How to mount a tall horse?

Question

I have a 17hh thoroughbred. I want to take him for a long trail ride, but mounting is a problem for me. I want to be able to get off and let him relax and graze along the way, but I cannot get on him easily without a little help (mounting block). Are there any tricks to getting onto a tall horse from the ground? I do not want to rely on the fact that there will be a rock or log nearby just in case we find ourselves in a situation where I have to get off and there is no where to get back on. We are going to be riding in a western saddle, so lowering the stirrup and then raising would not work so well. How can I mount him from the ground without using a ledge?

Answer 1

I think it would be awesome if you ould train him to kneel for you.....but realistically, the is a cool thing called a stirrup in a bag that you can buy for like $40. I'll try to find the link for you. Here you go! http://www.equestriancollections.com/product.asp?ic=CC00071R

Answer 2

I use a vaulting saddle normaly or just bareback but ive used western saddles a couple times. What i do with my vaulting is i put my left foot in the strap (kinda a stirrup) and i stand kinda near her shoulder facing slightly away and keep my hand up in the middle (where a western horn would be) and turn foward her and use the momentum from turning to swing my leg up. Though on my vaulting saddle the strap is just a thin strap connected at both ends on the girth near the handles at the top and the bottom near the cinch. This is a little dangerous with a vaulting saddle and if you kick the horse when swinging and she takes off there is almost no way to get your foot out of the strap, but it worked well in a western saddle and the stirrups are made so if need be your foot slides out. But make sure not to kickthe horse, my horse is trained and knows not to bolt, but some your really gotta swing up there or they run

Answer 3

It's actually fairly easy to teach a horse to come stand next to the fence or mounting block, even if the horse is high strung. I do it all the time, probably have taught at least 100 horses to do this. The problem is it takes too long to write out the process! It's just basic horse training, but your timing and cues need to be correct, so I'd need to stand next to you as you worked with her. Sorry, not much help, but you may find someone nearby who has done this (in a gentle way). A high strung horse has to be handled with her temperament in mind, so don't get a QH trainer to help you, as the method is quite different. (PS, I'm not very tall, either, and I ride a lot of very large horses! I can only swing up on the short ones, and I can't do it wearing chaps or half-chaps!) ;-)

Answer 4

Katniss- yes because we all carry mounting blocks with us on trails *face palm*



I like the idea of the stirrup extensions/whatever that device was someone else posted. Very neat idea.



Also if you are tall enough and can stretch enough stretch before you get in the saddle, reach your foot into the saddle (ya your knee might be in your face but you do what you have to do), grab the mane as far up as you can, grab the front of the saddle (horn can be used), bounce a few times, then launch yourself up.

Answer 5

The only thing I can think of is to jump up in the stirrup (as if you were going bareback) then swing your leg over quickly so you don't disturb the horse, or you can find a tree stump and use that as a step up. I do that when I go to get my horse in the field and I don't feel like walking half a mile back up to the barn lol.

Answer 6

It's really difficult to say but the only think I can really think about is just try your best to reach the stirrup and pull hard ;P Sorry

Answer 7

Thats EASY!!!!!!! If your horse is too tall to mount from the ground just get a mounting block or someting to stand on that wont spook ur horse.If it's not tall enough just get something taller to stand on.Edit:I was being a little stupid but I just read the title,not the whole thing:(sorry.

Answer 8

Very interesting question, hope we'll get some good answers

Answer 9

there are like stirrupp extentions you can buy from tack shops