It's Monday! So let’s talk Mounting blocks and why they are important for your horses back.

I always encourage people to mount their horses from a nice tall mounting block and these fantastic videos from Centaur Biomechanics illustrate why.

Firstly let’s look at what happens when a tall mounting block is used - https://youtu.be/gUmjVn6AqbU

Now look at what happens when the rider mounts from the ground - https://youtu.be/2_jQEYDApSI

What a difference! In the second video you can see how much the horse is pulled off balance by the weight of the rider. In order to counter this, the horse will tense through their back to steady themselves. If this sort of stress through the horses back is repeated regularly (if you get on from the ground every time you ride) this will lead to compensatory tension of the muscles and joints, leading to discomfort and asymmetrical movement.

I see a similar compensatory pattern in humans with shoulder and back pain due to carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder only or pick up their child repeatedly from the same side.

So if you don’t already, consider using a nice tall mounting block rather than literally climbing your way onboard!