The act of mounting from the ground requires the rider to literally defy gravity, and according to Jeff Thomason, associate professior of biomechanical science at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Canada, the force that the rider exerts in ground mounting doubles the rider’s weight in the stirrup!   This results in the saddle being jerked down and toward the rider, causing discomfort for the horse, and, over time, damage to your saddle’s tree.  And the farther away the rider is from the horse in height, the more torque (or twisting) the horse experiences.  Considering how tightly girthed our saddles have to be in order to mount without ending up underneath the horse, you can imagine how painful it must be to be jerked around like that.

Since horses are built more longitudinally stable (their fairly long backs coupled with feet close together),  mounting from the ground inevitably  displaces the horse’s position and throws him off balance.   The pull of the saddle forces the horse to shift his weight to the left legs, thus causing  imbalance to the right.  To compensate for this, the horse must then raise his back on the left side, and, coupling this with the rider’s grasp on the reins, the horse is unable to rebalance himself using his head and neck as a counterweight.

As the rider mounts the horse, the panels of the saddle press against the horse’s spine especially at the withers and digs into the muscles on the near side.  Over time, this regular jarring can have a devastating effect on the health of the horse’s back.  For a horse with chronic back pain, this could mean a greater chance of injury, and, at the very least, an undermining of his chiropractor’s hard work!  A fascinating article on the subject, written by Karen Smith and found athttp://equisearch.com/horses_care/health/anatomy/ease_mounting_pressures_021009/, discusses studies done on the effects of ground mounting on the horse.

Mounting from the ground actually puts the rider at risk, as a horse’s discomfort can lead to misbehavior that can cause the rider to become off-balanced.  According to Doris Bixby Hammett, MD of the AMA, the first 15 minutes of riding (including mounting time) is when the rider is most susceptible to injury, including muscle and tendon strains to concussions from being dragged or tossed off by a misbehaving horse.  Using a mounting block whenever possible will lessen the odds of a mounting-related injury, as there is less strain to the rider as well.

Using a mounting block will provide less strain on the horse, the rider, and the saddle.  Stirrup leathers will last much longer (although you still will want to rotate them regularly to avoid uneven stretching), and your saddle’s tree will definitely experience greater longevity, as there is  significantly less torque applied when mounting from a block.  Considering that a saddle is pretty much useless if the tree has been compromised, it may be considered wise to prevent harm to the tree whenever possible.

Of course some riders will say that they’re not always around a mounting block (like on the trails, for example).  Occasional ground mounting may be necessary, but if your horse will allow you to mount from, say a log on the ground or a strong fence rail, you might want to consider doing so (safely, of course).

The tree points flex with the horse’s movement, allowing for optimal shoulder clearance, with +2 cm forwardness in the flap.  This saddle is customized for horse and rider, and the adaptability of the tree means that if your horse changes, or if you change horses, you’ll be better able to alter the saddle to fit.  The tree boasts a lifetime warranty, so you can ride in confidence for years to come.

Extra foam in the seat make this the most comfortable jump saddle I’ve sat in to date!

We’ve finally got the ThinLine Anatomic Jumping Girth for all to enjoy!  I’ve been riding with this girth for the last year or so and have been very impressed with it.  The leather is a high quality European leather that is as beautiful as it is durable.  The ThinLine lining not only keeps your saddle from shifting, but also keeps your horse cool and comfortable with its breathable anti-microbial properties.   The girth is easy to care for.  Simply clean the ThinLine material with ThinLine wipes and use your regular leather cleaner and conditioner for the exterior of the girth.

My mare Contessa has always had issues with girths giving her gall sores or, in the case of neoprene, causing her hair to fall out completely. Her sensitive skin has made girth shopping a nightmare.   Every girth I’ve had I have had to cover with either sheepskin or a similar breathable material to keep her happy.  This is the first girth I can use as-is, and the first girth that has kept her comfortable.  I highly recommend this girth!  And at $169, it’s a great value.  Click Here to check it out!  Dressage girths are also available by special order.