mounting

Jeff Forbes (forbes@vail.net)
Sat, 09 Nov 1996 10:40:24 -0700

To add to (not to correct!) Genie's discussion on mounting, I learned in
a clinic from a great hoseperson (whose name I can't remember - he was a
former Olympian I think) that the most important thing after the couple
of bounces on the right leg, is to get your weight centered over the
horse as quickly as possible, so as not to cause the horse to strain
under your pulling to the side, then gently swing the right leg around
and settle onto her/his back softly. This starts your ride out on a
good note with the horse!

For the dismount he suggested both hands on the pommel, left foot out of
the stirrup, swing the right leg around as you balance on your hands
over the center on the horse's back, then push your body off and away.
Again, this will not unbalance the horse or pull the saddle to the side.

These are the same basic principles as mounting and dismounting without
a saddle. For the saddle to slip to the side as one mounts, regardless
of lightweight or heavyweight, would more likely be "operator error"
than a saddle defect!

The other thing this guy said, which I just love because of all the
different riding diciplines out there, and the western/english
controversy and debate of all the riders who think their mode is best,
is that "riding is riding." A good rider is a balanced rider, as all
bareback aficionados know! (Otherwise you're wobbling around on a
confused horse) I ride my flat-backed paint bareback as often as
possible just to remind my body of balance and my mind of ego. (My
endurance prospect feels like a fence rail to ride bareback, although I
don't ride many fence rails.)

Riding is riding and balance is everything!

Bambi