Getting off and on a horse is not as simple as it seems. The proper way to mount a horse is far too frequently overlooked despite how important it is to riding. Mounting a horse correctly also means caring for the horse’s back while adding to your health and safety.

Before you can mount the horse, make sure the western tack fastened is secure you’re your helmet is on. There are several ways you can mount the horse and they are almost always done on the left side of the horse.

The first way is commonly called a leg up and it requires the help of another rider to give you a leg up. Begin by facing the saddle, and then bend your left leg to about a 90 degree angle. The person giving you the leg up will hold your knee in both hands and you will bounce on your free leg. This gives a nice bounce up to the saddle kind of like you were jumping right up to the saddle.

Many adult beginner riders find this method a little uncomfortable because they believe the person doing the lifting will be handling too much of their weight. As a matter of fact, they are perfectly ok. You can even help them out a little by working together and hopping with your other foot to give you a good boost. This provides enough momentum to get you off the ground and into the saddle.

Another common method for mounting a horse is to use amounting block. It can either be a one or two step box. Lead your horse to it and have him face you on the left side while you are standing on the mounting block. The block must be very sturdy. If it shifts at all under your weight, you can possibly get hurt.

Some horses can be hesitant about lining up at a mounting block so try to keep that in mind. If your particular horse doesn’t seem to keen on the idea either, ask someone for help by holding the bridle on the right side. Try to align the horse on the right side, then, as you step on the mounting block from left side, pulling on the rein a little to turn his head slightly right. This prevents the horse from swinging its hindquarters away from the block.

Don’t flop into the saddle like a sack of potatoes. You now know how to mount a horse the correct way. Hope you have fun learning how to ride.