Embarrassing- can’t mount in my dressage saddle

[theresak]

@Alterration

Where do we put our hands to do the latter? I’m trying to picture it but I feel like I’d be rocking back into space and tangling myself in my reins ROFL So clearly I’m missing something.

Hah, yes it’d be risky and I’d maybe ask a bouncy young person to do it a few times on your horse first. I’d step in the left stirrup and plant the right cheek in the saddle and then swing the leg over the neck and just have the left hand holding the reins. Going over the neck with the right leg would allow you to use your right hand to help it along. And the same for dismounting. But you’d want to make sure the horses will tolerate it and stand still.

[candyappy]

@Arlomine

Not a big fan of this video. My main problem is putting the right hand on the cantle of the saddle. This causes most people to pull the saddle towards them as they mount.

You may not be a fan but he is absolutely correct and I just learned I have been doing a few of the things he mentioned because of where I stand to mount. Thanks for posting this.

[atlatl]

@Alterration

@atlatl

Just fyi, this was the first sign that I needed a hip replacement, the inability to throw my leg over the saddle while mounting. Dismounting was worse.

On the up side, I was riding again 6 weeks post op and better than ever.

I’m in this potential cycle. My left hip has developed some impingement again, and I’m sure I’m weak from the surgery and recovery. I have some arthritis and deterioration but I think mostly everything is weak and tight from the recovery, even though I did all the recommended PT, and I’m doing pilates.

It may just be the defective hips, but I also have a theory that I’m doing it “wrong” too.

And it was the left hip I had replaced…

Good Luck!

[LawsofMurph]

Me every time my saddle gets flocked and the cantle is0.02 inches higher than it used to be!

My knees are too broken to do the hops anymore, so I might with momentum a pendulum.
Left hand - Neck
Right hand - pommel (sometimes just held in the air for balance purposes)
4 step mounting block
Left foot in stirrup
Then I pull my right leg back and swing swing it over as I step into my left foot. Then I isolate my left thigh to stand and bring leg all the way over to sit. I do not pick up my stirrup until I am sat down.

Sort of like how people swing onto horses bareback from the ground, but a little less dramatic. I also do the same in reverse with both stirrups dropped. It’s been saving my knees and feels like it’s graceful. Even though there are times with the awkward sit and “oof” this works for me and my tight hips/busted knees.

And, you know, for the funnies…

[MsM]

The revelation for me was pushing the left hand further up the neck, leaning way forward, and keeping the knee very bent.

I suspect you will need to experiment a bit to find what works for you.

[Alterration]

Today I tried the lean wayyyyyy on his neck and scootch my leg behind me method. Like literally laying on my belly.

It worked, but it was extremely inelegant (thankfully the guy I was riding today is a saint). But I was on! And I didn’t have to adjust my stirrups!

I think this is just going to be a terrible WIP until I get stronger. Then maybe I can look like I know what I’m doing again LOL

[Arlomine]

I was not a fan of the DRESSAGE mounting video. I posted the guy as a better alternative

[MissusS]

I was the one who posted the Dressage video and I agree with you about the right hand on the cantle not being to my preference either but I did want to share in case any of it was helpful for OP
I’m glad you posted another video with an alternative so that many ways can be shared and hopefully help.

[hoopoe]

just a thought, might this suggest your leathers are a hole too long? Something to consider with your trainer

[Alterration]

@hoopoe

just a thought, might this suggest your leathers are a hole too long? Something to consider with your trainer

Appreciate it. They aren’t, they are still pretty short by dressage standards and just long enough for me to get my knee behind the moderate block that the Passier GG has.

I DO want to experiment with a shorter but bigger angled block - despite the block being skinny it is long and rather straight. Same thing with the flap. I’ve got a very long thigh and I think that’s just forcing me open a bit more than I’m 100% ready for at this juncture and with these injuries. When I do the lift up/kick out exercises my legs become like 4" longer still.

I’m just so tight when I first get into the tack even when I stretch beforehand. Baby steps!

[hoopoe]

I always hated the blocks and the saddle I had came with removable ones. They were never used.

[Alterration]

@hoopoe

I always hated the blocks and the saddle I had came with removable ones. They were never used.

I grew up in the pancake era of hunt seat saddles so I feel you. I used to take them out of all of my hunter saddles as well. Unfortunately these Passier’s seem to fit my weird-backed horses so well so I don’t want to mess with that until I have to. And I don’t want to spend a gazillion dollars on saddles when I know I will eventually maybe have functional hips and horses with better back muscles.

