I want to learn how to swing up on your horse bareback, but my mare is taller, and I’m shorter,not short short, but a mild short:lol: I’ve watched some videos but I am not sure how to get the momentum to swing up with out swinging my leg into her butt. She will tolerate it, but she will get annoyed 
she swishes her tail some, just a lil bit though. Then she stops.She gets used to it, but I want to know how to do it right! I can’t seem to leave the ground haha cause I’m too scared of swinging into her!I know it won’t hurt her, just annoy her I tried yesterday, and I think with more practice I’ll be able to.But how to get that extra momentum???
Ps.this is something I really want to do since she sometimes tries walking off when I mount from wood.I don’t always have someone to boost me up.Thanks:)
It’s not just momentum, it’s connecting the forces through your legs, stomach and arm muscles. Here’s how you do it:
Stand next to your horse facing the rear with your legs even with their front legs, left hand grabbing mane just in front of the withers.
Take one big step backwards (towards her head) with both feet. Keep holding the mane.
Take that big step forward with your left foot and swing your right leg up and over. LOOK DOWN AT YOUR HORSE’S HOOF!!! That is the trick to it. Look down so your butt can come up. Your butt can’t come up if your head is also up.
Use your stomach and arm muscles to finish the job.
It takes practice to get the feel of it and do it right, but once you can, it will seem easy.
I teach pony clubbers to vault on for games, and I can still do it myself in my 40’s!
It is easier to learn if you try on a horse cantering on the longe line.
You canter along with the horse and swing up and the momentum will get you up there without hardly any effort.
Think pony express type mounting.
This makes it look pretty easy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWIRvEb1GgE
I am sure it is not :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=starhorse;8001819]
This makes it look pretty easy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWIRvEb1GgE
I am sure it is not :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
I think if the horse is shorter, it seems harder, you have less leverage with your left arm.
Of course, a way tall horse you can’t hardly reach with your left hand would again be harder.
There is a point where your head is lower than your legs as you swing up.
Some people keep trying to stay upright as they try to throw the leg over and that doesn’t work.
You have to commit yourself with your leg swinging up there to get over.
Being young and limber is definitely an advantage.
Now, that huge buckle would be seen as a hazard, sure can get hung somewhere and cut the horse or person.
[QUOTE=starhorse;8001819]
This makes it look pretty easy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWIRvEb1GgE
I am sure it is not :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
It’s not. I’m a very earth bound person. I could do it when I was in my early teens, but I never got that much air. I could get a leg over but it took a lot of leverage from my arm and my leg to get topside. Of course my horse was 16.2 or so.
It helps if you’ve done gymnastics at some point, especially uneven bars, and if you have good strength in you arms and abds…but really, practice practice practice.
I think of it as swinging my right knee and inner thigh up across, more than the whole leg, because you have to bend your leg to do it right (as the girl with the paint horse demonstrates). You also have to keep your pelvis close to the horse as you swing up.
It IS easier on a shorter, narrower horse, of course. When I was younger I could do it on a 16.3 horse (barely and not prettily - I am 5’2, but I managed). I can still do it on my 15.2 horse, because she is narrow.
I have friends who could just stand facing the flank of the horse, jump up, then swing over. I have NEVER been able to do it like this, unless I was on a trampoline, haha!
Find a vaulting club and take vaulting lessons. The horse really needs to be in motion for you to swing up properly anyway.
[QUOTE=Mango20;8001805]
It’s not just momentum, it’s connecting the forces through your legs, stomach and arm muscles. Here’s how you do it:
Stand next to your horse facing the rear with your legs even with their front legs, left hand grabbing mane just in front of the withers.
Take one big step backwards (towards her head) with both feet. Keep holding the mane.
Take that big step forward with your left foot and swing your right leg up and over. LOOK DOWN AT YOUR HORSE’S HOOF!!! That is the trick to it. Look down so your butt can come up. Your butt can’t come up if your head is also up.
Use your stomach and arm muscles to finish the job.
It takes practice to get the feel of it and do it right, but once you can, it will seem easy.
I teach pony clubbers to vault on for games, and I can still do it myself in my 40’s![/QUOTE]
Wear a helmet the first time to avoid breaking your nose on her withers.
You can also learn to belly up on a horse bareback. I can’t swing up, but have always been able to belly up.
[QUOTE=starrunner;8002906]
You can also learn to belly up on a horse bareback. I can’t swing up, but have always been able to belly up.[/QUOTE]
sweet!!I’ll try that too! Thanks you guys!!!Really helped!
It really helps if the first few tries someone helps push you up there, until you get the hang of it yourself.
A vaulting surcingle with handholds makes it easier.
[QUOTE=starhorse;8001819]
This makes it look pretty easy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWIRvEb1GgE
I am sure it is not :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
When I learned to vault up for pony club mounted games, we always concentrated on getting our HIPS up high – then the leg follows naturally. That’s what the girl does in this video, which is why she makes it look so easy.
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152400010974669&set=vb.102415409668&type=2&theater
This girl is one of the vaulters under my instructor. It always amazed me to see such a little tiny kid, run up and climb up that beast of a Shire. She obviously has grown since then,… I see myself doing a faceplant.
When I’m in the hospital later today with massive injuries from attempting to mount my horse from the ground someone please post this link on my facebook page so everyone knows what happened.
P.S. I’m 5’8, my horse is maybe 15.2, but my feet are made of lead.
[QUOTE=dappledreamer;8001695]
Ps.this is something I really want to do since she sometimes tries walking off when I mount from wood.I don’t always have someone to boost me up.Thanks:)[/QUOTE]
Here’s an idea: How about working with a trainer so your horse learns not to walk off?
All learning how to swing up will do is reinforce her bad behavior.
Is there some way to create a practice ‘horse’? before you try it for real?
Edit- The side of my* pickup bed is about the right height but I don’t relish the landing unless I pad it. However Silver(ado) will not collapse or shif while I am practicing… the neighbors might think I’ve lost it though until I perfect the movement but afterwards, how many of us scrableon the tire to clamber in the pickup bed at the feed store?
If your pickup is too low (like The Tim’s old GMC Big Blue the Frankenstein Truck) I would use boards or bricks to raise it to the about the same height as your horse, or a bit higher as a fudge factor.
Ain’t that the truth!
Even when I was young and limber I couldn’t do it unless the horse was smaller.
I had to stand beside my tall horse, jump across his back and swing my leg over. He rarely stood still for this, so I got real good at staying on no matter what gait he chose to be in while mounting. I also could vault on from any number of solid objects to land on his back.
I always thought Michael Landon was impressive on Bonanza, the way he vaulted on with ease.
I have no desire to ride bareback anymore thank goodness.
[QUOTE=5;8007406]
The side of my* pickup bed is about the right height but I don’t relish the landing unless I pad it. However Silver(ado) will not collapse or shift while I am practicing… the neighbors might think I’ve lost it though until I perfect the movement but afterwards, how many of us scrableon the tire to clamber in the pickup bed at the feed store?[/QUOTE]
Not a bad idea, But you might want to consider padding the ground also for safety at first until you get the knack.
It was easy when I was a skinny teenager, horse was 14 hands, I could just put my hands on his back spring up so hips were level with his back and swing my leg over. Now I am 51, less spry, and my mare is 16.2. I generally attempt to find a log or rock to make it easier. Last time I had “nothing” and she was sans saddle I was able to get up but it was more like get my leg on her rump and wiggle until my hips were level with her back- good thing she is such a tolerant girl! And there is no way I could get up on my current horse bareback without being able to grab a hunk of mane.
