What Side Of A Horse Do You Mount And Dismount – Related Questions Where in the arena should you mount and dismount your horse? Stand slightly behind the shoulder of the horse and place the saddle pad or blanket, with the fold facing front, just behind the horse’s shoulder blades, partially covering the withers. What side of the horse should you saddle the horse on? Generally, you saddle from the left or near side, but your horse should accept saddling from either side. This tradition goes back to the days when horses were used in battle, and the rider’s weapon was a sword. It also causes the muscles on either side of his body to develop differently.ĭoes it matter which side of a horse do you mount? The left side, also called the “near side,” is considered the proper side for mounting and dismounting a horse. Mounting consistently from the left side puts a lot of pressure on the right side of a horse’s withers, which can cause a sore back.
Xenophon was right: there’s a lot to be said for mounting a horse from either side. Why can’t you mount a horse from the right side? Ambidexterity. Make sure your horse is comfortable with you mounting and dismounting on either side. But you’re trail riding, not heading into battle. Soldiers would mount up on their horses left sides so that their swords, anchored over their left legs, wouldn’t harm their horses’ backs. What Side Of A Horse Do You Mount And Dismount? Mounting from the left is just tradition.