Sitting or light seat into a fence?

GrassChop

GrassChop

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I was always taught to sit into the saddle on approach to a jump but I don't find that this has always been possible when going at speed.

Is there a right or wrong way? Is it okay to maintain a light seat the whole time or should you sit into the saddle on approach every time?
 
Most people will naturally bring their shoulders back and come more into the saddle on the final approach to a fence. I'm very much trained in the light seat position for jumping and am sometimes guilty of staying a little too forwards for some people's liking, but I think if you're light and balanced then the horse can use its back.
 
One of the hardest things to master was sitting still into a fence. Luckily for my horse and me, we never jumped big tracks but I found it very difficult to just support without interfering on the approach.

I uses to do a lot of grid work which I think made a difference.
 
IrishMilo said:
I do 90% of my canter work in half seat and tend to sit to the fence about 4 strides out. I find most horses move better underneath you in a light seat and I also find it more comfortable!
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Yes, I very seldom sit a canter unless it's needed but I have recently been staying in a light seat when jumping. I just wonder if it confuses the horse in a way as you're already out the seat?
 
Sitting, shoulders back get off the horses front end. Also sitting and shoulders back because you’re maintaining balance and rhythm into a fence. Don’t worry about seeing a stride just setting up the balance. I should add I don’t jump myself way too scary! But we do it at home for the youngsters. Shoulders back makes such a difference.
 
Birker2020 said:
One of the hardest things to master was sitting still into a fence. Luckily for my horse and me, we never jumped big tracks but I found it very difficult to just support without interfering on the approach.

I uses to do a lot of grid work which I think made a difference.
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I was always taught to come out of a light seat and sit into a fence a few strides out but recently I've been staying in a light seat, this also prevents me being launched into space if my pony decides to half halt on the last stride before cat leaping!
 
hock said:
Sitting, shoulders back get off the horses front end. Also sitting and shoulders back because you’re maintaining balance and rhythm into a fence. Don’t worry about seeing a stride just setting up the balance. I should add I don’t jump myself way too scary! But we do it at home for the youngsters. Shoulders back makes such a difference.
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If you’re balanced then you’re not on the horse’s front end. Your weight should be down through the legs to maintain the light seat. That’s very different to sitting in the saddle and tipping forwards, which does load the shoulders
 
TheMule said:
If you’re balanced then you’re not on the horse’s front end. Your weight should be down through the legs to maintain the light seat. That’s very different to sitting in the saddle and tipping forwards, which does load the shoulders
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How many riders are truly balanced and help into a fence, not many. Our jockey is light weight and balanced however the horses usually aren’t and need help to a fence.
 
I've always adopted the Lucinda Green "Ready for trouble" position! So its sitting up for me, but with your lower leg soft and supportive, from this position if anything goes awry before the fence you should be secure enough to correct it but you can still fold from the hips and allow with the hand over the fence. I'm not sure if I'm describing it very well, but I was always taught to think of following the movement over a jump as pushing your bum to the back of the saddle rather than tipping your body forward if that makes sense, so your central point of gravity doesn't actually change.
 
hock said:
How many riders are truly balanced and help into a fence, not many. Our jockey is light weight and balanced however the horses usually aren’t and need help to a fence.
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There are many roads to Rome and it has to work for you!
The best balance for jumping is to have your weight over your feet, an independent seat and hand and to aim to not have to move your body around too much. You can achieve that in several different ways, but I think the worst place for someone less experienced to be is heavy on the horse's back or behind the movement because then the horse will be tight in its back
 
I was taught by an ex junior GB show jumper years ago to be in a light seat all the way round an SJ course. I've tried hard not to over the years as I know current teaching is sit up till the last min but I've always found it more comfortable and it makes more sense to me that you aren't adjusting the horses balance over a fence by changing your position. As a result, my lower leg when jumping is far far better than at any other time 🤣

I will add I've never jumped terribly high or very competitively and if I had my views might have changed
 
I swap and change depending on the horse I'm riding and the height of the jumps. I tend to sit on smaller, short necked ponies with a tendency to stop, light seat for anything larger, less likely to stop and more likely to send me into orbit if I get left behind. The higher the jump the more upright and close to my saddle I get in light seat. Apparently, your jodhpurs should touch the saddle, but your backside shouldn’t.
My english instructor a long time ago was about sitting to the jump, French instructors seem to prefer a light seat.
 
TheMule said:
There are many roads to Rome and it has to work for you!
The best balance for jumping is to have your weight over your feet, an independent seat and hand and to aim to not have to move your body around too much. You can achieve that in several different ways, but I think the worst place for someone less experienced to be is heavy on the horse's back or behind the movement because then the horse will be tight in its back
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I think the expression, there are many roads to Rome fits the bill. I will be pinching this expression 👌
 
Think it totally depends on your horse (although Im sure there is a more 'correct' way!)
With my last horse who was an ex hurdler used to just run at fences (which totally fair thats what he was trained to do). I used to be in light seat allowing him to fully move freely until the approach to the jump and then Id sit deeply to try and control the speed etc towards the jump. Took me way too long to admit to figure this out but once I had it, it worked so well for us. Much less running at fences with our head in the air because Im asking to slow down with too much rein and he is wanting to just run at full speed!
 
my youngster needs lots of leg currently to fence (not kicking obvs) so I sit for the approach, around the ring light seat or forward for me personally
 
It depends on what I'm riding :

If I'm on a horse/pony that is small, has a short neck or a tendency to throw a stop in/ is nervous/ needs support from the rider - I'll go into fences sitting and then go light seat as the horse takes off, but with these types I always make sure to slip my reins on landing if I feel things are going to be hairy.

