Mounting from the ground?

Question

so im going to the county fair in 9 days and its a HUGE pain to use a step stool (i have to bring my own and have someone move it and everything) and i want to mount from the ground but cant get my leg in the stirrup. im like the only person that cant do it. are there any exercises that i can do to help my flexebility. my horse is 15.2 hh and im 5.2 ft. im just not flexible!

also, is it true that it is bad for a horses back to mount off of the ground? jw!

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

My horse is about the same height, im an inch shorter than you. I use my hand to get my foot in the stirrup, then pull myself up.

Answer 2

i would have someone move the box for you. it's not that big of a deal. you can leave it by the rail and then you can mount again. if you don't want to use a step stool have someone grab you knee and boost you up from the ground. then you don't have to use the step stool. i have a 16.2 hh horse and usually use a step stool. when you go to get on make sure that your jeans aren't too tight. that will help you get on. it's hard on horses backs if you tug on the saddle too much. you'll torque the muscles and it could make them sore if the muscles are in shape you should be fine. i hope this helps. feel free to message me if u have any more questions.

Answer 3

it is nice to be able to mount from the ground so try performing leg lunges to stretch the muscles and become more flexible.  also, you mount with the left leg in the stirrup, but if you stand near the shoulder of the horse, turn you stirrup towards you then put your foot into it, you can swing yourself up in into the saddle seat. good luck!!

Answer 4

Practice as much as you can, and if you still cant get it, mount a little earlier with really long stirrups and then fix them when you get back up.

Answer 5

This is coming from MAJOR experience. My mare is like 16hh, and I'm rather short, and can't lift my leg, but I don't get an option for a step stool or someone to move one for me. I get joked at by the guys at cattle drives asking me if I need a step ladder to get on my horse. I try to practice alot before I go to a show or anything so no one notices but I put my stirrup down so that I can get on with ease, but still get my other leg over the horse without notice that my sturrip is so long, and as soon as I'm up I move the sturrip back to where I need it to be to ride. I hope this helps. It helps to when your horse doesn't want to stand for you.

Answer 6

Really??

I ride a 15.2 horse and Im your height. I can mount from the ground easy.

But maybe im just more flexible then you.

Try stretching for 5-10 min before you get on. Like doing flimmingoes, butterfly stretch, put one leg out and grab your foot, switch, then do both.

Then try putting the stirrup lower to were you can put your foot in the stirrup then put it back up when your on.

That can be a pain also.

Also try using your hands to get your foot in the stirrup then climb on up.

That's all I can possible think of.

Hope I helped.

And I don't think it hurts there back.

Answer 7

Some exercised you can do:

*Reach down and touch your toes.

*Sit on ground, spread legs apart (legs straight) and reach and touch toes.

*Grab toes and pull leg backwards toward your hind end.

However, I would say - BRING YOUR STOOL!!  Put it out in the open and allow everyone to use it.  Be friendly and share it.  You'll be amazed at how many kids will use it.  

Plus, it is a lot easier on your horses back to have you just hop on lightly than to pull on the horses stirrup while trying to pull yourself up and over.

So, I say bring the stool and share it (I always do this - even at big AQHA shows and its amazing how many people will gladly borrow my stool real quick!).  

However, if you really want to get in the saddle - you can do it!  Just stretch and keep practicing!

Have fun at the fair!

Answer 8

Forget the mounting block Sally. The E-ZUP Stirrup Extender will solve your problem and they are available for up to 3 inches of stirrup extension, which would be like mounting if you was 3 inches taller. The E-ZUP Stirrup Extender attaches to your mounting stirrup and takes only a minute to install and it extends your stirrup with the push of a button and after mounting it will retract and lock your stirrup back in your normal adjusted position with the tip of your toe. And don't confuse the "E-ZUP Stirrup Extender" with the "Easy-Up Stirrup" sold by Horse.com. The Easy-Up Stirrup is much cheaper than the E-ZUP Stirrup Extender but the Easy-Up Stirrup is awkward and difficult to use and it is troublesome to carry. Here is link to the E-ZUP Stirrup Extender (check out the F.A.Q. page for answers):

http://www.easyupstirrup.com/home.html

It is available for both Western and English saddles.

