How to dismount?

[Scribbler]

This is a spinoff from the recent Peacock Stirrups thread.

Question: what’s the best way to dismount from an English saddle?

I was taught that you kick both feet out of the stirrups, and then slide off. This is easiest on the horse’s back and least chance of getting a foot stuck. But in the Peacock thread, some commenters were also describing keeping your left foot in the stirrups, swinging your right leg over, then kicking your left foot out and dropping.

I do this last one when I get back from a trail ride really thrashed but my mare absolutely does not like it and makes a pissy face at the weight shift. I try to do the both feet out most of the time, and try to dismount on soft ground if I can to spare my knees (I am no longer young). I do hold onto the saddle to make my drop a bit more controlled which is not ideal.

My mare is very solid for mountiujng and dismounting so I’m not so worried about safety but more about her back, comfort, and attitude.

[Rumorhasit93]

For me, too many things can go wrong keeping one foot in. Why risk it? Kick both feet out, swing right leg over, slide off.

[endlessclimb]

On a sketchy horse, both feet out and swing off.

On a horse I know, right leg over, lift, and drop with a little push off.

[GraceLikeRain]

I can’t see a safety or horse welfare benefit to the one leg swing over and then kick out of the second stirrup but I can visualize ten ways it could go wrong. I always drop both stirrups, swing a leg over, and land with both feet on the ground.

[endlessclimb]

I know about a million western people that dismount that way, honestly. I think more English riders do the both feet out and swing.

Not disagreeing that it can go wrong. I think my western roots make me do it the one-foot way lol

[Bonnie2]

Once upon a time I rode a lot of hot horses and babies. Dropping both stirrups and throwing your leg over is a big move and not advisable without someone at their head. I drop my right stirrup, take weight on my arms as I bring the right leg over, remove my left stirrup and gently slide down. Basically the exact reverse of mounting.

[Scribbler]

@endlessclimb

I know about a million western people that dismount that way, honestly. I think more English riders do the both feet out and swing.

Not disagreeing that it can go wrong. I think my western roots make me do it the one-foot way lol

Western horses trend smaller so you can touch the ground with your right foot while your left is in the stirrup. Someone tried this stepping off Western dismount on my 16 hand mare once (beginner rider taller and heavier than me) and torqued the English saddle so much the horse massage person worked on her withers the next week. Maybe horses with lower withers feel it less too.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Another vote for dropping both stirrups, swinging your leg over and sliding down to the ground.

But I only use the fillis stirrups (nothing to get hung on), and I give a bit of a push on the saddle as I come down so I’m dropping diagonally away from the horse, not slithering down his or her side.

[RAyers]

How to dismount?

As slow as possible.

[endlessclimb]

I don’t step to the ground though, I just got to the left side, drop the left stirrup, and drop down. It all happens super fast, no lingering or anything, unless I’m on a greenie in which case I might stay there to pat them all over and stuff.

[Bending_Line]

Well, I have always been one to do both feet out and then swing off. We initially teach beginning riders to keep the left foot in the stirrup till the right leg swings over and is level, then drop the left stirrup, and drop off.

I don’t what’s happened to me in the last 2-3 months, but when I drop both stirrups and swing off like I have my whole life, I am hitting the ground in a jarring way that seems to rattle my whole body. So in the last week or two, I have been borrowing a trick from a lady nearly 30 years older than me who still rides regularly, and I have been getting off onto a 3 step mounting block. It feels much better and the horses have been good about walking right up to it, but it seems like there is quite a bit that could go wrong doing it this way. But it is a relief on my body.

I wonder if I just need more cuishiony boots to dismount? Am I just losing all the cartilage in my body that I am getting so jarred hitting the ground? Did anyone else start to experience this circa age 50?

[Rackonteur]

Yes.

[Rackonteur]

@Scribbler

some commenters were also describing keeping your left foot in the stirrups, swinging your right leg over, then kicking your left foot out and dropping.

I was taught this way. Decades later I was taught this was the Pony Club alternate way.

I think it would be hard to do the 2-feet and launch yourself way in a western saddle, or any saddle with trail stirrups.

I’ve seen tall TV cowboys do the step-down dismount but that looks very risky to me. Even if you’re 6’4" on a 14.3 cow pony.

