The advantage of a permanent mounting block is stability; unlike a portable mounting block, which can be tippy when placed on uneven ground, a permanent mounting block is taller, easy to use, and will never be unstable. | Photo: Alayne Blickle

I discovered the joys of a “real” mounting block about 10 years ago when I tore my right ACL and several other key ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. After the requisite surgery, my wait to get back on a horse was going to be six or more months. But with a permanent mounting block in my future my surgeon was happy to release me at three months to get back in the saddle. That sweet day when I could swing a leg over my horse couldn’t arrive fast enough, and I was so excited for the new, sturdy mounting block my husband, Matt, was building me.

For safety reasons, every riding facility should have a sturdy mounting block. This essential piece of equipment aids riders in both mounting and dismounting, thereby preventing injuries and allowing greater riding accessibility to everyone, even kids. Plus, elevating the rider a foot or more from the ground reduces torque on your horse’s back as well as on the saddle.

The advantage of a permanent mounting block is stability; unlike a portable mounting block, which can be tippy when placed on uneven ground, a permanent mounting block is taller, easy to use, and will never be unstable. The disadvantage is its permanency, so once you have it in place, you can’t move