No one has to tell a mountain biker that the unexpected It should be expected, or that the exception to the rule is the rule. We’ve seen it all, from crazy terrain in the field to wild reactions from a horse. The trail can throw a lot of curveballs our way! I guess that’s why we like it so much. To help all of us stay safe, I will talk about a variety of situations that Can gold could not they require a controlled and quick exit from the saddle.

Commit to the journey

Most of the time, you are safest in the saddle. When I start foals I commit to the ride and I don’t look for a place to land or cloud my thoughts with “what ifs”. I confidently sit down and mount the horse. When jumps, side steps, and steeds happen, I stay centered and teach the horse that all is well and I’m not going anywhere. This is not the time to lease. My horse gains confidence and I stay safe by staying balanced and mounted.

To continue building personal confidence in addition to a better riding saddle, stick with horses that suit your ability and ride in areas that are easy to negotiate. With experience, time in the saddle, you can recognize TRUE danger. I used to ride with my boss’s brother. He was not an experienced rider. At the first sign of “trouble,” he would clasp his hands and throw himself out of his chair to the floor. In fact, it got kind of funny for the rest of us. In my opinion, it would have been better if he had committed to the trip.

The “Step Out”

to learn to lower your horse quickly, focus on Going up better. In my training program I spend a lot of time doing up downs. This is a confidence building exercise for the horse where I stay energized by his side and gradually mount the horse until both legs are in the stirrups. This actually does a lot for the rider as it teaches our body to mount and dismount smoothly and quickly without pulling on the saddle. If he can carry on gracefully, chances are he can “hang out” with a few as well.

When I go trail riding I usually have a full rain suit, sweater and vest all rolled up and tied behind the cantle, plus panniers. These items can keep your leg from swinging. Practice mounting and dismounting with “up downs” at home and make sure you are confident and ready to react correctly when necessary.

help the horse

Sometimes it is necessary to get off the horse to help him. A good example would be a horse that has sunk in a bog. Obviously, this was not a planned event. But now that he feels that his horse is unable to lift itself from this careless gait, he can gently slip his leg over the edge and stand beside him. This takes all that extra weight off of you and allows you to regain your balance quickly. In this case you would not release your kidneys if you can help it. Once you’re back on solid ground, take a moment and go over it to let it settle before you remount and ride away.

Another example is when a horse stumbles. This is not always an “easy decision” as many horses stumble from time to time and in almost all of these cases staying is the correct response. But every once in a while, like last week for me, a horse stumbles up to both knees. In this situation, you can quickly move away from him and let him get his legs back under him. This has happened to me in the snow, on the rocks and with young horses that are on their first rides. When a horse stumbles, it is not always helpful to offset the weight of him trying to get off. Sometimes you can make it worse. Experience will help you decide.

For the sake of the riders

Getting out of the saddle quickly does not always benefit the horse. Sometimes it’s better for his security. An example might be a horse that rears up and might roll over backwards. Nobody wants this to happen to them, but even good horses run into ground wasps from time to time. Again, experience will tell you if you should stay or quit, but if you decide to dismount, decide quickly. Lean forward and grab the mane as you swing your leg and lower. And if there is are Land wasps, run for the water!

Another instance where you might go down for your own safety is when a horse begins to buck from trotting in an unsafe manner, such as rocks or near a cliff. I once boarded a young horse with a large pack board strapped to my back. He reached at least a foot above my head and was quite heavy. I guess he didn’t like it, because before my weight could be centered on the chair, he went crazy. Now, he was very proud of our chain for not being rude and green, but in front of several others, the bucking just wouldn’t stop. He wasn’t in the saddle and he wasn’t out of it. He was in a high alpine camp with a big rock and a fallen tree next to me. It was not a safe landing. I held on until I got my hiking boot out of the left stirrup and finally got down. I was pretty young so I went back up and he was fine. Actually, I probably missed the “signals” and got a bit lucky.

Some horses just like to roll. if your horse sees sand gold water and you like to drop and roll, get ready to get off. This is not a safe reaction, albeit a fun one. I once rode a horse named Sampson who would fall in a little puddle if he was hot. I only got off it once and then watched as others found the quirk of it over the years.

The “Roll Off”

Several years ago I was training a very challenging horse at John Lyons’ ranch in Colorado. The group of students, of which I was a part, took a lesson on how to “dismount” their horses in case of an emergency. All eyes were on me as I had a really crazy foal. This was to prepare us for a trail ride outside of the big arena. My horse had proven not to be so trustworthy in the arena, so it was safe to assume it might not be out in the open. (Note: At home, they would have packed it lightly or placed it between two good horses on a narrow trail to limit options.)

Once on the trip, indeed, he stepped on a soda can and it got stuck in his foot. I know, what are the odds! After a few steps, she started to tremble and then she was gone. He was officially a fugitive. No fences to hold him while he “unstuck.” They all yelled at me to get off. With my ego in check, I did as directed not an hour before. I dropped the reins, removed both feet from the stirrups, and rolled back onto the horse’s left hip. I landed gracefully on my left elbow; but I survived! In all my years, this is the only time I’ve needed to do this. I learned a good lesson about how to prevent this from happening, but I also learned how to make a quick decision, get to safety with my hands and feet, and dismount a runaway horse. We picked him up a quarter of a mile away in the woods, tangled up in the heather.

mountain configurations

On severe, steep climbs, I have never had a situation that warrants an emergency dismount. I have always felt more secure being centered and with the horse; whereas, on steep descents I have. Sometimes a long walk downhill can really move the saddle up the horse’s neck. It is usually by surprise, or else you would already be on foot. In this case, stay very focused until you are ready and then briskly walk to the high side of the trail. If you were to fall forward, it could be very dangerous. Remember, long downhill trails should be taken horse in hand. When you’re on a sloping trail, where one side is high and the other slopes down, remember to step to the high side.

If you want to see a quick “get off” in action, check out a roper. Those guys get out of the chair and start running. It takes a lot of takedowns to be this fast and fluid, but practice will prepare you for the moment you need it most. Stay alert and watch your footing, your horse and your footing on the trail and remember that a swan plunge is never the answer. Have fun and ride safe!