Mounting
We've all seen the movie cowboy who jumps off the hotel balcony onto his horse's back. When I was a child, I thought that was a neat way of mounting a horse. Now that I know better, I wince every time I see it.
When I was a child, all I thought about was the action. Now, I'm concerned for the welfare of the horse. A horse can encounter great trauma without necessarily sustaining permanent damage. If this were not true, horses couldn't well survive living in herds where they encounter biting and kicking from other horses. But why take a chance when you don't have to?
I realize that few people actually jump onto their horses from buildings. But I have seen plenty of people plop down on their horse's back when mounting. Why? It takes little extra effort to sit down lightly.
I always ask riders how they would like someone plopping onto their back if they were on their hands and knees. We could all probably survive the discomfort once in a while. But what would happen if it was done several times a day? Chances are, we would undergo some type of back damage. If you want to have a long, pleasant relationship with your horse, think when you sit. Let your weight down easily as you settle into the saddle.
Many people think mounting blocks are for people who are not flexible enough to mount a horse without one. I would ask everyone to think of what happens when you mount a horse by pulling sideways on the saddle as you heft your weight into one of the stirrups. The horse's spine is pulled sideways.
I don't know how much damage this will cause. There are too many variables: the size and strength of the horse, the size of the rider, how often the horse is mounted in this fashion. But why take chances? Just be a little more cautious and a little more courteous when there are other options available.
When there is a mounting block, use it. There will still be plenty of opportunities to show that you are limber enough not to need it. By using a mounting block, the rider puts much less lateral stress on the horse's spine. The dance partners are gently drawn to each other rather than being thrown into one another.
If no mounting block is available, there are other options. If I am working with a student, I might stand on the off side of the horse and put weight in the off stirrup to counteract the weight being placed in the other stirrup as the rider mounts. More often, I place my hand against the pommel on the near side of the saddle to try to counteract the force of the rider mounting.
If there is nobody to help, look for a slight incline. An old trick used by those riding in the mountains is to place the horse downhill when mounting. This produces the same effect as that obtained by using a mounting block.
There are still other things to consider. A rider who gives a little hop when mounting puts much less stress on the horse's spine than one who pulls himself into the saddle. A rider who stands close to the horse when mounting puts less stress on the spine than one who stands a foot or two away when mounting. Remember the effect of levers you learned in physics class?
Finally, try mounting from the off side every once in a while. This will be good for both you and the horse.
And remember, no matter how you mount, sit down gently.
(Top)