If I'm on a bigger horse/ something experienced/ doing a grid/ likely to yeet me into the outer stratosphere with their scope/ linking a few jumps together/ doing a grid or course - I'll go into fences in a light seat and maintain this (or try to!) the entire way round, although if the horse needs balancing etc I will pop into a sitting position for a few strides to get the train back on the tracks.

I'm not a regular jumper (the highest I jumped back in my riding school days was a course of 1.20m jumps that we set up for fun and basically dared each other to do - such good times 🤣) so things might have changed as that was quite a few years ago and I've not jumped for yonks (although if training goes well with the young horse and once he is fully developed and ready, in a few years time I might yeet myself over a few jumps for the laughs!).

Interestingly enough I had one of my worst jumping falls from coming into a fence sitting - the horse I was riding was known to be scopey and also a bit of a "dirty stopper" (although we found out later that he had changes in his hooves which were the reason he became a "dirty stopper"), and I was wanting to do a light seat into the fence, but my instructor insisted upon coming into the fence sitting. I royally cocked up the striding and the lovely Harvey tried his damn best to save the situation, but even his scope wasn't enough and he made the decision (quite rightly too!) to stop at the fence, rather than risk going over it. I went absolutely flying over his head (he was 17 hands and I am only 5'1) and landed on the ground with a crack and a thud - my instructor swore I broke something and wouldn't let me move - meanwhile I'm trying to get up to apologise to dear Harvey for absolutely burying him at the bottom of the fence and to check he was alright. Luckily apart from a very sore bottom for a few days and my confidence taking a hit everything was fine. I did get back on and jump over the fence as not to end on a bad note (we checked Harvey's legs all over and trotted him up to check he hadn't hurt himself) and this time I came into the fence in a light seat and everything went smoothly. Ever since I kind of hate coming into a fence sitting and ride like absolute crap if I have to - so most of the time you'll find me in a light seat - unless I absolutely have to ride into the fence sitting x
 
AppyLover1996 said:
It depends on what I'm riding :

If I'm on a horse/pony that is small, has a short neck or a tendency to throw a stop in/ is nervous/ needs support from the rider - I'll go into fences sitting and then go light seat as the horse takes off, but with these types I always make sure to slip my reins on landing if I feel things are going to be hairy.

If I'm on a bigger horse/ something experienced/ doing a grid/ likely to yeet me into the outer stratosphere with their scope/ linking a few jumps together/ doing a grid or course - I'll go into fences in a light seat and maintain this (or try to!) the entire way round, although if the horse needs balancing etc I will pop into a sitting position for a few strides to get the train back on the tracks.

I'm not a regular jumper (the highest I jumped back in my riding school days was a course of 1.20m jumps that we set up for fun and basically dared each other to do - such good times 🤣) so things might have changed as that was quite a few years ago and I've not jumped for yonks (although if training goes well with the young horse and once he is fully developed and ready, in a few years time I might yeet myself over a few jumps for the laughs!).

Interestingly enough I had one of my worst jumping falls from coming into a fence sitting - the horse I was riding was known to be scopey and also a bit of a "dirty stopper" (although we found out later that he had changes in his hooves which were the reason he became a "dirty stopper"), and I was wanting to do a light seat into the fence, but my instructor insisted upon coming into the fence sitting. I royally cocked up the striding and the lovely Harvey tried his damn best to save the situation, but even his scope wasn't enough and he made the decision (quite rightly too!) to stop at the fence, rather than risk going over it. I went absolutely flying over his head (he was 17 hands and I am only 5'1) and landed on the ground with a crack and a thud - my instructor swore I broke something and wouldn't let me move - meanwhile I'm trying to get up to apologise to dear Harvey for absolutely burying him at the bottom of the fence and to check he was alright. Luckily apart from a very sore bottom for a few days and my confidence taking a hit everything was fine. I did get back on and jump over the fence as not to end on a bad note (we checked Harvey's legs all over and trotted him up to check he hadn't hurt himself) and this time I came into the fence in a light seat and everything went smoothly. Ever since I kind of hate coming into a fence sitting and ride like absolute crap if I have to - so most of the time you'll find me in a light seat - unless I absolutely have to ride into the fence sitting x
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I'm glad it's quite a normal thing it seems to have a light seat on the ones that have the tendency to throw you into outer space. I find it's much easier for my pony to not be interfered with on approach if I'm out of the seat and if the striding gets cocked up or she half halts and cat leaps then I'm not in the way if that makes sense! She's best left to it and will correct it without my interference!
 
