i tell myself it’s good stretching for them to curl around. I alternate sides too. And i might be like you…not so sure i could reach her head without a tilt.
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I tried to emulate this yesterday when I dismounted and wasn’t able to figure out how to make it work. How do you end up in front of the saddle flap? Do you just kind of shimmy over? When you land, are you facing the horse or facing the rear? I normally drop both stirrups and kind of launch myself off so I stay clear of the saddle, but I still worry about scratching it with a pants button/belt buckle.
I’m recovering from a rotator cuff injury to my right shoulder. It makes dismounting surprisingly difficult when you can’t bear weight on that arm–especially out of a dressage saddle! I have to lean right forward and swing over and fling myself out of the way, so I don’t catch the arm on the way down. Fortunately, there is usually someone around to hold my horse while I do this, and I haven’t ended up on my rear end yet, but I can see it happening.
Poor horse just rolls his eyes and sighs, again.
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Well…I guess I start out with the standard vault of the right leg, but as I do it, I push a little to the shoulder, so I’m sliding down with the belt buckle area just in front of the flap. I land facing the horse, with no impact.
When my knee was super bad, I would lean forward, wrap my arms around the horses neck, and slip off, still hanging on his neck, touching down on one leg, facing the chest. This was with my own personal horse who was obviously a gem.
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UPDATE: I’m happy to report that slowly things are getting better. Xrays of my horse’s neck were completely normal. He has Grade 2 ulcers which are being treated. Ground work each day has made him easier to mount. I do not get on unless he stands still. Some days it takes about 5 minutes. I wait until he gets bored. As for the dismount, yesterday was my first time back on as my trainer has been riding him. I waited until he was standing very still then I did a few fake dismount movements. When he continued to stand I kept my left toe in the stirrup as I swung my right leg over and then took the toe out and slid down. He backed up about two steps but nothing like a month ago. He then got a treat. This is a work in progress but we are on the right track. Thank you again to all who responded. You really gave me some confidence to keep trying.
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My boarder’s horse will knicker to her when she mounts for her mounting cookie.
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I haven’t read all the comments, but you fix this easily with a cookie or a bucket of grain.
If the horse is really naughty you put them in a corner and have a ground person feed them…then gradually wean off to the rider.
It’s a lusitano right? He should be super food motivated! Need positive to override the negative.
Interestingly, most the really bad bolts from the block amd mounting block issues I’ve seen have always been geldings when you swing that leg over (either for mount or dismount). My theory is that it can be considered dominant or spooky to them. I’ve never had an issue with a mare with it before - always geldings.
Anyways, food is your friend when you are overriding fear.
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Oh he’s food motivated alright! Early on when I tried to use food he kept swinging his head toward me and stepping away with his hindquarters. Now I treat him after I get on…
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