[hoopoe]

same here on the hunt saddles, knee rolls out, thanks .

good luck on getting all your hips taken care of. Till then dont worry about how things look to others and just do you.

[Willesdon]

I even found my 8th edition Pony Club “Manual of Horsemanship” which is normally a model of concise information. Thus:

Check girth etc. Left shoulder to horses shoulder. Reins short etc. Place left hand in front of withers. Right hand turns stirrup clockwise “when guiding the foot”. Pivot body round to face the horse. Place the right hand either on the far side of the saddle at the waist or on the front arch and “spring lightly up, straightening both knees”. Swing the right leg over… and at the same time position the right hand on the front arch. Allow the seat to sink gently without a bump.

This brings up several things.

1. I can dimly begin to see why ballet dancing has its own sign language to describe precise movements.
2. I’ve been a cantle grabber all my life, holding the far side.
3. The Pony Club used to age out at 18 years old and their young membership was therefore able to “spring lightly up”.
4. More aged and worn-out people mount as best they are able, preferably from a tall mounting block or on to a short horse.

[blue_heron]

Was going to say. I practically vault off my horses in my dressage saddle. I’ve gotten broken bones from the half on-half off unbalanced moment. I want to spend very very very limited time hanging off the side of my horse.

[Alterration]

@Willesdon

This brings up several things.

1. I can dimly begin to see why ballet dancing has its own sign language to describe precise movements.
2. I’ve been a cantle grabber all my life, holding the far side.
3. The Pony Club used to age out at 18 years old and their young membership was therefore able to “spring lightly up”.
4. More aged and worn-out people mount as best they are able, preferably from a tall mounting block or on to a short horse.

I think someone needs to teach a set of online courses, led by people with NOT light springy flexible bodies with totally average horses, with all the different workarounds that we may need to get into the tack, to ride, etc. I think a lot of instructors can’t really appreciate how hard it can be, and a lot of us need to see people who are “like us” successfully doing the things.

Yesterday after I successfully (but not gracefully) made it into the tack, my horse decided that he no longer had a forward button since my hips were still pretty tight and my legs sticking out to the side like tent poles. I’m wiggling and kicking and he’s just standing there like “hey, you got any treats?”. Had to call for a whip (which I didn’t happen to have, since I was so focused on mounting) which he then responded to promptly with a roll of his eyes.

When I was younger, even 10 years ago, I didn’t need to carry one at all times. Now apparently my legs might decide that they are completely ineffective and a former school horse might decide that he thinks that’s kind of funny. I taught my green bean to respond when I think forward, so I was fully unprepared for such difficulties LOL Lesson learned, always bring the whip.

[lenapesadie]

The whip can also be useful as a tap tap on the off side hip to bring the hindquarters nice and close to the block. Just don’t be like me and accidentally bean your horse with said whip as you scramble into the tack. 0 stars for that situation.

[Alterration]

@lenapesadie

The whip can also be useful as a tap tap on the off side hip to bring the hindquarters nice and close to the block. Just don’t be like me and accidentally bean your horse with said whip as you scramble into the tack. 0 stars for that situation.

That’s why I didn’t bring one - I was afraid of exactly that! And then I found that statue mode had been engaged and I couldn’t get anywhere. I was laughing so hard at the degree of “nope” he was expressing. It wasn’t rude or dangerous, we just were going to stand there all day! I think he would have been perfectly content to do so.

I’ve ridden this horse in a hunt seat saddle with shorter legs, which he responds nicely to, I just think he was like “can’t feel your legs, hips are saying no, so we aren’t going anywhere!”.

[Jealoushe]

Is it a flexibility issue? Yoga??

[Alterration]

I do yoga and pilates. It’s more strength than flexibility. From my surgeries and the injuries before the surgeries I have a tough time lifting my leg out to the side. My inner thighs don’t even get a stretch, it’s the outer hip that is weak. I’m working on it, but in the meantime, it would be nice to not have to futz so much.

I also think that part of it is that all the tendons etc. shortened both pre-and-post surgery. I had a lot of bone removed, and then I was essentially either in bed or on crutches or healing for more than 6 months last year. Then I fell and cracked my sacroiliac which took me out for another month.

I should forgive my body, but I’m impatient with myself. I’m so patient with the horses, but having trouble figuring out where I’m failing and where I’m just “not there yet”.