Mounting and Dismounting a Horse
Although it appears to be a simple feat, there's a lot more to
mounting a horse than simply jumping on. A proper mount not only assures
safety for the rider, it goes a long way in establishing trust between
the horse and the rider.
Before attempting to mount a horse, you will need thee following pieces
of equipment:
- Equestrian Equipment
- Horse Reins
- Riding Boots
- Riding Helmets
- Riding Tack
- Saddle
It is essential that riders develop a habit of taking the following
steps exactly as described below for the safest possible mount:
- Take the base of the horse’s mane and the reins in your left
hand, draping the slack over the horse's right side.
- Turn the left stirrup iron toward with your right hand. Put your
left foot into the stirrup, parallel to the horse's side.
- Grab the back of the saddle (cantle), with your right hand.
- Bounce on the ball of your right foot.
- Push off with your right foot and put your weight on your left
foot (in the stirrup), while using the saddle and the horse's neck
for leverage.
- Balance on your hands and left foot in a standing position.
- Swing your right foot over the horse as you release your right
hand from the saddle.
- Gently lower yourself into the saddle.
- Put your right foot in the stirrup and take up the slack in the
reins.
Once your ride is finished and it’s time to get down from your horse,
you must at all times remember that safety is the number one objective
to guarantee an end to a great riding experience.
Dismounting a horse improperly can not only be embarrassing; more
important, it can be very dangerous. You must follow these steps
carefully to make certain that both rider and horse walk away uninjured.
- Bring your horse to a complete stop.
- Hold the reins in your left hand and put both hands on either
the saddle pommel or the horse's neck.
- Stand up in the stirrups.
- Swing your right leg over the horse's rump while moving your
right hand from the pommel to the cantle (back of the saddle).
- While balancing on your hands, kick your left foot free of the
stirrup iron.
- Push lightly away from the horse and gingerly land on your feet.
- Safely anchor the stirrup irons by sliding them up the back
strap of the stirrups, and tuck the loose ends into the irons.
You never know when you might have to dismount in a hurry. Even in
emergency situations, it is essential that you dismount your horse in
such a manner as to avoid injury to yourself or to your steed. In case
of an emergency when it is necessary for you to get off of your horse in
a hurry, follow these instructions:
- Hold both reins in your left hand.
- Place both hands on the horse's neck.
- Swing your upper body forward and your legs back, while at the
same time taking your feet out of the stirrups.
- Kick your right leg up and over the horse's rump.
- Maintain contact with the reins, but do not pull.
- Land on the balls of your feet.
After a few turns in the saddle, these instructions will become
second nature. Until then, however, make sure you review these
checklists before each ride. Doing so will guarantee that you have a
wonderful riding experience every time you saddle up. |