GrassChop said:
I'm glad it's quite a normal thing it seems to have a light seat on the ones that have the tendency to throw you into outer space. I find it's much easier for my pony to not be interfered with on approach if I'm out of the seat and if the striding gets cocked up or she half halts and cat leaps then I'm not in the way if that makes sense! She's best left to it and will correct it without my interference!
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I adore light seat as like you said there is less interference involved on the approach which can help combat the classic "I must sit deep, take a good length of rein and pull on it to slow down or adjust/ pull sharp on the reins to adjust as you're having second doubts about the approach" etc that seems to be taught in a few lessons that I've been to with friends in recent years. Also being in light seat means you give the horse a chance to figure it out for themselves - which comes in handy if you're ever in a pickle as the horse can think for itself and can apply the think for itself approach to other areas of riding/life.

I used to be quite the daredevil when younger and would particularly enjoy riding the classic "horse gets hot when jumping/ gets sharp and tends to run towards the fence at warp speed/ horse clocks onto the jump and you're along for the ride" type of horses and I often found that they were happier when ridden in a light seat, as there was less fiddling to do, less chance of getting left behind and socking them in the gob etc. The only horse that fitted the above stereotype but absolutely detested being ridden in a light seat was a wonderful gelding, who quite frankly demanded the absolute best out of you and would get it without you realising - the only reason he hated being ridden in a light seat was that he was the kind of horse who liked to feel what his rider was doing, and because in a light seat he couldn't, he hated it x
 
I'll preface this by saying I am no jumper, but did have a poles and grids lesson last friday for the first time in about 25 years and reached the heady heights of about 60cm!! The instructor was teaching us to sit the canter 3-4 strides into the fence to control the pace and collect the canter and then land and canter away in a lighter seat and it seemed to work for me.
 
AppyLover1996 said:
I adore light seat as like you said there is less interference involved on the approach which can help combat the classic "I must sit deep, take a good length of rein and pull on it to slow down or adjust/ pull sharp on the reins to adjust as you're having second doubts about the approach" etc that seems to be taught in a few lessons that I've been to with friends in recent years. Also being in light seat means you give the horse a chance to figure it out for themselves - which comes in handy if you're ever in a pickle as the horse can think for itself and can apply the think for itself approach to other areas of riding/life.

I used to be quite the daredevil when younger and would particularly enjoy riding the classic "horse gets hot when jumping/ gets sharp and tends to run towards the fence at warp speed/ horse clocks onto the jump and you're along for the ride" type of horses and I often found that they were happier when ridden in a light seat, as there was less fiddling to do, less chance of getting left behind and socking them in the gob etc. The only horse that fitted the above stereotype but absolutely detested being ridden in a light seat was a wonderful gelding, who quite frankly demanded the absolute best out of you and would get it without you realising - the only reason he hated being ridden in a light seat was that he was the kind of horse who liked to feel what his rider was doing, and because in a light seat he couldn't, he hated it x
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Yes, mine likes to be left to it. If I so much as click after she is locked on, it could mess up the stride as it distracts her! She's more of a "stay out of my way and let me do it, mum" 😂 this also works in other situations if the ground gets difficult to navigate, she's best left without my interference unless needed!
 
I used to have a pony who always rushed his jumps, fought me all the way round so I used to ride defensively trying to control him. Then our RC was lucky enough to have a trainer come to us for a while. This was Paul Fielder who went on the be Jenny Loriston-Clarke's trainer. He got me riding in light seat and letting him go on. Difference was amazing and he went so much better. Gave me a lot more confidence.
 
I always ride light seat in canter on both my older seasoned mare and youngster.
When Im jumping I opt for light seat also as older mare rather it, i will pull my shoulders more upright on approach to get off her front end(we jump 120/130 for reference)
My younger mare can be a little windy at times so although I will ride in light seat between fences, I will sit on the approach so I can use my seat!
 
Errin Paddywack said:
I used to have a pony who always rushed his jumps, fought me all the way round so I used to ride defensively trying to control him. Then our RC was lucky enough to have a trainer come to us for a while. This was Paul Fielder who went on the be Jenny Loriston-Clarke's trainer. He got me riding in light seat and letting him go on. Difference was amazing and he went so much better. Gave me a lot more confidence.
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Your RC had Paul Fielder for teaching? Wow he’s amazing isn’t he, I didn’t realise he did jump just flat. Lucky you!
 
It depends on the horse!

I once had two competing in the same season at BE Novice. One would not jump fluently if I didn't have my bum in the saddle. The other wouldn't jump fluently if I did.

I had to say to myself, right, the dressage is over now which jumping software do we load today? 🤣
 
So many variables, the horse's way of going and jumping style, what it prefers, what speed/height/type of fence, xc or SJ. I've had horses that wouldn't jump well with a light seat and others that wouldn't jump well if I sat back.
 
I was taught, a long while ago, to use light seat all the way round a jumping track unless you had something that might throw a stop and needed riding in the last few strides.

Always worked for me on a bunch of mostly dealer’s yards horses or breakers / schoolers to about 1.10, although admittedly I’ve never ridden a really good schooled SJ around a bigger track so that might change.
 
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