Jumping Side Saddle

[Twisting]

I’ve been riding astride for almost 20 years now, and decided I needed to spice things up. Dressage bored the pants off me, and western saddles involve way too much leather, so I decided to try riding side saddle. I bought a nice little Elan from Marti and I’ve been riding in it at least once a week or so. Unfortunately there is no one I can take lessons from here in Hawaii so I’m winging it.

I’m loving it. I’m comfortable at all three gaits and I’ve got a pretty decent trotting serpentine down pat. I’m still working on the posting trot though, I get all discombobulated still. Should I wait until after I master the posting trot to try jumping? Is there anything else I need to be able to do before I start jumping? I was hoping to start popping over pole/cavaletti’s some time next month.

My astride trainer is quite supportive of me, and plans on working with me while I figure out the jumping thing. I figure that even if she doesn’t know anything about side saddles she can still remind me to keep my shoulders back and breathe (not to mention calling 911 should it be needed).

[SidesaddleRider]

Well, first off, DO NOT jump in an Elan sidesaddle. The tree is NOT reinforced for jumping with a steel hunting bar, and you are more likely than not to crack the tree after a while. You should only jump in a reinforced saddle. It is VERY expensive to repair a cracked tree.

Second, we generally do not do a posting trot in a sidesaddle unless you are doing dressage where the test calls for it. Sitting is the name of the game. If you want to know how to do it though, all you do is lightly roll forward on your right thigh, just barely lifting your seat bones gently off the saddle. You do NOT come up and out of the saddle like when riding astride.

When jumping aside, you want to remember the following: 1) ALWAYS (just like when riding on the flat) keep your right toe D-O-W-N. There is a trainer around here that teaches her students to go around with their right heel down, and it drives me crazy. Having your right heel down loosens up the grip of your right knee–so needles to say, it is not really good for security. 2) Your jumping position involves rolling forward lightly onto your right thigh (like the post), and think “left shoulder to horse’s right ear” when you are releasing. It helps to counter-balance your legs on the left. 3) Make sure your reins are long enough that you can easily give your horse a release (crest or auto). 4) Do not snap back quickly in mid air or before the horse has fully landed. Make sure you stay forward until the horse completes the whole arc of the jump and comes forward upon landing.

[Twisting]

According to Marti the Elan is reinforced for jumping, I was clear that jumping was my goal when I spoke with her about purchasing a saddle. I will email her and double check before I jump anything though.

Thank you for the advice. I will pass it along to my instructor as well, so she can help me sort things out, should the tree be fit for jumping.

[Brigit]

Well congrats on joining the sidesaddle world! It is SO much fun!

I think the Elan saddles are reinforced but not to the degree that a “hunting” saddle would be. So I believe you can jump lightly in them, I’ve just been told it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to go out hunting or jumping full time in one.

Anyways, as for jumping, I haven’t done much of it because my mare is such a round jumper, I have a heck of a time staying forward long enough and end up getting SNAPPED back upon landing. Which needless to say, doesn’t feel nice on the lower back. I’ve been told to try a neck strap to help keep yourself forward while you’re learning.
The other thing that I’ve found is that if you can get your horse going with a pretty good canter and encourage him to take off from a bit of a longer spot, it helps make the jump feel smoother.
I’ve also been told that learning and practicing “posting” the trot sidesaddle can help to strengthen the same muscles you’d use when jumping, so it’s probably not a bad idea.

Good luck and keep us updated!!! I would LOVE to see some sidesaddle pictures from Hawaii too! (pretty please!)

[Twisting]

I’m not too hard core a jumper, even astride my boy is still learning and while cute enough over the fences, just doesn’t have the stride for the bigger stuff. (Not to mention I get all nervy, bad accident a few years ago.) I wasn’t planning on doing much more than cross rails, and not very often. So I doubt there will be an overwhelming amount of stress placed on the saddle. If, eventually, it turns out I like jumping side saddle more than I like jumping astride I will probably invest in a custom saddle. Unfortunately my boy is a bit too wide in the shoulders for most of the older side saddles.

