| a riding academy ran its instructor certification clinic, the | | | | you mount the mounting block on his left side, take up |
| first thing the clinician did was have all the instructor | | | | a little more contact on the right rein to turn his head |
| candidates mount their horses from the wrong side. | | | | slightly right, keeping him from swinging his hindquarters |
| The reason, she said, was to remind them what it's like | | | | away from the block. Have your reins in your left hand |
| to be a beginner again. Even the most experienced of | | | | placed firmly in his neck where it meets the wither. |
| the bunch was humbled by having to take a moment | | | | If you are not very balanced, grab some mane in your |
| to think it through. | | | | fingers so you don’t pull on the bit as you |
| Proper mounting is an oft overlooked but very | | | | mount. Facing the saddle but with your body almost |
| important procedure in riding. Doing it correctly mean | | | | facing his rear, turn your stirrup with your right hand |
| preserving the horse’s back while contributing | | | | and place your left foot in. Grasp the cantle (back of |
| to your safety. | | | | the saddle) in your right hand. Bounce off your right |
| Before you mount your horse, ensure that you have | | | | foot and pull yourself up and swing your right leg over |
| your helmet on securely. Make sure the harness is | | | | the rump without hitting him. Sit very lightly in the saddle |
| buckled. | | | | so as not to hurt his back. Don’t flop into the |
| You can mount your horse three different ways, all of | | | | saddle like a sack of potatoes. Your horse isn’t |
| which will be performed on the left side of the horse | | | | warmed up yet and his back could be quite sensitive. |
| except in a very rare case when a horse may be | | | | (If you notice his back drop out under you and his head |
| blind on that side: | | | | shoot upward, you may have sat too hard on him.) |
| > A leg up (done for English riders): another rider or | | | | From the ground: you should be able to mount from |
| your instructor assists you by giving you a leg up. You | | | | the ground; however, understand that it places |
| will face your saddle, bend your left leg so your knee is | | | | particularly more strain on your horse’s back. |
| at a 90 degree angle. The person giving you the leg up | | | | To alleviate that strain, have an assistant hold down |
| will grasp your knee and calf in both hands. The two | | | | the right stirrup while you are mounting. (She will hold |
| of you will count together 1-2-3, you will bounce on | | | | the stirrup in her hand and apply pressure down to the |
| your right leg on 1 and 2 and give a good bounce on 3 | | | | right to balance the saddle from being pulled to the |
| as though you were trying to jump up to the saddle. | | | | left.) At the horse’s shoulder, you will turn to |
| On three is when the person lifts your left leg as you | | | | slightly face the rear. Take your reins in your left hand |
| jump up and lightly swing your right leg over the | | | | and place it firmly on the horse’s neck. |
| horse’s rump. Most adult beginners are | | | | Grab mane in your hand to keep you from pulling on |
| uncomfortable with this method because they think the | | | | the bit as you mount. With your right hand, turn your |
| person will be handling too much of their weight; | | | | stirrup as needed to align with your foot and place |
| however, you can help the person giving you a leg up | | | | your left foot in the left stirrup. Grasp the cantle in your |
| by counting together so you are working together, | | | | right hand, bounce lightly on your right leg and gently |
| hopping on the other foot to give you lift and going with | | | | gracefully swing your left leg over the horse’s |
| the momentum of the other person lifting you by the | | | | hindquarters. Sit lightly and place your right foot in your |
| leg. | | | | right stirrup. |
| From the mounting block: a mounting block can be a | | | | The reason you face toward the horse’s rear |
| plastic or wooden one or two step box where you will | | | | is if he starts to walk off with you, you are able to turn |
| lead your horse to so that you face him on the left | | | | your body to keep up with him as you’re |
| side while standing on the mounting block. The | | | | mounting instead of getting left hopping behind with one |
| mounting block should be very sturdy and not shift as | | | | foot in a stirrup. |
| you step up. Using items like buckets in place of a | | | | Now you know how to mount and are ready to learn |
| mounting block can cause rider injury or a horse to | | | | how to ride! |
| spook if the item tips while you are standing on it. | | | | For more great equine information please visit our |
| Some horses are particularly ornery about lining up at | | | | resource links below and ad them to your favorites! |
| a mounting block; if your horse is, you can ask | | | | So you can visit often. We thank you for telling all your |
| someone for assistance by holding his bridle on the | | | | friends about our great sites. |
| right side. You can align him on the right side, then, as | | | | |