Positioning of Semi-permanent Mounting Block

[RhythmNCruise]

My dad built me a nice three-step, wooden mounting block for Christmas. I know where I’m going to put it, and as it’s fairly heavy and substantial (but can be moved if/when absolutely needed), I want to make sure it’s in the best position.

So, the way I figure it, there are three possibilities:

1. Steps perpendicular to horse so that I walk up them and am facing the horse straight on.
2. Steps parallel to the horse, ascending from front (direction of head/shoulder) to stirrup area so that I’m facing the hindquarters of the horse as I go up the steps.
3. Steps parallel to the horse, ascending from back (hindquarters) to stirrup area so that I’m facing the front of the horse as I go up the steps.

Does it matter? My inkling is to just position it so the steps are perpendicular to the horse.

Am I overthinking this? Probably. Just wondering if anyone has a preference and why. Thanks!

[Knubbsy]

We have one in our indoor and it’s positioned so that it’s perpendicular to the horse and while it saves space to get around it, I think it would be more functional positioned parallel to the horse. My vote is for 3 so you can walk the horse up as you’re also getting into position. Depending on your space around and your rein length, a huge mounting block perpendicular almost requires a ground tie to get onto the block.

[RhythmNCruise]

Yeah, I was actually thinking the same. It puts you in position for the easiest transition from standing to foot in stirrup and swinging up. I have been at barns with very large mounting blocks/steps (bought from mobile home dealers). They were tall enough that you could just slide a leg over without needing the stirrup at all. For shorter horses, you actually lowered yourself onto the horse’s back/saddle. It was fine, my horse is good at the mounting block and I could always maintain contact with the reins while getting onto the block.

My block is smaller than that for sure. I think #3 makes the most sense, at least the way I’m envisioning it. I will probably make my helpers stand by while I test it out with the horse and make adjustments as needed.

Thanks for your input!

[Bluey]

Looks like you already had good advice.
Will add one barn had, right outside their arena gate, a tree and around the tree was a rock wall with flat rocks that you walked up as you went around the tree, leading your horse and as high as you wanted, you stopped the horse and could get on directly from the wall.
Since the wall was in a little of a curve, the horse’s front and back had more space, horse was not going to scrape a leg on the rocks.

It was neat to watch people getting on in that nice, quiet shady spot.

[Willesdon]

One leads the horse to the mounting block, walks up the steps with the horse parallel to the steps, keeping a good contact on the reins, then mount horse from the appropriate, helpful height. The horse then stands quietly and politely until asked to walk forward.

The rider must maintain control via the reins because mounting is one of the riskiest manoeuvres: spooky for the animal and the human is poised mid-air until sat down in the saddle.

Probably one consideration about the position of the mounting block is whether or not there is room for the horse to move off and stay straight.

[sascha]

1. If the top landing area is wider than it is deep, I prefer that its long side is parallel to the horse with the steps going from as far away from the horse to as close to the horse as possible. I like these because you can also access the steps from the side.

2. if the landing is super deep/huge all round, then I’d put the steps perpendicular to the horse so that as you’re leading your horse you can climb the steps without changing your position. Most mounting blocks don’t have a super deep landing so that’s the only reason this is my second choice. This is my absolute favourite. Add a super long ramp on the arse of horse end, the platform at stirrup height, and steps on the head end and this would be my favourite hands down.

The ramp <3 one:

[Mango20]

Go for position 3, so you can walk up the steps as you’re leading the horse forward. Mine is like that.and when I ride the pony, I don’t even need to stop as I throw a leg over.

[RhythmNCruise]

In sascha’s visuals, mine is definitely like the smallest one with a narrow top step. Because of this, once I had it out there and was standing on it, I realized I preferred it just as the smaller set of steps is pictured in sascha’s post.

Of course, today I decided to try it out bareback with halter and lead after taking him away from a pile of hay and with his pasture mate bellowing for him. He wasn’t in the mood and we had some “words” about it all, and then some peppermint bribes and I finally got aboard, though he wasn’t thrilled, LOL. Still, it worked, and I think it’ll be great when I’m mounting with a saddle. I also got off on it, and that worked well too, which is something I can never do with the step stool/box thing I was using.

[LCDR]

Three options? That means there are at least nine different opinions since we are Horse People.

[furlong47]

How sascha’s diagram shows it is how I’ve always done it/how they are at my barn. The small moveable kind that are just like steps go perpendicular to the horse, the larger permanent platforms are parallel to the horse such that you are walking up the steps leading the horse on your right and then turn right to face the horse and mount once you’re on top.

[RedHorses]

In my world 1 and 3 are identical as I alternate sides for mounting.