[sadlmakr]

I also want to welcome you to the world of sidesaddle. The Elans are pretty good for imports. Probably the best of them. I’d suggest you locate and contact Bird at Bird’s Saddlery down on the South end below Hilo. Bird is a great sidesaddler. I know her and she has one of my fancy Western sidesaddles.
She is a very nice kind of nut. Like me.
Posting in the sidesaddle is not what most people think it is. You never push yourself out of the saddle with the stirrup and slam down on the seat as it will roll the saddle to the left and then when contact is made it rolls it back to the right. Horse do not like that and will tell you so. You roll forward on the right thigh as the front right leg is coming up and you move with the horse as he raises that leg to it’s apex and then as the leg goes down and the left leg raises, you roll back on your seat. Your left leg stays quiet.
Most important is that you learn to move with the horse. It looks far more graceful and it is easier on the horse and you.
You need to master that before you start to jump.
You need to get the feel of the motion of the legs of the horse and then you can move with him when you jump.
Most important is not to be left behind when he jumps. It looks awful and most likely you will not sit well when he lands.
Sidesaddle is lots of fun and it can be very graceful and elegant.
Lots of just riding and getting accustomed to the balance and motion of the horse. It feels different in the sidesaddle.
Congratulations and have a great time.
Regards, sadlmakr

[Twisting]

Thank you very much, I will definitely try to get in touch with her. Nice to know there might be someone local to help me out. Getting over to the Big Island for a long weekend’s not too hard.

I have been taking my foot out of the stirrup when I work on posting, just to avoid any bracing or pushing. I think part of my problem is my horse’s super smooth trot. He doesn’t have much bounce and sitting the trot, even a nice forward trot, is just so comfy I don’t spend as much time as I should working on the posting trot.

[Brigit]

Oh you’re lucky then! A friend of mine recently got a cute cute welsh cob pony and he is BOUNCY. He’s terribly hard to look graceful while sitting the trot (but she does a great job!) so it takes a lot of work. .

[eventerchick517]

Ok, dumb question:winkgrin:…How do you ask for both canter leads? As I understand, your legs are on the left side of the horse which would give you the right lead. How do you ask for the left? I admit I have NO experience with side saddle, the question just occured to me after reading this.:lol: But I give you serious props for jumping side saddle.

[Twisting]

I cheat. It took me awhile to figure out how to ask for the canter. My horse kept getting annoyed with me fussing around and confusing the heck out of him. He has instant transitions in the round pen off voice alone so eventually I just tipped his nose a little to the inside sat up and kept a soft feel on his mouth and said “canter”. Worked like a charm. I’m sure using a voice command isn’t the traditional route but it gets the job done and keeps my boy happy. Maybe someone else can tell you the “official” method.

A decent picture of us. Again, I’m winging it so my Eq is probably horrid. I’ll try pointing my right toe more.

[SidesaddleRider]

@eventerchick517;5052727

Ok, dumb question:winkgrin:…How do you ask for both canter leads?

You use your seatbones, primarily. You have much more contact and control with your seat riding aside than you do astride. I train my horses to pick up their canter from the inside leg, so for the right lead I sit on my right seat bone, bend the head slightly to the inside, and lightly press my calf/heel against their side in connection with the seat bone pressure. For the right lead, I use left seatbone with left leg.

[Brigit]

Well “technically” you ride with a whip or cane in your right hand and you use that to cue for things like the left lead canter, leg yeilding etc. ETA And what CBF said too, seatbones are amazing aids when riding sidesaddle.
I do the same as Twisted. My mare is SUPER sensitive and if you tip her nose one way or another and say canter, she picks it up.

Twisted I think your Eq looks just fine!! One suggestion if I may, lengthen your stirrup a couple of holes. You should have some space in between your left thigh and the leaping horn when you are riding. I went to a clinic recently and the “test” to see if I was too dependent on the leaping horn was to W-T-C with my left foot out of the stirrup and my leg stretched way down and back. It’s tough!
p.s. You’re boy is really nice!

