30 July 2010

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Reader Rant : Reader rant: why you should always use a mounting block to get on board

Friday 24 July 2009

People who mount their horse from the ground, hauling themselves up, drive me absolutely crackers.

I have been told it has been proven by examinations of horse carcasses that permanent bruising and damage is done to the muscles that run alongside the spine, particularly down the offside, from mounting from the ground.

It really is a no-brainer.

We try so hard to keep everything on our horses as symmetrical as possible, and to protect their backs.

But some riders (and even instructors) seem to think it is a point of honour to be able to haul yourself up onto your poor, desperately-bracing-itself horse from the floor.

As a child someone said to me “real riders don't need a mounting block”, so unfortunately I always mounted from the floor until someone told me the error of my ways.

I'd love to be able to go back and apologise to those poor ponies and horses, whose muscles I probably damaged in my ignorance.

If a rider can vault on, I take my hat off to them – I've seen plenty of people who can – as this is the only way anyone should get on to a horse from the floor.

Otherwise, there is no shame in walking until you find something to clamber on to, or begging someone for a leg-up.

A saddler told me that dressage saddles are particularly susceptible to breakage after being twisted by someone mounting from the ground.

So for the sake of your horse's back – and your saddle – please, please never mount from the floor.

Unless you are featherweight, and/or have the spring of an Olympic gymnast!



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