Want a strong leg?

Ummm I wasn't trying to start an argument, sorry if it came off that way. However I believe I saw a post saying they had no more holes to hike up the irons, did I not? I agree with you totally, anytime you are balancing your body precariously on your legs, it's a good exercise, and I might ride with my stirrups a little higher than others, I know when I started with this new instructor, she jacked 'em up 2 holes, felt weird, but my riding improved and so did my show placings. Thank you for starting this thread, it's a great exercise, I just happen to call it the 2 point.

When I said I ran out of holes, I meant my trainer wanted my legs so scrunched up that she had to make new holes. I have long legs, so she'd already gone up about 10 holes before she ran for the hole punch. I can do 2-point all day. I only made it 3 laps at the walk in jockey position before my thighs burst into flames and I had to stop. It's a fantastic exercise.

NEVER will I ever be in this position at any given time while riding my horse. Whether that be at home in a lesson, or at an HT.



So, no - this is not a 2 point position - but I am no going to argue this with you.

MBP - great post, great suggestion and I am definitely going to give this a go! I would love to get a job at the local "track" to exercise TB's, what a great opportunity!


Exactly to the first part - I can do 2 point all day. I can go out in a 2 hour hack while doing 2 point for the majority of the ride.

I haven't given the Jockey Position a shot yet - I can only imagine!

I don't this once at a jockey simulator in the Saratoga museum(NY). It killed and I over pushed myself and could barely walk afterwards lol.
I will have to try thing on my horse when my ankle heals and I can ride in a saddle again lol. I work my way up to not getting as tired lol.

So I don't misrepresent the exercise, the idea is to have the calves, and only the calves holding you on the horse. While the stirrups should be short as possible, your calves need to be on and perpendicular to the ground. It's for those of us who have dying fish for lower legs. The pic I posted shows the overall length, but not really the desired lower leg position. It just happens to have secondary side affects of giving you thighs of steel and finding your seat bones.

In response to previous comments about two point, sorry couldn't be bothered doing the quote thing:

When you start off riding at the track you start with a slightly longer stirrup than what is shown in the picture. You know why? Cos it's bloody hard. It takes a lot of time to build up those muscles. Over time you get to the point where you can have your knees at wither height. If you tried to do that without conditioning the muscles your legs would literally give out from under you. And you would be introduced to the ground at high speed. Best to strengthen first.

Not only that but throw into the equation a rambunctious TB, a racing pad rather than a saddle and the odd barrier trial here and there and you have yourself an entirely different ball game to what is commonly accepted as two point. In fact even the stirrup position is different for trackwork, you simply could not have the stirrup under the ball of your foot, even for breezing it's usually slightly behind the ball of the foot. Another great way to be introduced to the ground at high speed especially if you are coming out of the gates.

So whilst it could technically be considered a two point position that really is an oversimplified view. The exercise that MBP is describing is more like two point on crack.

Sarahver, you must have legs like steel! Do you actually get strong enough where you can hold that position without the aid of the horse's neck? Or do you have to be part bionic woman to do that? Love the newly coined term, two point on crack. Doing it again tomorrow in the hay fields.

Tee-hee, nope. I used to have legs of steel.

Last time I rode track was last August. If I got back on now and tried it I would probably be in search of some crack to ease the pain the day after ha ha.

Joking people.

ETA: Yes you get strong enough to hold the position without the support of the horse. But it takes time. Oh and I am quite certain that anyone that has ridden track has had more than their fair share of spills, including me!

Love it, 2 pt seat on crack!! Anyways, yes just got finished riding 2 horses & I jacked up the leathers right to the top, yup pretty much same exercise except I was more "teetery on circles and couldn't apply much calf pressure since my calf was near the top of his back, but yes it does elongate the calf muscles. This is a great exercise, I recommend it highly.

When I was 16-18, I had a brutal instructor. She made us do that, but it was way, way worse, haha. At the trot, one lap up in ridiculously high two point, then drop your stirrups and post. Back up to ridiculous two-point, then posting with no stirrups. We did this for, oh, a half hour. =P

I approve it's effectiveness. =]
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