A Guide to the Emergency Horseback Riding Dismount
Tara Kristoff has served as a teacher, principal, and director of curriculum at multiple Chicago-area schools. She currently serves as principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Brookfield. When she isn’t working, Tara Kristoff is an avid horseback rider.
Even experienced riders like Ms. Kristoff may have difficulty determining whether to attempt an emergency dismount or to instead risk falling from the horse during a dangerous situation. Cases such as heading toward a busy roadway or a low-hanging overhead obstacle, however, often require an emergency dismount.
Riders must begin any emergency dismount by removing both feet from the stirrups. Then, they must drop the reins and place their hands on the horse's withers. Resting their upper body weight on their hands, they next must swing their legs forward and backward to gain the momentum that will raise them out of the saddle and propel them free of both the saddle cantle and the haunches of the horse.
Using the neck of the horse as a fulcrum point, riders should then swing a single leg off the horse with considerable energy and force. At the same time, they must push away from the horse with their hands. The last step in the emergency dismount is to land feet first and, if not, to roll away from the horse.
Even experienced riders like Ms. Kristoff may have difficulty determining whether to attempt an emergency dismount or to instead risk falling from the horse during a dangerous situation. Cases such as heading toward a busy roadway or a low-hanging overhead obstacle, however, often require an emergency dismount.
Riders must begin any emergency dismount by removing both feet from the stirrups. Then, they must drop the reins and place their hands on the horse's withers. Resting their upper body weight on their hands, they next must swing their legs forward and backward to gain the momentum that will raise them out of the saddle and propel them free of both the saddle cantle and the haunches of the horse.
Using the neck of the horse as a fulcrum point, riders should then swing a single leg off the horse with considerable energy and force. At the same time, they must push away from the horse with their hands. The last step in the emergency dismount is to land feet first and, if not, to roll away from the horse.
