though, if I needed to that I could.

As to opening gates from his back - I am at present dealing with a rather nasty black and purple bruise from the top of my knee to the under side - we managed to open the gate, but Henry just could not wait and the concrete post and my leg went to war - unfortuantely the concrete post won.

Also don't you think farmers should be maybe a little more considerate for us riders - they seem to find the heaviest and most stiff gates they can find - then adding insult to injury they put chains and lengths of rope over the tops as well.

Regards Sharon

[qwerty]

I have only mounted from the ground once, that was on a medium sized horse (but I am only just 5ft!). I thought to myself...impossible but managed. I had to lower the stirrups about 7 holes, did a few little jumps and the a big one. I used my arms to help heave myself up too! I am not an athletic person in the least!!! (I'll do anything to get out of P.E!!!!;)) One way I have heard of people getting on is to jump as high up as you can and lay flat on the saddle. Once up there you swing your leg over. Try doing exerscises like "half scisors" to improve manoverability in getting in the saddle.

My mum had a really big horse and used to ride bareback sometimes. I don't know how, but she used to be able to jump on the horses back...no problems!!! :p

[Robt]

I think horses should be as big as possible - when you are riding out the higher up you are the better view you get of the coutryside. But even a nonrider like me can appreciate the view created by a bigger horse - especially when my girlfriend is riding them. She used to own a 14.1 pony and could hop on and off real easy. A few months ago she got a 16.3hh TB and she really has to stretch hop lots of times and struggle to pull herself into the saddle. She rides English (close fitting jodhpurs) so the view is kinda interesting for spectators. When she first got the horse she couldn't get without a leg up or mounting block as she's only 5ft 3 tall. Always uses mounting block where possible to avoid straining horses back but like others here wanted to be able to mount up by herself so she wouldn't be grounded anywhere. She practiced every day - leg stretching exercises on the stairs and that sorta thing. After couple of weeks could get her foot into the stirrup but still needed me to give her a push to get up into the saddle - I didn't mind doing this either LOL !! A few weeks later she could get herself all the way up, providing she wasn't tired, her muscles didn't ache and the horse stood perfectly still. So there you are folks, it can be done with practice - but make sure you don't injure the horse, or it moves around and causes an accident. Could always practice getting your foot up onto a stepladder or a high barstool instead.

[Robt]

Sorry,

End of last message should be it can be done providing you are fit and healthy. Not everyone is blessed with good health, strong muscles, etc. Also hope main part of message did not upset anyone, not meant to be serious

[floppy]

hehe well that certainly is a different view :D


As for dropping stirrups..its only really a recommendation if you drop them by one or two holes and can get up...7 is a bit too much and you would certainly be better off with a mounting block or a leg up!

shazza- isnt there anyone else you could go out with that has a smaller horse and can already perform the art of opening and closing gates?:D it would save you a whole lot of trouble!
else is there a a gate at the yard or into the riding arena or something where you can practised opening and closing on horseback...so you dont get stranded without being able to hop back on board your horse in the middle of no where ?
maybe someone coudl give you some tips and you make a day of opening and closing gates? i have never tried it myself because there are NO gates (YAY!) where i ride! and i have to dismount rarely but then i only ride a lickle horse!

[katyptaty]

Hi

Rob - if you look at some of the messages, one thread in particular re girls' underwear - thong or granny hugging pants, this is the question - you will realise that no one will be offended in the slightest!

good to hear that mounting from the ground can be achieved.

Shazza - my horse is only 15.3 with me at 5'7'' and i am still unable - or should i say not willing - to get on from the ground on hacks. i actually moved house once as kent had too many gates and i had nightmares getting back on. once the saddle slipped and he did a bucking bronco.... thankfully managed to stop.

also, to avoid losing knee caps, i found that again, it was the voice that helped him go through slowly. maybe practice going through tight spaces in a school or field - ones that will fall if touched so no kneecapping!

after much training/leg yielding practice - as well as using the voice - he has become fantastic - Champion Gate Opener!

