What are the pros and cons of sidesaddle riding for those with back injuries/trouble?
I have a terrible back (lots of chiro work needed). The cons of sidesaddle is that it can put more stress on your lower back, as you have to absorb the trot (one doesn’t usually post aside). If, however, you have a very smooth horse, then you can just sit there and glide along. If you jump aside, and you have horse that cracks his back, or you get left behind, it’s going to really affect you in your back as you’ll be “snapped” on taking off as you’re behind the motion. You do have to make sure that you build up your back/leg muscles when starting aside, as if you try to do too much too soon you’ll really be hurting. Even still, if I’m out hunting for 3+ hours with lots of jumping, I desperately need some Advil when I get home.
Does it depend on the type of back trouble and can an off side ss work for certain problems better than a near side ss?
I would think so. I have lower back issues. If you have upper back/neck issues, I don’t think it will be as bad, unless you get “snapped” jumping. An offside was typically used for those with limb or hip issues (such as amputees after the Wars). I don’t think it would really work for back issues, as you are sitting square with your hips on the sidesaddle, and facing forward (just like astride), its just that your right/left thigh crosses the horse’s spine. That being said, Mrs. Fletcher Harper, who rode on an off-side, started doing so as a teenager when her doctor was afraid she would “become crooked” from always riding to the left, and recommended that she take up an off-side. I personally have never sat on an off-side (although I’ve been trying my darndest to find an old-name one), so I just don’t know if it would have any impact.
I’m interested in the body mechanics, what physical challenges a sound rider faces versus one that has soundness problems. For those that ride ss as well as astride, do you find you ride differently or have to “get used” to riding astride again?
I’ve never found this to be an issue. Once you figure it out, you don’t really forget what you’re supposed to be doing. And most of the time, the women I’ve taught become much more secure riding aside than astride, but still have no problem schooling/showing/hunting astride.
For jumping, it seems that the position over fences is much different than astride. No doubt some of that is due to the design of the saddle, right? Is the rider supporting herself a little by virtue of the leg being over the leaping horn? (I don’t know if I’m explaining that correctly)
Yes, you are sitting further back on the horse when aside as opposed to astride. Our 2-pt position is simply folding at the hips to close the angle between thigh and chest, putting your left shoulder slightly towards your horse’s right ear, looking ahead, and doing either an auto or crest release. You are not putting weight into the stirrup (you actually don’t need it except as something to rest your foot in), your weight is centered on your right thigh (in the middle of the horse). When you take off, all the pressure will be along the right thigh, and your left leg will come up into the leaping head to help position you (so you don’t twist).
