Mounting Your Horse

MOUNTING 1. Lead your horse to the mounting block. Make sure the mounting block is on the left side of the horse. When you use a mounting block it eases the weight and the pressure on the horse's back. 2. ALWAYS check your horse's girth or cinch just before mounting, no matter who saddled the horse. Many times the girth will become loose after the horse's initial saddling. The girth or cinch should be very snug - two fingers should fit between the girth and the horse's side. If the girth or cinch is too loose your weight could pull the saddle to one side from your weight, and the horse could be startled, or you could fall off. If it's too tight, some skin could get caught and it could pinch the horse any make him angry or force him to move forward making it difficult for you to mount. 3. Place the reins over your horse's head. Make sure that the reins are even and flush against the horse's neck. 4. Take the reins in your left hand. Make sure that you have a bit of pressure on the horse�s mouth so that he will not move. 5. Place your left hand on the horse's mane, grabbing a handful of mane. 6. Place your right hand on the cantle of your saddle for security and safety. 7. Place your left foot into the stirrup. Make sure that your weight is in your heel for security and stability. 8. Swing your right leg up and over the saddle, and make sure that you land gently on the horses back. DO NOT JUST THUMP DOWN WITH ALL YOUR WEIGHT ON HIS BACK. 9. Sit down in the saddle and adjust your feet and reins. DISMOUNTING 1. Bring your horse to a complete stop. 2. Put your reins in your left hand, while maintaining slight pressure on the horse's mouth so that we will stay stopped. 3. Take your right foot out of the stirrup. 4. Swing your right leg over the saddle. Making sure that you grab the cantle of your saddle with your right hand. 5. Pause while balancing on your hands, and kick your left foot free of the stirrup iron. 6. Push lightly away from the horse and drop to the ground. 7. Slide the stirrup irons up the back strap of the stirrups, and tuck the loose ends into the irons on the left and then on the right. 8. Pull the reins over horse's head. 9. Lift up the saddle flap and loosen the girth on your saddle by one or two holes.