How SymmFit Jodhpurs Help You See (and Fix) Your Pelvic alignment and position in the saddle
- Jennifer Symms
- May 11
- 4 min read
Not sure how a pair of jodhpurs can help you ride better?
SymmFit Jodhpurs were designed to do exactly that - by helping you see your pelvic position. Because once you can clearly see what your body is doing, you can start to make the right changes.
Pelvic alignment is one of the most important - and most overlooked - elements of rider balance, posture, and effectiveness. Why? Because your pelvis is your base of support when you’re in the saddle - just like your feet are when you’re standing. And what happens at your pelvis has a direct effect on everything above and below it. Gravity and momentum (yes, physics!) both work through the pelvis when riding.
We want the pelvis to:
Stay in neutral - not tipping forward into an anterior tilt or tucking under into a posterior tilt (chair seat)
Sit centrally in the saddle - not shifted off to one side
Carry even weight through both seat bones - not collapsing into one stirrup or loading one side of the horse’s back
Face forward - unless you’re deliberately rotating it as part of a seat aid
“My horse won’t walk straight…”
“They never halt square…”
These are things riders say all the time. But more often than not, the issue isn’t the horse. It’s the rider’s weight, seat, or alignment giving unintentional cues.
If your pelvis is off to one side, rotated, or carrying more weight on one seat bone, your horse is simply responding to what you're telling them. They're not disobedient - they’re following your lead.
The first place to look?
👉 Your own body position.
Are you centred in the saddle?
Is your pelvis level?
Are you putting more weight into one seat bone?
SymmFit clothing is designed to help you see exactly that - so you and your horse can move forward, straight, and in sync.
How SymmFit Jodhpurs Help You Check Pelvic Alignment and Position
1. Is Your Pelvis Level?
The back pocket lines are a built-in visual guide. From directly behind, they help you spot if one side of your pelvis is higher or lower than the other - a common asymmetry that can lead to collapsing through one side or sitting unevenly.
📸 Try this: Have someone take a photo or video of you sitting at halt from directly behind. Are the pocket lines and waistband level?
Yes - Great! Now observe dynamic movement. What do the lines do in walk, trot, and canter?
No - Can you correct it using the lines and feedback from your coach or a mirror?
2. Are You Sitting Centrally in the Saddle?
The SymmFit logo and rear belt loop help you see whether you’re truly centred - or subtly shifted left or right. The contrast seat patch adds even more feedback, especially when viewed from behind or above.
🎥 From behind, check:
Does the logo or loop align with the cantle?
From the front, is the silver button and front zip directly over the pommel?
Are both blue belt loops the same distance from the edge of the saddle?
Even small shifts can affect your seat and confuse your horse’s understanding of your aids.
3. Is Your Pelvis Rotated?
From the front and side, the zip, belt loops, and front pockets provide clear reference points. A rotated pelvis (often unintentional) might show up as uneven belt loops or visible pocket lining on one side.
👀 Ask your coach or trainer to stand at your horse’s shoulder:
They should see both belt loops equally
They should not see the pocket lining from the side they’re standing on
If they can, it suggests a twist or rotation through your pelvis.
4. Is Your Pelvis in Neutral - or Tipped?
This is one of the hardest things to feel, but one of the easiest to see with SymmFit.
The pink waistband and outer leg lines help you visualise the angle of your pelvis and hips.
Anterior tilt - tipped forward, often paired with hollow back and thigh gripping
Posterior tilt - tucked under, causing slumping and instability
Neutral - balanced over seat bones, allowing movement and control
🎬 Film yourself through the gaits. Is the top pink line roughly vertical? What’s the angle of the vertical pink line down the side of the jodhpurs? Is it consistent?
Why It Matters
Your pelvis is your foundation in the saddle. When it’s off - even slightly - it can affect everything from your leg position to your ability to sit deep, follow the horse’s movement, and apply effective aids.
SymmFit Jodhpurs were created by a rider physio specifically to help you see and correct these small but critical details. So you can fix them faster, ride more comfortably, and build better biomechanics in the saddle.
If you’re struggling to achieve a symmetrical position in the saddle, it might be time to book in with a specialist who can assess you and help identify the cause. Because if you can’t sit evenly at halt or while riding, you won’t be giving clear, consistent aids - and that leads to miscommunication between you and your horse.
Want to see what your pelvis is doing in the saddle?
Buy SymmFit Jodhpurs and start riding with more awareness and balance.
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