kids mounting tall horses

[Karen Clanin <kclanin@fix.net>]

ah, shucks, you guys.  you've got it WAAAAAAAAY better than these little
local ranch kids that partake in the local ranch rodeos doin' goat tying'
etc -- i mean 4 and 5 year old kids riding these big regular ranch size
quarter type horses.  most just slide down the side of the horse to
dismount but when it comes to mounting they have a rope tied to the saddle
horn and they simply CLIMB up the side of the horse.  some get REAL upset
if an adult comes to try to help them!  it's a real crack up to watch 'em!

now personally, i've ridden several horses in my lifetime that have withers
(or lack thereof) and backs that dictate that i can not mount w/o getting
up on something or the saddle slides sideways.  my old arab gelding, gone
for 3+ years now, bless him, learned early on that when i climbed up on
something he sidepassed over to me all on his own.

course i used to ride him down the driveway to get the mail with nothing at
all on him too -- well, maybe he had his day sheet on.  same horse and
rider betty couldn't catch in the river a few years ago!

karen