Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

On Tue, 5 Oct 2004, Chris Paus wrote:

> That's not a silly fear. I trashed my knee dismounting
> cowboy style. Now I never will leave one foot in the
> stirrup while dismounting. I always dismount English
> style.

I agree, I never have one foot in the stirrup if I can avoid it, whether 
mounting or dismounting. I have learned (through PNH) to have my horse 
sidle up to me for mounting while I am on top of a fence, the bed of my 
truck, the fender of my trailer, a tree stump, a stepladder, or anything 
else I can climb up on and be able to drop lightly into the saddle without 
putting a foot in the stirrup at all.  For dismounting, I developed a 
rather odd style of dropping both stirrups, leaning forward over the 
withers, kicking my feet up and and sliding down the horse's shoulder with 
my hands low over his neck & withers.  I've been told I look a bit funny 
doing it <BG> but it's easy to do and I consider it very safe for me and 
the horse.

I think it's better for the horse's back long term (and your stirrup 
leathers) if you don't put your weight in only one stirrup.

--
Glenda R. Snodgrass
AERC #M18819
SE Region

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