If i do have to get off though - i also find there is never any bank to get on from. I now use the gates to get on from... climb up a few bars with my bum on the top.

gone are the days for most of us, when we can leap on with grace without making the horse keel over!! - or die of boredom whilst we hang on the side willing our muscles to start working and get us to the top!

[Bebe]

Ditches are great tools for re-mounting after getting off to open gates. You don't have to worry about standing the horse next to anything. Unfortunately, there aren't that many in convenient places.

Bebe is 15.3hh, some days I can get on without a mounting block no problem, others I have no chance. I lower my stirrups quite a lot but don't pull the buckle up to the top. The tension from mounting keeps the buckle fastened and then once I'm on I just have to run the buckle back to the top of the leathers and fasten it back up to my usual length.

I also found it helpful to spend a few clicker training sessions teaching BB to stand next to low walls, tree stumps, gates, etc. She stands nicely now but has learnt that if she swings her bum sideways I can't get on. That's our next project.

And I don't think there's anything wrong with using a mounting block most of the time. I would much prefer to and usually cart an old milk crate up to the field with me.

Amanda

[Robt]

Thanx Floppy & Katyptaty for messages. I'll look for that thong message, sounds interesting. I'm guessing it's a discusion about VPL showing through jodhpurs. Remember being with my girlfriend and her female horsey friends - heard them discussing outlines, got interested as thought it was about underwear. Turned out to be something about the horses movements in dressage. As it seems OK to talk about it, first time I helped girlfriend onto her 16.3 was really funny and perhaps embarassing . Just me and her with the horse, she couldn't get up, nothing to stand on, and I didn't know how to do the leg up thing. I said if she got her foot in the stirrup I'd push her up. She couldn't get foot up that high (nice view though as she tried) and I don't know why she didn't drop the stirrup down a bit, I didn't know about that trick then. She said if I knelt down on one knee (like proposing marriage) she could use my leg as a step. Don't know what was most scarey, being near horses hooves or the marriage implications, but did it. She placed a muddy boot (hope it was mud but they were my oldest jeans anyway) on my leg, stepped up and got other foot into the high stirrup. I felt her push off from my leg but she didn't go up . I'm stuck, she said . If Iwas on the ground I'd do a few hops and jumps to spring up but I might hurt your leg. Quick, give us a push before the horse moves. I didn't need asking twice.

Now I need some advice about mounting block construction. She's using an old kitchen chair stored in the tackroom to stand on, but I want something permanent and solid to stay outside. I've seen them built from brick, building blocks but know much about that. Thinking of a wooden one with 2 or 3 steps, floor joist timber for the framework and floorboards for the steps. If I treated it with preservative (not creosote because could be poisionous to horse if it licks it) would that be OK ? has anyone made one like this ?

[Pam2]

Hi, Has anyone checked to see you mount lately? Could be that you are not doing it in the easiest way.

Once foot in stirrup, hold mane with left hand and then put right hand over far side of saddle - not on cantle or you will pull saddle over and hurt horses back.
Then hop round till you are facing the front.
Now do a few big big hops and mount.

Lots of people try to mount by still facing the tail!

Could it be that this is one of your problems?
Also the suggestion about getting the horse lower than you would be a good one - sometimes only a couple of inches is helpful.

Let us know how you get on!
Pam

[floppy]

i don't think that holdin gonto the far side of the saddle helps if these people are really small compared to their horses...i for certain am not small but would be able to hold onto th efar side of the saddle mounting my friends horse..but i do do that sometimes when i rid emy share horse or when i ride icelandics :)

[Bebe]

Rob,

One of the mounting blocks I use is a permanent one in our summer paddock. It's basically made out of breeze blocks cemented together with a paving slab laid on the top (isn't secured, just placed but has never moved). It's high enough so that I can just swing a leg over Bebe's back without even having to put a foot in the stirrups.

