👉 If these tips helped you, please like, subscribe, and share your experience in the comments!
Hoof Falls & Footfalls has MORE resources for adaptive/therapeutic riding instructors:
📌 Intuitive Instructor Club - Hoof Falls & Footfalls: https://hooffallsandfootfalls.com/coaching-2/
📌 Hoof Falls & Footfalls Website: hooffallsandfootfalls.com/
📌 Follow HF&F on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hooffallsandfootfalls
📌 AR/TR Instructor Blog: learn.hooffallsandfootfalls.com/blog/
📌 HF&F Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6KbyFFTX5PtedHiRCRo4An?si=83743e13a65a4966
Struggling with sloppy, sticky, or out-of-control dismounts in your riding lessons?
In this video, I break down the top 3 dismount mistakes I see horseback riding instructors make and how to fix them for safer, smoother, more successful dismounts.
These dismount tips apply to:
• Adaptive horseback riding instructors
• Therapeutic riding instructors
• Beginner riding lessons
• Independent and assisted dismounts
• English saddles, bareback pads, hunter/jumper, and most Western saddles
If you teach riders with physical, cognitive, emotional, or learning differences, this video will help you improve body mechanics, rider confidence, and instructor safety during dismounts.
I walk you through:
• The most common hand position errors during dismounts
• Why riders get stuck swinging their leg over the saddle
• How to correctly cue and support the off-side leg (“boot to tail”)
• Where helpers and sidewalkers should support (and where they should not)
• Why riders bail or roll off instead of standing up first
• A simple Hands → Legs → Upright checklist you can use immediately
These are the first three things I troubleshoot when an instructor tells me a dismount doesn’t feel safe, smooth, or controlled.
I also share how to:
• Support riders without creating more problems
• Prevent dismount anxiety and rushing
• Practice dismount skills off the horse to protect lesson horses
If you teach adaptive riding, therapeutic riding, or beginner lessons, this checklist can dramatically improve your dismount outcomes right away.
Chapters:
00:00 – Why dismounts go wrong
01:36 – Who I am and who this is for
03:43 – Mistake #1: Hand position
08:19 – Mistake #2: The leg getting stuck
16:05 – Mistake #3: Not getting upright
20:04 – Clean, supported dismount example
22:45 – Protecting lesson horses and practice tips
23:59 – Free resources and next steps
Disclaimer: The information provided by Hoof Falls & Footfalls is for educational purposes only and is intended to support instructors in expanding their knowledge and skills. It is not a substitute for professional training, certification, or individual judgment. By choosing to implement any of the ideas, techniques, or practices shared here, you do so at your own risk and accept full responsibility for the outcomes. Hoof Falls & Footfalls and its creator, Saebra, assume no liability for any injuries, damages, or losses resulting from the use of the information provided. Always ensure the safety and well-being of your students, horses, and yourself by following appropriate safety guidelines and industry best practices.
