Q: I saw someone on our yard dismount ‘cowboy fashion’ – ie, leave their left foot in the stirrup. Is this okay to do?
Horse&Rider answers: No, remove both feet from the stirrups or you run the risk of being dragged if the horse panics and bolts. Also, if you leave a foot in, you’re tipping your weight to one side, which puts strain on the horse’s back and saddle.
Only in extreme cases – eg, if you physically can’t dismount the usual way – should you use the one-foot method.
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