So I have a quick question for the sidesaddle guru’s of the board. I’ve been working on jumping sidesaddle lately. The first time my back was really sore afterward (from getting really left behind and snapping back) but yesterday (the second time lol) was a bit better. Any tips for me?
Trying to stay forward a bit longer definitely helps, as does thinking of touching my left shoulder to my right knee but it still seems like there’s something missing.
I found it really hard to give a decent release and caught my horse in the mouth a few times on landing (which she didn’t appreciate at all). She unfortunately has a fairly round jump which isn’t ideal for jumping SS (especially when we jumped the “scary” cavaletti lol). I found over some of the really round jumps, I ended up letting go of the reins with my left hand and just using my right hand and the release was much better but I still felt a bit too left behind and discombobulated on landing.
- Make sure your reins are long enough, so that you have the ability to have enough release by dint of the length.
- Make sure you are cantering to the jump with enough pace. Try not to trot in if at all possible.
- Try not to chip.
Slightly long spots are more comfortable (the horse will jump flatter). - Think, “Left shoulder to horse’s right ear.” Look ahead and up.
- Get into your two point (shoulders slightly forward, folding at the waist) 3 strides out from the jump. Keep riding forward and through the jump, don’t stop riding when the horse takes off (if that makes sense).
- Make sure you keep your right toe down and your right leg back.
- Try for an auto release, stretching your shoulders and arm down towards the horse’s shoulder, rather than a crest release.
- Make sure your stirrup isn’t too long so you aren’t reaching down and being left behind.
Unfortunately, if your horse is a really round, “back-crackin’” jumper, you simply won’t be able to be as truly comfortable as on a flatter jumping horse.
And remember, liqui-gel Advil are your friend when you are starting out and your back muscles aren’t used to it. I recommend taking 2 immediately after you stop riding.
Thank you!
I think I will definitely try shortening my stirrup to start with. I think that might help. More pace is something we should work on too. We were just playing over tiny x-rails so we just had a small canter going, but it did feel smoother when she jumped longer/flatter.
Another question, when your horse is landing, do you try and stay forward or do you lean back. I’ve been told to stay forward but in some of the very old SS “how to” books it says the rider should lean back on landing. To me that just sounds like a good way to make your back hurt more!
No, stay forward and let the horse naturally bring you up after you land.
… and exhale as the horse is starting to jump. That softens your body and helps you to flow with the motion.
Sidesaddle by Doreen Houblon has photos in it that are a great help in seeing proper postition.
Then too if you can get someone to video tape you while riding you will see where you are making errors.
If it is possible to watch videos of some of the champion sidesadle riders and watch how they ride.
One more thing, try to be “one with your horse”. Move with him and not against him. The above posts are great and good advice.
Do you have anyone who is experienced in sidesaddle jumping to critique your ride?
I did some jumping when I was a youngster, but not nowdays.
I probably did not have great form but I managed to stay the horse. But I was in a Western sidesaddle. Not good for real jumping.
I had no resources then like we have now.
I wish you the very best in your riding.
Kind regards, sadlmakr
The other thing to check is that the seat is long enough for you to jump in - so the horns are in the right place on your legs. I used to hunt sidesaddle and one saddle I used I ended up with huge bruises on my thighs because the horns and seat was not quite right for me. I was fine with other saddles!
Here is a video of me jumping from a few years ago. It is a copy of a copy, so the quality isn’t great and it sped up, but hopefully you can get a sense of things. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1zrRZAx6s4
Thanks for all of the great tips everyone!
Saddlemkr unfortunately there isn’t anyone near me that rides sidesaddle, nevermind jumps in one. So I’m kind of on the “do it yourself” program lol.
Phoebetrainer - I’m pretty sure the seat is big enough, if anything it might be a tad too long for me. It seems to be more an issue of getting left behind/snapped back or grabbing my horse in the mouth on landing. Likely it’s just something that’s going to take lots of practice with the tips everyone gave me here! Thanks again!
Years ago when I was taught to jump aside, I was told to keep my angles closed until all 4 legs were on the ground. This way I wouldn’t get left. 
Have you tried a grab strap? It sounds like you are sitting back on landing too early. Plus a strap will help keep you from catching your horse’s mouth while you are learning. Grab the strap, and hold it until a stride after the fence, then sit back down. That will force you to hold your two point longer.
My horse is a terrible back-cracker, like, he’s given me bruises in the chest with his withers when I jump astride. Jumping aside on him has really been tough. Also, definitely carry a lot of pace to the fence, like sidesaddlerider said, that will help immensely. The great thing about ss though is that no matter how left behind or off balance you get, it’s really tough to fall off!
I will try the grab strap! Do you just use a stirrup leather around the horse’s neck as you would when jumping astride?
I had thought about that but I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to reach that far down/forward and not get the pommels in my stomach. I will try it though!
I did some jumping aside on Friday and it seemed much easier than the first time. I really really had to focus on staying forward and putting my left shoulder to the horse’s right ear, that helped immensely and I didn’t catch her in the mouth or drop the reins with my left hand once.
