I had to mount from the ground a week or so ago, and guess what? It wasn’t that big of a deal! We were trotting along, there was a tiny gap from rain crossing the path, but I did not see the raging water or the alligators that my mare saw, so I was not prepared for the GIANT leap…and I fell off blush. I simply walked to a spot where there was an incline and got on. I passed the test and I’m proud 
(well, except for the fall). That’s the first fall I’ve had on her…and I’m so glad no one was around to see it, though it would have been more fun to have a friend there with me to laugh at me!
my knee needs to be replaced and my horse is the biggest 16 hands I have ever seen.
I do all the tricks-drop stirrup, find a mounting block, have a well trained horse.
but the most important thing I do (I think) is ride in boots I can walk in on the off chance that remounting just isn’t going to happen and I need to go home leading him.
I find the Mountain horse boots very comfortable.
it’s about what is right for each person! Not a contest!
When I first started doing more trail riding, I got a giddy up mounting stool. It was very handy, I could put it in my saddle bag and get on with no problems(it is about 11inches high which helps alot) Since I trail ride so much now, I have taught my mare to stand in ditches, near rocks, stumps, anything elevated. Sorry I couldn’t get my computer to let me add the link. I found it on Amazon, but I’m sure I have seen it elsewhere for less.
I’m short and never liked mounting from the ground but HAD to when I was learning to ride (military, big warmbloods, I’m 5’3, sigh). Good thing that 1) I was young and athletic, and 2) these big horses stood stock still while I was hauling myself on board, lol.
But after that I never mounted from the ground if I could help it. I train all my horses to mounting from “objects”. I have no shame. Whatever the object is, the higher, the better, so I don’t even have to use a stirrup!
So…piled buckets, water troughs (in the paddock when mounting bareback to bring horsey in), boulders, tree stumps, flatbed trucks, the edge of a porch, a xc jump, picnic tables…anything goes! It is MUCH easier on the horse’s back as well.
At 67+ I can still mount a 15.0 hand horse from the ground. It ain’t pretty and is a strain on the horse and me, but it can be done. 
Should it be done as a matter or routine? Probably not. It’s easier on the horse and me with a mounting block/aid. But with any mounting aid you must train the horse to the aid. I see a lot of riders using a block and two assistants because they’ve not bothered to train their horse to stand quietly. If you’re working a youngster (as I am) sometimes a “ground assist” is required. But the number of times should be steadily diminishing.
G.
Agree with G’s post above. I also occasionally dismount onto the mounting block, just so the horse has that skill- as used for example in therapeutic riding, or if one ever had a situation with someone with an injury for which gently dismounting onto ‘higher ground’ might be necessary.
When I first started re-riding, I could NOT mount my 16.3 horse from the ground. But the flexibility came back (even though I was in my 40s at the time!). Now both my horses are about 16.2, and I can mount them from the ground (it helps to have a little hill). Which I have found to be useful in case I drop my whip or make an unplanned dismount:).
