I’ve taught my horses to stand next to anything and to stand for mounting.
I use a giant, three string hay bale turned on edge for extra height. Works great because it’s wider than mounting block steps + longer = more room to maneuver if horse isn’t standing in perfect position.
Of course these bales weigh a ton = good stability but you can’t easily move them around. I keep mine in a permanent mounting spot inside my barn – thick coco doormat on top + a small 2 string bale (on flat side) as the first step.
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My $100 three-step block from Tractor Supply is going on 10 years with barely any signs of wear, having been left outside 24/7 (even in hurricanes). If I ever need something taller, I definitely plan on building a nice big wood platform. I’ve had the privilege of using them at some barns in the past, they’re wonderful.
I spent the tween years in the PNW playing on the docks too. I was so coldddd and miserable that my parents finally broke down and got me regular riding lessons to keep me going 
I will say, setting out a crab pot, being out on the water and exploring various islands all day with orcas around and then coming home for a fresh crab dinner was indeed the one thing I loved about being up there, aside from my lessons of course!
And yes, the heater on the boat was going the whole time, while I had my snow jacket on!
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I’ve always been an animal lover. Once my grandparents got a really good haul on a crab pot. They put them in the dinghy to wait until it was time to cook them. Well, I was so upset over my crab friends being eaten that they had to release them. The crabs went on to live another day. My grandfather was NOT happy about missing out on his crab dinner haha.
I don’t know how I was so hardy! I went swimming in the ocean up there. I’d be outside soaking wet and it would be below freezing. Now I consider running to Florida when it’s below 50 degrees 
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I definitely cried some tears over crabs but would play in the yard with the dog during cooking time. And I also made my dad furious when I caught a big old red snapper (or something) and made him let me throw it back. I was not hardy and did not swim much up there!
(sorry not trying to change the mounting block thread but we had to compare notes!)
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Ahh that made me remember catching a GIANT rockfish off of the boat one day. I was like 10, and my grandparents were shocked I managed to reel it in it also went on to swim another day.
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