Other ones I've used have been made out of wood, more or less in the same way you describe. Most were indoors so hadn't been treated. I would imagine that as long as you had somewhere out of the horses reach to store it, treated wood would be fine. Failing that, look for wood preservatives that state they are non-toxic, livery yards or farmers should be able to give you ideas on which to use.

Amanda

[katyptaty]

also at our stables there is rather a nifty little portable design that is 3 milk crates attached to make a step (i.e. two on the bottom and one on the top) with a piece of wood on the top to make it flat. it is very sturdy and can be moved anywhere. don't know how they were attached together though. you may have to be inventive.

i like the picture of you on your hands and knees (any man at my foot is a good thing).... i can imagine the horror of my boyfriend if he had to do that for me - then again, that's probably cos a/ i would crush him and b/ the sight of my backside disappearing up the side of the horse wouldn't have the same attraction as you seem to have with your tight-jodphur-clad girlfriend!!!

The link to the 'New Male Rider Concerned About Manhood' certainly had everyone going, with a total of about 140 replies!! i'm sure you hear most of the discussions from your girlfriend and her horsey mates. my boyfriend certainly has! knows the lot now!

Hopefully, if you start riding, you will know what underwear to read from the male feedback in the thread!


http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=5996&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

[Shazza]

You lot are all quite wicked.

I will try the gate opening at the yard, we have several gates leading to jumping paddock and sand school - so will have a go, am also making henry stand before, during and after the gate is opened by a friend - hopefully eventually he will learn to take it nice and slow.

Katyptaty - will try the gate option - should be interesting - when you hear in the news Female Rider found suspended from side of horse while still attached to top of gate - you will know who it is.

Robt - luckily my brother is a welder and has made me a brilliant mounting block - the other options is these rather posh tack boxes - they make ideal blocks.

Pam2 - just read your reply and you could be right - tomorrow I will have another go, and follow your instructions - I'm sure I start out right, but thinking about it, I'm not sure if I do face front or just face him ( when your panting and heaving you sometimes forget). Also I know I put one hand on his mane and the other on the front of the saddle, so will try on the other side. But it still seems that if I cannot jump/bounce I will not do it - like a said will try anything once.

I have only owned Henry since Christmas and must say that this forum is brilliant - anything I am not sure of - or am having problems with - you lot are brilliant - thanks thanks and thanks again.

Shazza ( and I'm sure Henry's back will be saying thank you aswell).

[Bebe]

On the topic of hanging off gates, I've been there done that. I used to exercise a rather scatty (actually she's completely neurotic) part arab mare. She has a thing about gates, she'll let you open them from her back but she tries to dive through the minute there's even an inch gap of opening. One time we were coming out of the paddock (just setting off) and I had to open the metal gate. As I swung it open she charged through and I got my stirrup leather caught on it. The mare charged forwards and I held onto the reins whilst still being hung on the gate. Thankfully stirrup leather came off the bar of the saddle and I landed on the concrete floor - flat on my back. Finally let go of reins after horse nearly dislocated my shoulder. She ran off them came back and stood over at me, sure she wondered why I was down there and not on her back. Luckily I wasn't hurt, had a body protector and helmet on.

So, be careful and drop your stirrups if you're at all worried about getting caught up. It's easier to get your leg out of the way.

I've also managed to ride into a tree on this horse!

Amanda

[Robt]

Thanx for the advice and also to katyptaty for the link to that thread. Lots to read and very interesting

[MadWoman]

If you think you might be in a situation where you have to remount from the ground, then put a hunting breastplate on the horse. By reaching over the withers and holding onto that with your left hand instead of the mane, it gives you loads more leverage. I couldn't get onto my 17hh from the ground without one!