[sadlmakr]

I used the same aids as in astride except with no right leg I did not use that leg to cue him.
For right lead I turned his head to the right and drove with my seat and he always picked it up to the right.
Left was easy. But after riding aside for a year, the horse figured out the whole thing and he actually needed no leg cues at all. My training him to word commands paid off in the sidesaddle riding. I used my seat position more and he was good at picking up the cues for what ever lead I wanted.
Most horses don’t care whether you ride a sidesaddle or not.
But out of all the ones I had ridden we had one Thoroughbred who was very concerned that we were not secure in the saddle. After riding him a while he got it and was a great fellow under sidesaddle.
Get some good lessons astride and then go into the sidesaddle.
It is fun to try all the things we do astride in the sidesaddle. As a teen I rode trails and cross country in sidesaddle. Of course then I was “invincible”. Now I take things much more carefully.
Have a great time.
Kind regards, sadlmakr

[BybeeGirl]

[QUOTE=Twisting;5052790]

A decent picture of us. Again, I’m winging it so my Eq is probably horrid. I’ll try pointing my right toe more. :)[/QUOTE]

What a relaxed, pleasant picture. Your back is flat and eyes are up. Your horse looks quite pleasant as well.

I don’t think you can physically point your toe with your right leg in that position. I think the shorter stirrup has pushed you to the back of the saddle which opens your right knee, which keeps you from really utilizing the upright pommel. I agree that dropping your stirrup a hole would be worth trying. You will not be forced to the rear of the saddle.

[sadlmakr]

I did not see the photo. But that is a common mistake, riding with too short a stirrup. I agree with the above post to drop your stirrup and get “into” the horns more.
I hope you can get some instruction to help you get a good position and you will find it really helps.
If you can find a copy of Doreen Houblon’s book “Sidesaddle” it has phtos and some really great information.
The re-write by Sylvia Stainer left out alot.
If you can find a later issue of the Houblon original it would be best.
Check on line for used books. I found my Belle Beach’s " Riding and Driving for Women" on line. It is also a good book.
regards, sadlmakr

[Twisting]

I will try the longer stirrup, I have noticed that, on the occasions when I do get a little unsettled in the saddle I end up sliding forward, maybe it’s my body telling me I’m better off a bit further forward. I’m prepping for a show this weekend so sidesaddle’s been put on hold for a bit. I’m getting back with it after the show.

I ordered an apron pattern from Suitability. I’m not much of a seamstress but my mother is visiting in September and has agreed that a little sewing would be a lovely mother daughter bonding experience. I ordered a jacket pattern as well and will buy enough fabric for a matching set, but I’ll probably have the jacket done professionally. It’s complicated.

[Brigit]

Good luck at your show!

I used the suitability pattern to make a linen habit and it turned out REALLY well! I did the apron by myself and was impressed at how easy it was. I’ve never really sewn before this spring and decided I was going to learn, so I went and found a used sewing machine for $50 and off I went!
I had someone do the jacket for me as well, it was a bit too tricky for my level of experience!

Here’s a picture of the linen habit. http://tinypic.com/r/166g36w/4

[sadlmakr]

“Atta Girl” to both of you. Get in there and go for it. I have been doing my own habits for a long time.
The Suitability jacket pattern is OK except for the collar and lapel assembly. I had problems with that on the ones I made. The apron is pretty easy.
Take your time and do it slow and easy.
The jacket does take more time. But in the end it works pretty good.
Try the pattern in denim or a cheaper fabric first to work out the fitting.
Then do one up in your good fabric. I use a heavier pant weight for my lining. It helps keep the apron straight and gives it body.
I also added a wear layer at the front where the horns rub. So there are not holes worn in the fabric. I added that after the apron was done. Don’t be afraid to take your time and do the hand finishing. It look so nice after you get it all done. Mark your hem when sitting in the saddle on the horse so it is level. This is where a good friend comes in handy to mark and pin it. We must have pictures when you finish them.
I am proud of you just getting these patterns and going for it.
Regards, sadlmakr

[Brigit]

I really liked the suitability patterns because they were very easy to follow and explained each step well.
Sadlmkr if you look at the website in my signature http://millesimeequestrienne.blogspot.com/ there are a few more pictures of the linen habit I made/had help making. The hem is MUCH too long and I plan on taking it up a bunch one day but it works for now. The material is a nice “oatmeal” colored linen with an oldfashioned, flowery print, cotton lining. It’s so nice and cool to wear on hot days compared to a dark colored habit!

[sadlmakr]

Very nice photos. I love the linen habit. It looks comfy. I liked a linen jacket that was half lined and it was a blend of polyester and linen. Made it stay unwrinkled longer than the 100% linen.
Khaki and cream are totally acceptable in linen habits. I have seen some very stylish habits that are totally acceptable in the ring.
Good work.
Loved to see it.
Kind regards, sadlmakr