EC Question of the Day- Help For All the Short Equestrians Out There
Horses are big animals! Not to mention that it’s hard enough to climb aboard with tight show clothing and chaps that pretty much restrict all movement. Are you a ‘give me a boost’ kind of equestrian? Do you carry a mounting stool, use a fence assist, teach your horse to bow?
Check out what our Equine Chronicle readers had to say!
Jessica Parris- “We have one of those in our barn! We call it the Stairway to Heaven.”
Bradie Kish- “I need basically a ladder to get on my horse for Equitation… and he’s growing.”
Chiara Buckwheat Raffaelli- “5.4 me vs my 17+ hand elephant!”
Kristi Bidinger- “This is all me. Thank goodness there are step stools. My older gelding let’s me get on off a picnic table.”
Andrea LaManque- “My braiding ladder serves many purposes and goes with me everywhere. It’s a ladder, mounting block, chair… best money spent.”
Penny Schwegel- “Anything I can find. If I’m at home, I use a 3-stepper, and at the show grounds a fence or 2-stepper, and on trail ride I put my horse lower than me. There are many ways out there. It’s everyone to their own device and what works for them. Fun question.”
Katie Deisler- “I remember a time my dad gave me a leg-up for a bareback class and threw me over the horse completely. Now, as a coach, I’m the one giving leg ups!”
Kennedy Almas- “I’m 28 and I still take my dad everywhere to give me a leg up. I only need it when I’m dressed to show.
I’ve used many different things to climb on when he’s not around- rocks, bleachers, truck tailgates, whatever is around!”
Pamela Hayes Allen- “I always carry a step stool! I also think it’s better for the horse’s back to use one.”
Lisa Burroughs-Tamborra- “A 3-step portable mounting block. Studies have shown that mounting from the ground is not good for both your saddle tree or the horse’s back.”
Margaret Corbin- “I used to mount first with chaps unzipped. Hubby would zip me up. Ha! No leg movement.”
Diane Scott Hammond- “I’m 67 with a right leg that hardly holds me up (old horse injury). Getting on and off necessitates a mounting block without chaps!”
Allison Ritson- “Rubbermaid has the best lightweight step stool and doesn’t tip easily!”
Nadene Lange- “I started using a small step ladder in the 80s, or the bumper of my trailer.”
Carla Whaley- “Yes, a stepping stool definitely!”
Patti Salmon Murphy- “Some days I feel like I need a hydraulic lift!”
Gail Hayek- “The boost is just awkward for all involved…”
Deanna Ross- “I carry a 3-step mounting block with me everywhere I go.”
Christine Cuipylo- “I have a 2-step in my trailer and a 3-step in my arena.”
Laci Huber- “All about the stool!”
Tracy Carvell- “I will always give a boost or share my mounting block. If you are Catherine Elia-Shea, she may say choose the block!”
Jan Little- “Always take pinkie the 3-stepper!”
Kerry K Papendick- “And us old Select riders!”
Tracie Walner Clark- “Give me a boost.”
Jeri Kay- “Always have my stool with me.”
Lynne Lewis- “Mounting block.”
Tamra Sisk- “Step stool.”
Kate Van Ness- “I have literally had to climb up to the tailgate of the truck to get on before! Granted, it was for a bareback class…but my horse was only 15.1.”
Carly Smith- “Step stool. If not that then a gate or beg for a boost!”
Vickie Devore- “Step stool and boost some days.”
Diane Chilton-Harper- “Step ladder.”
Be sure to answer our Question of the Day on The Equine Chronicle’s Facebook page for the chance to be included.
