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[RC] (Dis)mounting from the Right - katswig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxNat said: As far as mounting or dismounting on the right side - still see no reason to do so. Of course there are some of you who will disagree - that's fine. I simply don't do it, I have different methods of handling tight spaces, and drop offs and see no reason to get off the right side. I can offer a couple of reasons for mounting and/or dismounting on the right and for being able to whether you do it or not. 1) Sometimes out on the trail it just ain't convenient to get on from the left. As a case in point, the trail that goes up the back side of San Gorgonio Peak (~11,400') from Mineshaft Flats (~9,000'...so, above the tree line) is a switch back trail that is about 2' wide on a rocky slope with a 2,000'+ (depending on how far up the trail you are) drop to the ravine below. On one section of this trail, when you are going up it with the drop off on the left, there is a boulder that has to be stepped/jumped? over (about 18" high and 30" wide) and a rocky trail on the other side...and by the time you get to this spot, you are committed, the trail is too narrow to turn around. Nobody in their right mind would consider trying to RIDE a horse over this obstacle (most people in their right mind would really want to lead their horse over it either, but, as I said, the trail is too narrow to turn around). I suppose one COULD get off on the left, but it sure as hell isn't the safest way to do it. And it is a piss poor place to be practicing it for the first time. 2) Mounting (and dismounting, but less so) puts a lot of pressure on one side of the horse at a time, so, if you don't want to make your horse crooked, muscle development-wise, it is only prudent to regularly switch off between mounting from the right and mounting from the left. 3) Mounting a horse requires the rider to use his/her muscles asymmetrically as well. Consequently, always mounting and dismounting from the left not only makes the horse crooked, but it also makes the rider crooked. In fact, one of the things that many people don't like about mounting from the right is that it "feels" awkward to them. If mounting from the right feels awkward to a rider, it is because the rider is asymmetrical. And crooked riders make for crooked horses. Additionally, the only reason NOT to mount from both sides (i.e. from the left only) is if you are a right handed cavalry officer and your long-sword side-arm is in the way because it hangs off your left hip. Mounting from the left is purely a vestigial custom left over from the days when horses were used as cavalry mounts...mostly by right handed people. But even back in the days of mounted cavalry, left handed riders would mount from the right. Mounting from the left is a relic from a by-gone era with no modern reason for doing it other than custom. Mouting from both sides confers huge advantages when the situations arises that mouting from the left is extremely inconvenient, but even if one never encounters nor ever expects to encounter such situations, it is better for the muscle development of both horse and rider to get on and off from both sides of the horse. kat Orange County, Calif. -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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