Answer 9

maybe try a few of these

-stretch b4 getting on- hamstrings & hip flexors, try swinging your leg - eg: stand next to fence for balance (with a hand holding) facing the side one leg on the ground and the other swing back and forth as high and far back as you can- try and keep your body upright and still.

- try knee lifts - standing on one leg and lifting your knee as high as your can and alternate.

- try getting up on the wrong side generally people are more flexable with the right leg, (when you get on the correct  side you use your left leg) (but this may be slightly weird and awkward if you have not done it b4)

-putting the holes down of stirrups then adjusting it whilst on

-use a fence, gate, ditch, log, or another person - leg up

- try putting your knee into stirrup and get yourself up that way (i use to do this when i was little but maybe tricking & may have helped having little knees but lol)

-you could try jumping on like you would barejump you might get more height (jump twice)

- if you dont want to bring an extra stool use a bucket or ur grooming box, the side of your float or the tail gate?

- sometimes your chaps long boots can interfer with getting on so think about that

- also your pants could be restricting you - so pull them up a little b4 trying eg: into you crotch.

getting on your horse is ok if you do it gently and correctly- dont pull or slam onto your horse. also you should sometimes get on and off the wrong side to get a bit of balance!

good luck!

Answer 10

Let the stirrup down a couple of holes - you can always put it back once you're up there.

Yes - it can put strain on their back to mount from the ground

Answer 11

I can't find it, but I have a stirrup extender  that hooks through your stirrup  and it's basically like another stirrup 8 inches or more lower...you use it to mount, then remove it from your stirrup, and it has a little nylon carrying bag about 5" by 1" with a drawstring that you can hide under your jacket...I think it's called E-Z mount, and another is called EZ Up.  Google either brand with stirrup extender to find them.

Answer 12

well what i do if its hard is lower the stirrip leather by about 2 hole and it makes it WAY easyer. then when your on just make it higher again!

works every time! lol

hope that helps

Answer 13

oh, i totally feel your pain! with me, basic stretches tend to help a lot. just run a google search on excercises to improve flexibility. also, dropping your stirrup to the lowest setting makes it a LOT easier; plus you can just adjust it fom the saddle. spend a few minutes practising every time you ride, and before long you'll get the hang of it.

http://physicaltherapy.about.com/od/flex...

Answer 14

i am pretty flexible but i am 5'5" and have about a 16h horse and when get on i use mainly my arms & never a mounting block. i grab the horses main with my left hand & the cantle with my right (i can reach the stirrup) and put my foot in my stirrup and pull myself up. you can try this and just jump up to where you can get your foot in the stirrup and pull yourself up but make sure you hang onto the mane not the horn(so you don't pull the saddle crooked&don't worry horses cant feel it when you pull their mane) & if you cant mount like this (which is easier than have to adjust and readjust your stirrups ) you can always use the fender of the horse trailer to mount..that is what i do when i ride in bareback at shows lol =]

Answer 15

It isn't bad for your horse to get on from the ground it's just "harder" on their back instead of using a mounting block.

Here is what I would do:

You need a partner for this one :)

CHARACTER:

partner:bill



This is a stretch by the way to make your more flexible. Lay on the ground and straighten your legs completely. Do NOT bend your knee for this whole exercise. Put one leg up and have bill grab your heel. Bill will push your heel towards you until you say stop. When you stop push your heel as hard as you can against bill for ten long seconds. Keep doing this and do it with your other leg! Good Luck!

You can also just lower your stirrup before you get on and when you get on shorten it your self or have some one else do it :)

HOPE THIS HELPED!

Answer 16

well if you really want to mount from the ground but cant than try stretching. also if you lengthen your stirrups , get on the horse, and then put them back up it should make the stretch easier. also   try and pull your leg up with your hand , it could help.

Answer 17

no it isnt bad mounting frrom the ground, it just makes it harder on them though. Lengthen your stirrups then replace them to the right height once in the saddle (only for your left stirrup for mounting)

Answer 18

you could ask someone to give you a leg, or go to a fence, curb, tree stump, ect and use it to help you up. my trainer will not let us mount from the ground because it puts strain on their back and it can also throw their back out.