The mounting block in the outdoor ring there isn't all that tall. Bradley is pretty huge. (Close to 18 hands in fact.) There are two troubles with mounting a tall horse when you, yourself, are not tall. First is the obvious. You're not tall. But you know what else is true of not tall riders? Their stirrups are also not long. Thus, you have stubby legs that need to reach up to high stirrups.
Well. I climb myself up on that block and go to put my foot in the stirrup. I can't reach. I'm not sure if my breeches were too tight, or if I've lost all flexibility? Or I'm just too fat to bend my leg enough? I dunno. But I am not reaching that stirrup. I also know Bradley is going to walk off, so I gotta be sure I'm going if I manage to get a toe in there.
FINALLY I manage to get my toe in the stirrup. Just barely. And I grab a chunk of mane and hoist myself up there. Or that was the plan anyway. As I'm hauling my winter-sized bum up onto that brontosaurus, the chunk of mane I grabbed CAME OUT OF HIS NECK. I did manage to climb aboard, but with a handful of loose mane stuck to my fingers. Poor Bradley. Thankfully I didn't leave an actual hole in his mane, but it is a bit thinner down there at the base. I'm gonna need to use a grab strap just to get on him next time. How embarrassing. Note to self: lose weight and go back to yoga!
Has this ever happened to you? Or am I alone in this one?
I am not too proud to admit I have lengthened my stirrups to get on then shortened them once I was on. I of course have never ridden anything taller than 16.2 hands (I think LOL)Short legs unite: )
ReplyDeleteI probably SHOULD have just lengthened my stirrups. Can't say why I didn't... too lazy probably.
DeleteNot quite the same, but over the summer, I was jumping Levi and he had been itching his mane out so the hair was thinned already. I grabbed mane over a jump and pulled the whole chunk of mane out. Like lots of long strands climbed in my hands afterwards. I ended up having to roach him after that.
ReplyDeleteAh! I had a similar experience, went to grab mane, but it was slippery and I slipped right off it! Either way, it's never fun when the handle comes off!
DeleteI have definitely done a mad scramble up the back before and also got made that I shortened Dante or Ramone's mane before needing to get on from the ground
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could possibly get on from the ground anymore. Maybe if the horse laid down first?
Deleteomg i feel this in my bones haha.... solidarity yo. like when i tried to ride my 14.3 mare bareback and had such trouble even getting on her that the nearby parents watching from the sidelines were literally doubled over in laughter..... or, uh, when i went to try my trainer's dressage saddle (without stirrups, natch) on my own brontosaurus, and had such a struggle getting on that i was literally hanging off his side with my trainer positioned below me pushing up all while the horse just sorta stood there sadly... it's possible my hips *still* haven't forgiven that injustice....
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! THIS VISUAL THOUGH! Did you have a hand print bruise on your butt?!
DeleteUm... Been there, done that... too often? The last time I had to get on a taller horse, Thursday, I struggled. Almost knocked over the mounting block in the process... lol.
ReplyDeleteBut, I had to get off Batty the last trail ride I was on because he decided to take off his bridle. And then I had to get back on from a small rock... He's not large. 15.2ish? SO DIFFICULT. I think I put my stirrup down as far as I could and just found the largest rock and hoped I could get on. I also had to get back on a 18 hand horse once on the trail. That was...interesting. I've pulled so many muscles doing that.
I don't think I can hoist my ever expanding butt up from the ground, even if it was a pony at this point!
DeleteOH man this is too funny!!! I'm impressed you tried to get on an 18 h horse from the ground! I certainly do not get on Rio from the ground, ever! I don't know that I could actually...
ReplyDeleteOh it wasn't from the ground! Hahahahaha! Just a short mounting block. Although I don't even think it's that short.
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