How Rider Biomechanics Clothing Helps You Improve Your Jumping Position

Is It Really the Horse… or Is It You?

We’ve all been there. A pole down, a refusal, an awkward takeoff - and our first thought is:

“Why did the horse do that?”

But what if the answer isn’t just about the horse?

Your rider position and posture play a massive role in every part of a jump. From the canter approach to the moment of takeoff and the landing, rider biomechanics directly influence your horse’s balance, timing, and confidence. Yet many riders focus all their training on the horse and forget to look at their own movement and alignment in the saddle. Want to know more about this? Check out the latest Pegasus Physio post looking into the research into rider biomechanics when jumping.

Rider Biomechanics Clothing Makes Your Position Visible

Jumping isn’t just about folding at the right time - it’s about having correct rider alignment, core stability, and timing. A slightly early fold or tipping too far forward shifts your centre of mass and disrupts the horse’s balance, which can lead to:

• Early takeoff

• Awkward distance

• Poles down

• Refusals

• Rushed or unbalanced landings

  
  

And yet, these subtle movement habits are often missed in real time - unless you're wearing rider biomechanics clothing designed to highlight them.

Knocks a pole with front feet.

Clear jump

Now lets look at the riders position- you can see the rider comes into the jump not sitting as upright in the clear (bottom photos) as the pole down (top photos). Then the rider starts to come forward earlier in the pole down. As getting towards the jump the rider it tipping forward with hands not giving in the pole down and ends up being slightly behind the movement.

Rider tips forward early, shifting weight over the horse’s shoulders and causing a pole down.

SymmFit alignment lines highlight balanced core and leg position for take off

SymmFit alignment lines highlight balanced core and leg position mid-air

SymmFit alignment lines highlight balanced core and leg position over the jump

Balanced rider with correct shoulder–hip–heel alignment gives a better canter

SymmFit alignment lines the position at take off

Balanced over the jump

Rider balanced mid air

Why SymmFit Rider Biomechanics Clothing Works

This is where the SymmFit range of equestrian biomechanics clothing comes in. Our training tops and jodhpurs are designed with high-contrast symmetry lines that show:

• Shoulder–hip–heel alignment

• Pelvic posture and tipping

• Core collapse or twisting

• Early folding or positional imbalance mid-jump

When you film yourself and then slow down the video or take screenshots, SymmFit clothing gives you visible feedback on your rider biomechanics before, during, and after the jump.

📸 Real Results: Analyse Your Takeoff and Landing

Take a look at the screenshots below. In one, the rider stays aligned and balanced - the jump flows smoothly. In the other, the rider tips forward too early, and the horse knocks a pole.

The main difference? The rider’s position.

Pole down and close to falling off on landing

Better jump and landing!

The rider anticipates the jump in the top video and photos, leading to her being forward and unbalanced as the horse adds in an extra small stride. She is then far too forward and ahead of the movement throughout the jump. In comparision the rider sits more upright and only starts to fold as the horse jumps meaning she is more balanced.

Anticipating the jump

Forward momentum taking rider over neck

Too far ahead of movement

Flying rather than balanced in stirrups

Waiting for take off

Folding as horse lifts up

Balanced as going over the jump

Balanced mid air over jump- no flying over the jump here!

Wearing SymmFit rider biomechanics clothing makes that difference visible. You don’t have to rely on feel alone - you can see exactly what’s happening, and make targeted improvements to your jumping form.

Now the approach is just as important so you can also start to see your alignment in the canter towards the jump and how your body then looks in the turns and if you are leaning or twisting.

Why Your Posture Matters to Your Horse

Improving your rider biomechanics isn’t just about looking good, it directly affects your horse’s performance. When you ride in balance and symmetry, your horse can jump more freely and confidently. But when you're unbalanced, collapsing through one side, or folding too early, your horse has to compensate - often resulting in poles, poor takeoff, or refusals.

That’s why wearing rider biomechanics clothing like SymmFit is such a powerful tool for horse riders.

Shop SymmFit Rider Biomechanics Clothing Now

Don’t leave your jumping position to guesswork. Whether you're training at home, working with your coach, or reviewing slow-motion video, SymmFit gives you the visual feedback to improve your riding. Whether it is the training top or jodhpurs or both you get more information than any other rider biomehcanics clothes on the market. Check out the blog posts for more examples of how it helps you improve as a rider.