Hollywood Style

The idea of getting on a horse’s from behind is stuff seen only in movies; planting both hands on the animal’s rump, spring up and into the saddle. It’s the favorite horse mounting technique of folks like Tom Mix, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.

Having enjoyed their movies throughout the years, and having had access to horses and saddles as a kid, I had learned how to do this sort of mount. I called it, “Hollywood Style.”

I ended up promising a display of my skill once back at the stables.

Once there, I dismounted, backed up a few feet, then raced forward. I placed both hands firmly on the horse’s backside and leaped up and forward.

Unfortunately, the horse put his head down to take a bite of hay, changing the arch of its back. I sailed right over the saddle, right over the horse’s shoulders, right over its neck and right over the head.

My legs were splayed out from side-to-side and there was no way to recover. I landed with an awful thud, hard on my butt.

They say it’s not bragging–if you can do it.