[Lusoluv]

I like OPs option #3 the best as it offers the most options and safety. Our barn has a large 4 step wood mounting block and I since we don’t have any 18hh horses, I never use the top step. When the block is parallel to the horse, the rider can choose whatever step they need as they walk up their horse alongside. I usually use step 2 or 3. When the block is perpendicular to the horse, you must mount from the top one as steps 3 and lower are too far from the horse. It drives me nuts when people turn it perpendicular as it is heavy and needs 2 hands to put back around. Also, mounting from the top step is dangerous as you’re basically above the horse and leaning over them to mount. Many horses don’t like this and are more apt to move away from the block. Most riders thump down onto their poor horse’s back as well. I was taught you should always step UP to mount - not DOWN.

[sascha]

@Lusoluv

. I was taught you should always step UP to mount - not DOWN

Once you’ve learned stepping down, you’ll never go back except under duress. It is so much kinder to horses, tack, and older riders.

Having the broad side of the block parallel to the horse is actually safer. It gives you a small sideways step to adjust if the horse moves forward or back. The narrow edge leaves you up the creek - not an issue for most of us, but for beginner riders and young horses it can cause issues.

[Lusoluv]

I’ll agree to disagree. Stepping down is definitely not safer than a slight step up, and that’s the deciding factor. Whether it’s convenient or easy for me is not. I’ve seen enough riders thump onto their horse’s back to know it’s not kinder. I can’t count how many horses I’ve seen dump their riders after mounting. After 40 years of riding, teaching, starting and re-training horses, I’m speaking from my personal experience. YMMV.

[c0608524]

Coming from someone who’s pony had some mounting block issues (thankfully over with now), have it so the steps come up from the head end of the horse.

Lead the horse up to the block, flip the reins over the head, then walk up the steps. If the block is too big and the steps come from the bum end, sometimes it can be tough to hold onto the horse while moving to the steps.

Perpendicular steps and steps that start at the head are both great. Having to wrangle a dancing pony and walk a country mile to the bottom step on the other end of the horse is mildly annoying.

Thankfully my pony parks herself now and patiently waits until I sneak her a treat once I’m on her back. Horses

[sascha]

@Lusoluv

I’ve seen enough riders thump onto their horse’s back to know it’s not kinder. I can’t count how many horses I’ve seen dump their riders after mounting. After 40 years of riding, teaching, starting and re-training horses, I’m speaking from my personal experience. YMMV.

Sounds like your program and the programs of people you associate with need a massive overhaul.

I took have been teaching and training forever. I don’t tolerate people thumping on horses’ backs. That has always been and always will be bad horsemanship.

Not being able to count the number of people dumped at the mounting block? Omg. See above - overhaul your program stat because not only are people not being taught to mount correctly, but clearly the horses are also not being taught proper mounting block manners … Or are getting thumped on often enough that they are getting tf out of Dodge before they receive another thumping on their backs.

@c0608524

Having to wrangle a dancing pony and walk a country mile to the bottom step on the other end of the horse is mildly annoying.

You need some help teaching mounting block manners. The pony should walk beside you as you go up the steps and stand like a rock parallel to the block as you do any last minute fiddling, adjust stirrups once mounted, etc until you ask pony to move.

This isn’t beyond any horse’s ability. It’s just that trainers don’t tend to put sufficient time and effort into instilling these safety lessons because they’re not nearly as fun or rewarding as actually riding.

[c0608524]

@sascha

You need some help teaching mounting block manners. The pony should walk beside you as you go up the steps and stand like a rock parallel to the block as you do any last minute fiddling, adjust stirrups once mounted, etc until you ask pony to move.

Sorry, maybe you didn’t catch the last paragraph I wrote! I can assure you the pony has mounting block manners now and would never argue that it isn’t incredibly important.

I thought we were discussing oversized mounting blocks, so if I’ve missed the point of this thread I apologize. All I can picture is my coaches mounting block that is so large that in order to walk around to the bottom step you’d be hanging on to your horse by the buckle!

[Lusoluv]

@sascha

Sounds like your program and the programs of people you associate with need a massive overhaul.

Riders in my program are taught safe and empathetic horsemanship skills, which are sorely lacking in the general riding public. Unfortunately I do not work with every rider at every barn I’ve been to. At big barns there are easily 4-6+ trainers teaching different disciplines. I see a lot of wrong or unsafe practices regularly. Unlike some people, I will not insert myself or offer advice unless asked - YMMV.

[sascha]

@c0608524

All I can picture is my coaches mounting block that is so large that in order to walk around to the bottom step you’d be hanging on to your horse by the buckle!

But that was the point - you shouldn’t need to walk around to the bottom step if the steps are properly aligned to the horse.

[sascha]

@Lusoluv

I see a lot of wrong or unsafe practices regularly.

So then, with all this thumping onto horses’ backs, surely you’ve seen that it doesn’t matter whether an unsympathetic rider is hanging off one stirrup before thumping down or is thumping down from some other position. It’s not the mounting block’s fault. It’s bad teaching and bad body awareness and/or control.

And, at any rate, no matter whether the block is tall or short, the rider still needs to get their ass and leg above the saddle. The final step of mounting is done from above no matter what. It is impossible to sit on a horse without getting one’s arse end and leg above the horse.