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!

I just sort of dangled there for a while, head-down in the manner of some enormous, badly coordinated bat. 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!"

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!

I just sort of dangled there for a while, head-down in the manner of some enormous, badly coordinated bat. 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 . 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 ). Unfortunatley my western dismount first time was just as ungainly, I caught my top on the horn Good job there ws only Katie me and her instructor around 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

[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.
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

[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!

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.

[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!

[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
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