As with anything, learning how to get of a horse comes with practice before you can dismount with more speed and accuracy. We go through the step by step process of how to get off a horse safely and calmly.
1. Make sure the horse is calmly standing still
Never try to get off a horse while it is still moving. Especially if you’re riding a young or inexperienced horse, or if your horse has been spooked or is antsy, make sure to calm him down before trying to dismount him. The best thing you can do to prepare your horse for you to dismount is to move your weight around a little while trying to calm him. That way your dismounting doesn’t spook him.
2. Hold the horse’s mane and reins in your left hand
Take the reins in your left hand loosely, making sure there is a little slack. Do not yank them in any way. With the same hand, grab onto your horse’s mane to help keep your balance. This will not hurt your horse. You will be dismounting your horse on the left side because that is usually the side that horses are trained for when dismounting.
3. Take your right foot out of the stirrup
Make sure your feet are in the stirrups correctly and then stand up. Using your right hand, grab the front of the saddle for balance. Lean the toes on your right foot down to slip your foot out of the stirrup. As soon as you do this, in a fluid continued motion, move on to your next step.
(If you have an English saddle with no raised pommel then curl your fingertips under the saddle at the front for balance.)
4. Swing your right foot over the horse’s backside (rump)
Follow through with your next step on how to get off a horse which is to lean forward and swing your right foot over the backend of your horse. Please make sure you swing it high enough so that you don’t accidentally kick your horse but make it a steady and calm movement.
5. Complete the dismount
Using one foot
There are two different ways on how to get off a horse. To be able to get off a horse using only one foot, you just need to bring your right foot to the ground. You keep your other foot in the stirrup and keep your hands on the reins and the front of your saddle. Bend your knee a little when you land, this will absorb most of the impact. Then all you need to do is slide your left foot out of your stirrup.
If you’re not tall enough to be able to place your left foot into the stirrup from standing on the ground then you will need to use a platform to be able to dismount. Either that or you’ll need to use the method for dismounting with both feet.
Using Both Feet
You can also learn how to get off a horse pulling your left foot from the stirrup also and just slide down the horse’s side, down to the ground. Make sure to do this in a continuous motion. Dismounting in a jerky motion can spook your horse. Bend at the knees slightly as you land to help to absorb the impact.
This is the best and safest way of dismounting for young riders or new riders. It can be accomplished from any height and there is no risk of having your foot get hung up on the stirrup.
Never shake your leg or jerk it around to push it from the stirrup as the horse may take it as a signal to move forward.
Dismounting from a sidesaddle
If you decide to ride your horse sidesaddle, the best way to dismount is to request that someone help you down. Choosing to jump down from the saddle on your own will normally cause your clothing to get caught on the tack. It also makes it extremely hard to keep hold of the reins.
Dismounting when bareback
How to get off a horse when riding bareback is to swing your leg over the back of the horse like you’d do when riding with a saddle. Lean forward toward the horse’s neck before you swing your leg. Once your right leg is on the left side then simply slide down the horse’s belly and drop to the ground. This needs to be done in one fluid motion and done quickly to avoid losing your balance.
Always remember, when learning how to get off a horse, safety always has to come first. A horse is a beautiful but huge animal. Take the time to learn how to dismount properly to keep from getting hurt and to keep your horse from being spooked.