Dismounting Issues

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libby.bricknell

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Sep 10, 2025
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Hi everyone
I'm in my late 60's and returning to the saddle after a few years. I had a riding accident 3 yes ago and since needed a pacemaker fitted.
I have found a brilliant riding school and discovered I have serious difficulties dismounting. I can't get my balance when leaning forward and feel I'm going to fall head first! Secondly my right leg has difficulties clearing the cantle , if it hadn't been for help from staff I would have brought the saddle with me.
They continue to assist at every lesson, I'm having physio and 3 one to one sessions at the gym. Are there any clip on handles or? Any ideas 💡 or recommendations please?
 
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Do you mount using a mounting block. If so can you use it to dismount. I have taught my horses to go back to the mounting block at the end of the ride, to stand so I can dismount.
 
I think you need to give yourself time if you've only just got back into riding. What are you riding in is it a general purpose saddle or a dressage saddle. Is the cantle high at the back because its a dressage saddle.

I often look for a high bank, tree stump, gate, or post and rail to assist when out hacking.
 
Personally, I feel I should be able to dismount safely without draging the saddle with me which is what happened when there was nothing handy to dismount onto. Lifting my leg over the cantle without my leg catching it is a safety hazard and I want to resolve it. Thanks
 
chunky monkey said:
I think you need to give yourself time if you've only just got back into riding. What are you riding in is it a general purpose saddle or a dressage saddle. Is the cantle high at the back because its a dressage saddle.

I often look for a high bank, tree stump, gate, or post and rail to assist when out hacking.
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It's a dressage saddle, yes.
 
I agree with @chunky monkey, give yourself time to get back into the swing of things. She also has a valid point about the style of saddle and it may be worth having a word with the school and asking if you could ride in a gp or even jump saddle for now, it may not be an option but you never know until you ask. Modern dressage saddles tend to be deep seated which will make it much harder for you to swing your leg over the cantle, plus they tend to set and hold a rider into a particular position which may well be why you feel like you'll fall off if you lean forward.
 
carthorse said:
I agree with @chunky monkey, give yourself time to get back into the swing of things. She also has a valid point about the style of saddle and it may be worth having a word with the school and asking if you could ride in a gp or even jump saddle for now, it may not be an option but you never know until you ask. Modern dressage saddles tend to be deep seated which will make it much harder for you to swing your leg over the cantle, plus they tend to set and hold a rider into a particular position which may well be why you feel like you'll fall off if you lean forward.
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I
 
I have ridden in a GP at the riding school and yes, everything takes time, especially as we get older. I have purposely been having 3 one to one gym sessions and swimming 2 times a week. Walking 3 to 5 k a day since April to get fitter- stronger and I feel all the better for it. So 'time' has already been invested and the staff at the riding school have been supportive100%.
I don't think I must the only one with this issue as previous replies have shown riders adapt The safety aspect, especially with my having a pace maker is paramount and I won't always have someone around to stand with me to get off.
I punch the bag from the inside as I say, to stop my world getting smaller on a daily basis. Pushing personal boundaries to be the best, safest, fittest, strongest I can be. So yes as I've said I agree, but my attempts to get better hip rotation and a higher hip rotation is work in progress. What I am seeking in my post is to ascertain IF there is a 'gaget' like there so often is, to assist, untill I've got there physically myself. Thankyou for comments and advice so far. Every little helps as they say! X
 
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Well all, I think I may have found something???

ANCHOR STRAP Rider Safety Strap, stay safe in the saddle *** NEW *** Neck Strap

£30, and it may just go a L O N G way to solve my issue, and a Big plus is that it's got 5* reviews!
Watch this space and again "Thankyou all for taking the time to give your advice " X
 
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It's great that you do so much to keep strong and fit, but remember that despite that riding uses different muscles and so you still need to adapt and strengthen up to it.

I hope the strap helps, if not I wonder if a call to the local RDA group would help? Not to ride with them but to ask if they have any tips or equipment that they use because I'm sure it's the sort of problem they must come across.
 
Hi
Yes it became apparent quite early strength training is "exactly what it says on the tin!"
My Friday session is more about flexibility than strength. I've tried to incorporate everything needed to get me where I want to be, and slowly not rushing... I'm a typical aquarian and want everything yesterday, so Iif I feel I'm slipping into old habits I have to rein myself in excuse the pun x
 
Cavalry dismount works well for me. There are previous threads explaining this. Use search. Cant write more just now as am at theatre
 
libby.bricknell said:
I prefer the conventional method
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Yes, we all would. But some of us are physically unable to dismount that way and you asked for other methods of dismounting that might help you continue to ride.
It is not by personal choice that I dismount the cavalry way. I was taught the cavalry dismount for my own safety at my first RS after a hacker aged 91 fell on the cobbled yard when he was dismounting after a hack. I am now in my eighties and have dismounted that way safely for more than 20 years.
 
ach to their own @Skib . I have to say that, to me, it seems an unsafe way to dismount but I accept it works for some people, I just wouldn't do it that way myself.
 
Hello, I 'm 65 and had a very bad break of my right leg last spring. Despite titanium and screws it is not the leg it was. Dismounting was absolutely the hardest thing to recover and I'm not entirely there yet. I can get off my diamond cob Sid (he's only 14.3) any way I like, as he is extremely patient with me, but the problem is always getting my right leg to play ball, so I feel your pain. I do have some things that have helped me.

(1) Climb over every gate you can and practise swinging your right leg over the gate. The frustrating thing is that I can climb the gate into our field perfectly and swing my right leg over with no problem, but Sid is much wider than a gate and my foot gets caught on his back.

(2) Glad you got a grab strap. I have a strap attached to the D rings of my saddle and that is very helpful for getting myself lined up for (3)

(3) Lean right forward until your belly is on the horse's neck. THROW your right leg up and over. This sometimes works for me. If it does, I have to hang on to Sid like mad to break the jump down because my still-chippy leg doesn't like me landing on it.

(4) If (3) doesn't work and your leg gets caught on the horse's rump, what I do is keep turning until my belly is across the saddle. This causes my foot to drag off and I can slither down. It is the opposite of graceful but it gets the job done.

On the ground exercise that will help are standing on one leg and waving your other leg around in the air, especially with the knee elevated. I look like a sausage pretending to be a ballerina.

The other day when out hacking I dropped my whip and I had to jump off to retrieve it. I was in a gully at the time and managed to swing my leg over (I think adrenaline helped) and step down onto the gully sides, retrieve the whip and hop back on. Sid stood like a statue even when I nipped round behind him to get the whip (he is such a Good Boy). So I appreciate the need to get on and off at will.
 
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