[TD]

Hi every1, i used to ride and compete a 18.2hh 5yr old gelding. i broke him in myself and luckily he was very well behaved and didnt attempt to get me off once otherwise it would have been a long way to fall!!!! :D :D

when ever we used to have to open gates it would take me ages because i couldnt reach them so i had to make him stand really close to it and then he would refuse to go near it or i would grab the gate nad then he would walk off or start stepping backwards nearly ripping my arm off, but i couldnt get off because theres never anything around to help me get back on!!!

but there was one good thing- he could just step over the jumps and wouldnt struggle over the big ones like the smaller ones did. he could jump anything with ease!

it would take me about 10mins just to get him in and out of his stable because he thought he would hit he's head so he used to take ages to get him self prepared etc.
:p :p

Tina :D

[London Rider]

Blimey TD !!! !8.2hh ??? That's huge. How d'you get on him ??? I'd need to get that young Robt to make me an extra-high mounting block.

Seriously though, do you need long legs to ride an 18.2. I'm sure I would confuse a horse that big, as my legs and feet would be in the wrong place to give the corect aids - like barely below the saddle flaps !!!!

Must be a longer pre-ride prepartion time - that's a lot of muddy horse to groom when you get him in from the field, and quite a stretch for tacking up.

And you say you jumped him as well ? I know a lot of folk ride heavy / draft horses these days, but 18.2hh must be pretty near a record height for a showjumper. Wonder if anyone else here does showjumping or eventing on horses this size ?

[TD]

the only way i could get on him is by using the stone mountain blocks at the yard. they were very tall but the hardest part was trying to make him stand still or to stop him swinging his hind quarters out so i couldnt reach the stirrup.

the worst part was trying to find a horse box that he would fit in because if it didnt look big enough he would refuse to go in it! :p :p

Im 5ft9 so i suppose ive got fairly long legs but he was used to me riding him so he knew what i was asking of him and he seemed to go well for other riderd too :cool:

it would take me ages to groom him because he would make sure in winter he came in with as much mud on him as possible so it would take me ages to groom etc. i used to have to stand on a big block or bucket to groom he top of him. now and again before a show when he used to have to be groomed properly i used to hold him and a friend would sit on him to groom the top- it was gr8 fun!! and he enjoyed :D :D

alot of horses at the shows were usually between 15.3hh-17.2hh but there were always a few what were around 18hh who did pretty well.

this horse was shire x tb so he had the height and power of a shire and the speed of a tb!! :)

there is a big grey thats a international showjumpers who competes for a foreign country, i think he's about 17.2/3 and he's not fast againest the clock but is always clear!

I dont think i'll ever have a horse that size again because its too much hazzle all the grooming, special equipment etc. he was hard work to look after etc! but he was a good horse :D

[London Rider]

Hi TD,

Thanks for the reply & info.

I did read about a shire (not a shire x) that had proved to be a good showjumper, (owners discovered this when he kept jumping out of the field) but in my ignorance thought this must be very rare. Thanks for putting me right on this.

Think I'll stay with riding "standard sized" horses though. Not so far to fall !!!

[London Rider]

I know we've had lots of comments here, and covered all solutions but this idea is just so radically unusual that I had to add it to the rest.

Just found message on another horse site from a 5ft 2 rider who couldn't mount her 16.3hh TB from ground. She could get her foot in the high stirrup by holding the stirrup in her left hand and pulling her foot up higher with the right hand . (She did warn that this could be dangerous if horse didn't stand still). But she couldn't pull herself up into the saddle.

Her previous horse was 15hh, she could get on that without a leg up / mounting block when necessary, and wanted to be equally independent with her new horse.

But it was easier when she bought new tighter fitting jodhpurs.

This sounds completely contradictory, surely they would restrict her movement.

But she said her old jods were well worn and baggy.

The new ones howeverwere made of a strong tight fitting but very stretchy fabric. Providing she could get her foot into the stirrup, the stretchy fabric gave her extra bounce as she hopped, just like "wearing a trampoline", and usually was just enough to launch herself off the ground up into the saddle.