[Janet]

When I was younger, more agile, and had good knees, I would drop both stirrups, swing my right leg over, andslide to the ground.

But now that I am stiffer, and have iffy knees, I swing the right leg over, THEN, perched over the saddle, drop the left stirrup and slide down gemtly.

[fivestrideline]

@endlessclimb

On a sketchy horse, both feet out and swing off.

On a horse I know, right leg over, lift, and drop with a little push off.

Same here.

The right leg over, pop left foot out, drop down well away from the horse is my preferred method, and it is a single smooth, 1 second move. I’ll do the two-feet-out thing if the ground is soft, as it is harder on the ankles. IIRC the one foot at a time method was what my pony club instructor taught us.

The trick with both methods is to keep your weight in your arm(s), so you aren’t torquing the horse or slinging body weight around like mad. One hand on the neck, the other sometimes I put on the neck or on the cantle, depending.

Sliding down the horse is just asking to scratch your saddle or get caught up in a clip/buckle/whatever. As kids we popped both feet out, swung a leg over the NECK and jumped away, complete with a cartwheel or other gymnastic to finish it off. Our horses were saints

[2bayboys]

@Bending_Line

Well, I have always been one to do both feet out and then swing off. We initially teach beginning riders to keep the left foot in the stirrup till the right leg swings over and is level, then drop the left stirrup, and drop off.

I don’t what’s happened to me in the last 2-3 months, but when I drop both stirrups and swing off like I have my whole life, I am hitting the ground in a jarring way that seems to rattle my whole body. So in the last week or two, I have been borrowing a trick from a lady nearly 30 years older than me who still rides regularly, and I have been getting off onto a 3 step mounting block. It feels much better and the horses have been good about walking right up to it, but it seems like there is quite a bit that could go wrong doing it this way. But it is a relief on my body.

I wonder if I just need more cuishiony boots to dismount? Am I just losing all the cartilage in my body that I am getting so jarred hitting the ground? Did anyone else start to experience this circa age 50?

This is me. I was taught at a tiny age and continued for the next fifty years to drop both stirrups and swing the right leg over, landing on both feet with my toes pointing in the same direction as the horse. I trashed my right knee this spring and vaulting off in that fashion was no longer an option. So now I park my horse next to the mounting block, keep my left foot in the stirrup and gently swing over and step onto the block. Sucks getting old and broken.

[Bristol_Bay]

@RAyers

How to dismount?

As slow as possible.

And voluntarily.

[LCDR]

Whenever possible, step off onto a mounting block. If you have your own place or can talk a barn owner into building one, go for one with three steps up, a platform at fourth step level, and with steps on both ends. Something like the photo below, but with steps on both ends. I prefer going up the steps as I lead the horse to stand by the platform, so I can basically just step down onto the horse’s back. At dismount time, step off on top and lead the horse along the side as you go down the steps. Having a fence a few feet off one side is also helpful for some horses. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it accommodates my painful hips. Horses seem to appreciate it too.

Having steps on both ends is helpful for the horse that decides to walk too far forward, Just walk down the departure end steps and lead the horse back around.

[NoSuchPerson]

@Bending_Line

So in the last week or two, I have been borrowing a trick from a lady nearly 30 years older than me who still rides regularly, and I have been getting off onto a 3 step mounting block.

I’m getting ready to move and I got ridiculously excited when I saw that the new barn has a 4-step mounting block with a bit of a platform at the top for ease in stepping off.

[Demerara_Stables]

Both feet out, and in one move swing the right leg over and land on both feet with bent knees. If you land and keep your knees stiff you’re going to have a bad time. Bend your knees to absorb the shock.

As someone who’s ridden dozens (hundreds?) of young/crazy horses, I would never leave one foot in longer than the other. Many involuntary dismounts happen while mounting or dismounting and unless I’m securely in the saddle with both feet in the stirrups, I want nothing “tying” me to the horse (including a foot in a stirrup). I even prefer to mount new to me horses or young horses by using a tall mounting block and putting my right leg over then sliding into the saddle. That way if something goes wrong, neither foot is in a stirrup and I can hop off easily.