Horse Riding: How To Mount

This is how we're going to learn how to mount a horse correctly. So, Jennifer's going to bring Chester to the mounting block. Chester's very used to this type of mounting block.

Make sure your horse is well trained and get someone to give you a hand if you're not sure. It's really important you use the correct type of mounting block. Some people like to use chairs and things like that but it can be very dangerous.

So it needs to be sturdy and on level ground to make sure no accidents happen. Before you get on, it's very important that you learn to check your own tack. So Jennifer's going to check her girth and make sure it's tight enough.

This ensures that when she does get on that the saddle doesn't slip. Ok.then she's going to pull down her stirrups and just check the length before she gets on. This will ensure that when she gets on the horse, it saves times and that she's not going to spend too much time messing around with him.

Ok.the reason we use a mounting block is because then it's safer for the horse's back. Mounting from the floor can sometimes pull on the back of the saddle and can cause damage to the horse's spine. So it's much better to get yourself a mounting block to get on from.

Also, ask for help from the other side. So if you've got someone holding the stirrups from the other side, this again prevents the saddle from slipping. So Jennifer's going to show us how to get on.

As she gets up, now we know this horse is very use to having someone standing on the mounting block, she's going to make sure that the reins are nice and secure. Not so tight that he walks backwards but nice and secure so that he can't walk forward. She's going to put her left foot in the stirrup, hold on to the other side of the saddle and gently low herself down.

It's really important that you make sure you take time to lower your weight into the saddle, as Jennifer did, so that you're not landing hard on the horse's back and causing him any damage. Straight away, she's picked up her reigns so that the horse can't walk on. While she's there, she's just going to make sure her weight is even in the saddle and that she's sitting nice and comfortably before she starts the beginning of her lesson.