[floppy]

hehe..jodhpurs giving on extra bounce to mount a horse!?

wel..jodphurs are suppose to fit closely to the skin...but there is fitting close to the skin that you by no means whatsoever can get them off.....let alone on...
and then there are the jodhpurs that are really baggy..which in most cases you tend to see small skinny young kids wear

[TD]

Hi again London Rider, my friend owns a cyldsdale (sp??) who keeps jumping out of her field, the post and rail is about 4ft.

so because the girl is scared of jumping she asked me to jump her and we managed to clear 3ft10 but she couldnt go any higher because she was too clumsey :D :p

i have also competed a 16hh heavyweight cob for a women. when i first started riding him he was very overweight, unfit and couldnt jump above 2ft. i worked really hard with him and managed to get him to jump 4ft8 which proved everyone at the hole yard he was stabled at wrong because they all thought he was a slow fat plodder but he managed to always be in the rosettes. no one thought he could jump!! :p :p

he also proved that he wasnt a plodder by bolting off with me plenty of times abnd tanking me round the manage when he was in one of his mood. he had lots of stength and knew just how to use it againest you to be able to do what he wants. :p :cool:

he was good fun and i enjoyed seeing him come on and prove himself!!

Tina

[Lightfoot]

Browsing through the archives I found a thread called Tall Horse Troubles. The first message is very amusing so I have copied it here. If you want to read the rest the thread start is 3 December 1999. Copy starts here;


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.

[ros]

Ho yes! But chiefly because my most recent mounts have been so b---- fat that the saddle slips under their tummies. (I'm too soft to girth them up tight enough to get on.)

Once upon a time I used to be able to vault on, but that was about 20 years ago when I was 5'10'' and my mare was 14.3hh (I'm still 5'10'' but my horses are 16.3hh and 16.1hh and I'm not even going to bother trying - unless, of course, I can find a handsome young man to give me a push...)

[TD]

A handsome young man would work well for me too!!

[floppy]

work well for me too but i think i would have to change the hros ei ride to a bigger one...and then recosnider my dreams of owning an icelandic and buy a big 18hh horse!:D
I dont think any young handssome man would help me in mounting a 14.2hh haflinger with me being 5'7 and able to volt up into the saddle anyway :(

[Weekender]

A new horse arrived at our riding school recently and were all puzzled his name, Buster. Seemed more appropriate for a fiesty pony or a chunky cob, rather than this elegant 17.2hh TB, but school reluctant to change name as its supposed to be unlucky.

But after last weekend, we believe it may have been an abbreviation for something like Jodzbuster.

An athletic young lady was endeavouring to mount unaided, managed to get her foot in the high stirrup, but on the third hop her jodhpurs split.

[TD]

Ohhhh! How embarrasing!

[¤KIWI¤]

You would get on him, just like you would a 14.3hh horse. I dont believe in using boxes unless absolutely necassary. If the horse is too big for you to get on without help, then maybe he isnt the best horse for you. You never know what kind of situation you might get in one day, where you will have to mount your horse from the ground. Practice leg stretching, and maybe lower your stirrup at first, but you **should** beable to get on your horse from the ground, if not, then maybe you should get a shorter horse!

[Moonlightrider]

I'm starting to use a mountin block quite a lot. I never used to, but I'm riding a four-year-old right now, and he won't stand still very well. My instructor won't hold him (it's one of those things you have to learn on your own... *sighs* it would be so much easier) so I can hop on much faster with help. Of course, it takes a few tries to get the block near him...

Also, he had slightly off withers. It doesn't hurt him, but we have to use high-withered saddles and those slip pretty easily...

[Katie_85]

I disagree Kiwi. Using a mounting block saves much on the saddle, not to mention the poor creature's back! There is much sideways pull when a rider mounts un-aided. If we can make life easier on the horse (and on ourselves) then why not?:)

[TD]

I agree with Katie_85. using a mountain block does prevent injury on the horses back. i know alot of riders which just scramble up from the ground and many of their horses have had to have their backs put back in!

I dont think its very nice for the horse pulling on its back like that, its much easier & kinder to just slip your leg over or put your foot in the stirrup when your up a bit higher if you have to get on a big horse.

[Desiree]

Hi Shazza,

I can certainly sympathise with you, I'm 5'3" and one of our boys is 17.2... and of course he's the flighty one who needs lots of saddle work, and my partner doesn't ride...

After one instance of him spooking, bolting, throwing me off and being caught again, I had the dilema of getting back on! My hip damn near seized up and he was all stirred up and not standing still, and of course anything that I could stand on to get back up was absolutely terrifying to the poor bloke (he was a late 2yo at that point and he is a little light on in the brain department although he is very sweet).

This certainly isn't technically correct, and it looks really awkward but it's usable in a pinch...

I don't know what gear you use, but try attatching a short length of lead rope something similar you can wrap around your hand, to the off side breast plate connector and as you 'bounce' up from the ground, pull toward the rear of the horse and also downward as you get higher, (toward the ground on the off side) on the rope (doesn't distort the saddle or put undue pressure on them).

It seems to give you balance when you push forward in the stirrup, which happens naturally with big horses (and shorties like us!). Rather than pushing and pulling from uneven points (girth and cantle), if your action is concentrated between the wither and the girth, it is easier to get momentum.

I found this helps, although I only use it when I really have to.

Good luck

[London Rider]

Hello Desiree,

Looks like "Murphy's Law" (sometimes called "Sod's Law") has struck again. Its always the tallest horses that won't stand still to be mounted, especially when the rider is not over endowed in the height department. I can sympathise as am about the same height as you.

I assume from your location that you're riding with a Australian or western style of saddle. Excuse my ignorance, I don't know anything about these.

Would these sort of ideas (presumably modified to suit the different tack) work with an English saddle ? Obviously this would only be used as a last resort - finding a mounting block or getting a leg up would be preferable for both horse and rider.

[Desiree]

I ride in a Wintec500 All Purpose saddle, which I assume are like saddles used over there...

(have a look at their website for a detailed look - www.wintec.net.au/index.html . Follow the link on the left to 'Wintec Saddles', then 'Wintec 500 AP under 'All Purpose saddles' from the menu on the right)

In fact the only person I know with a Western style saddle is my friend from back home... everyone else rides in a stock saddle, or more frequently, English saddles of different varieties...

As far as I'm aware, all saddles have breast plate connectors ( the D-rings under the stirrup strap flaps) to which any lead rope clip can be attached...

[Dice]

I've just had my first proper lesson last Monday on 'Bridie' who I've been on before on a couple of hacks prior to booking lessons. I knew she was a big horse, but after the lesson I discovered that she is 17'2! I would wonder what all the fuss is about, but then I'd have to take into account that I'm over 6ft'1 so I have a slight advantage over most people here! :D

Bridie is the biggest horse they've got at the stables and about the only one they initially thought would suit my size. But she's as stubborn as a mule and has one hell of a bouncy trot (so they tell me) compared to the others - some would say this probably wasn't the best horse to start learning with, but hey! what do I know! :D

Anyway, they're going to try a different, slightly smaller horse with me next week which apparently has a much smoother ride. It's a shame really as I got quite attached and thought that myself and Bridie had a lot in common. I'm sure we'd have gotten on great (eventually! :p )

[Dice]

Well finally got to ride Mede today (well yesterday now I s'pose). I'm suprised as to how different she is to Bridie in the way she walks - definetly a smoother ride. Apparently I came on leaps and bounds from last week :) , this of course I put down to a change of horse.

Mede is 16 something tall and noticeably smaller than Bridie both in mounting and when riding. The dismount was very easy this time around - almost seemed too close to the ground, but still I s'pose not every horse needs to be of Godzilla dimensions. :)

[Lightfoot]

Dice,

16hh+ seeems almost too near the ground ?? Must be great to be 6ft tall. LOL !! Mede would be a struggle, probably need a leg up or mounting block . But as for Bridie - I'd be hiring one of those crane trucks to get me up there, and a parachute to dismount.

[lamprellsarah]

that reminds me i went to try out a horse which was 17.1 hh and i got on from the floor i am shocked i managed it i am 5 ft 8 but still!!! mines 16hh which is still a stretch but i do like big horses, 15.2 my favourite height just nice :D
a hack on a 16.3 was murder, i dropped my whip, got off, tried to get back on he wouldn't let me easily he backed up walked forwards threw his head arounds turned in circles, i had to let the reins go pretty lose as i couldn't do everything at once!!!!

[Dice]

The first time I mounted Bridie I did it without a mounting block no bother (and LOL in jeans! :D and no, they didn't split! :p ). I've used a mounting block the other times, no doubt to keep the strain to a minimum for the horses as it didn't bother me.

Lightfoot - I s'pose you do get a great view from up there! :D

Lamprellsarah - Bridie was a bit like that too, but then I had help with controlling her whilst I mounted!

[Dice]

In my lesson that I had yesterday (well Monday anyway), I was told the sad news that Bridie had to be put down as she had a serious problem with her foot :( .

[HoRsE ChIcK]

umm im not sure bout u but i would much rather have the problem of having truoble of gettin on him instead of coming off!!!!:Pjus lenthen your stirrups to get on him.we have a 17 hh thoroughbred and i am the only one at my barn hu can even get on her with out lengthenin the stirrups.just put ** stirrups down a couple of holes and make sure ** girth is tight and it will become alot easier.

good luck and with practice you will be able to open the gates without even getting off.i know im still tryin 2 get there though:P

~Holly~

[qwerty]

So sorry to here about Bridie :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

[Elfin]

What a sad loss:(

[Lightfoot]

Horsechick,

You must be a very tall person !!!

[lamprellsarah]

i am only 5ft 8 and i can get on a 17HH horse with out lengthening the stirrups, but i did have problems keeping the reins short so he didn't walk off while doing this!!!

[Elfin]

lamprellsarah, I am 5ft 6-7 (cant quite remember!) and I also can get on a 17hh without shortening the stirrups, I found that out the other Saturday! I used to have trouble getting on a wee 15.2hh, but I was like 'OMG!! arghhhh I actually got on this horse! The other Saturday. I was rather pleased!:D :D Grinning like that I think!

[lamprellsarah]

yeah, i remember my first lesson, and i had to mount a 16.1hh from the ground and i was like oh my god, i will never get on!!!
well it wasn't as bad as i thought but i was a bit slow, poor horse!!

[Lightfoot]

Lamprellsarah & Elfin,

"only" 5ft 8 or 5ft 6 ? Some folk would consider that to be tall. There's a girl at college who has owned a 16.3 for over 2 years and still she can't mount with stirrups at her correct riding length. Has to drop the stirrup about 4 holes and its still not easy for her, but if they were any lower would not be able to get her leg over the saddle. However, she is onbly 5ft 2 so .........

[Elfin]

Ooooops sorry!

[lamprellsarah]

yeah sorry i don't see myself as that tall because most of my friends are taller, i don't think i could get on anything 18hhs or more from the ground 17.2 is my most at the mo!!!

[Elfin]

lamprellsarah, thats exactly the same as me. I don't see myself as tall because most of my friends are of the same height or taller!

Sorry for offending any of you.

[Lightfoot]

Elfin, don't worry. Am sure nobody was offended. Have you seen message from London Rider over on the general board about "Girl Mounties". Looks like even "professional riders" have problems

[Elfin]

Oooo I'll take a peek!

[Paula2]

How do I get on a 16.2hh ?? Well that's easy.

I just cram my butt into those white joddies that my dear old Mum told me I mustn't wear any more when I was 14 'cos they were too tight. That was 10 years ago, so its a bit difficult to zip 'em up.

Then I just leads into the middle of the yard and then stand alonside this tall horse, smiling sweetly doing my "Damsel In Distress" bit.

****************************

Errrm. I'm still not in thr saddle yet, and this has worked for much bigger horses than this 16.2. I've been stood here for ages, and my face aches from all this false smiling.

Oh Drat. Just remembered. There's no blokes at this yard. Oh well, back to plan B and head for the mounting block. Hope I don't split these jodhpurs !!!! LOL !!!!