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i need tips to perfect my two point position!!!

8K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  tbstorm 
#1 ·
A while back i had an accedent while riding, i was riding, my horse tripped, we both went down and he rolled over me... i know it has nothing to do with my two point buutt i just can't get into the proper position. so what should i do? should i go back to the basics and go through learning again? if so where do i start???

please help! show season is coming and i have to get this down!! any tips would be great!!!

thanks!:)
 
#4 ·
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#13 ·
Everyone seems to be saying all the right things but I dont really see anyone saying something about your hands( I think I saw one person say something but i'm just gonna say this anyways:) ). From the photos it looks like your hands are very close to your crotch. You want your hands to be up off the horse. Elbows bent, fingers in (no pinkies out like a tea party), and hands slightly off the horse(; I hope this helps! And i hope your two-point improves!:)
 
#6 ·
So from what I can see is that your heels are up, your hunched over, and your hands are in your crotch. Try to stretch your heels down, bring your upper body up, lift your hands, and even maybe push them forward.
When you are just riding try getting the correct position at the walk; heels down, hands up and forward and not touching the horse, and upper body a little further back. Then once you've got the hang of it, try it in the trot.
 
#7 ·
oh thank you it makes a lot of sence i think what im doing is just because im so scared im going to fall again!! i totally lost it and i guess i just devoloped bad habbits!!!

thank you again!!! it makes a lot of sence now!
 
#8 ·
I applaud you for wanting to improve your position! Here's something to consider: What you think will happen will happen. If you think you're going to fall of, you will. Self fulfilling prophecy.

What keeps you secure in the air? A correct position. What makes you unstable? The wrong position. Riding defensively like you are actually makes you less secure and more vulnerable to a fall.

Looking at your position, my hunch is that you actually have a very strong leg with quite a bit of potential. But your defensiveness is actually what makes it weak. First of all, trust your leg! I think it's quite capable if you let it! In every single position your lower leg is right there under you. There is a vertical line from your hip down to your heel, that's more then a LOT of people can say. But you absolutely must relax your ankle and let your heel drop down. Your ankle is what absorbs shock and if you stiffen it so much where you're standing on your toe another part of your body is going to take the shock throwing you out of the tack. Before you can really get your ankle to do its job properly is to make sure your stirrup is across the ball of your foot with it angled out so the outside branch (by your pinky) is closer to the front of your foot. That allows your heel to drop down, but also allows your foot to flex out so you have more weight on the big toe part of your foot. This is the most flexible and shock absorbing position you can be in.

Let your weight sink into your heels, but also practice a good release. I just took a clinic where the instructor really stressed that you CANNOT be balanced if your hands are behind your shoulders. Let your hands come forward and in a beginning crest release 50% of your weight will be on your hands with 50% in your legs. It will save your horse's mouth and let you figure out what to do with your upper body until you're strong enough to support yourself in the air with just your balance and leg. As you get stronger and more confidence you can put more and more weight into your leg and less on your hands.

Let your hips relax so your horse can jump up to you. Your horse jumping up will close your hip angle and allow you to be balanced over the jump.

Like I said, I think you have quite a bit of potential in there! Coming back after an accident is really difficult, but doable! You can do it! Trust your body and I think you will be just fine!
 
#9 ·
Only practice can build up the necessary muscle memory to hold the proper position, but I was given a great exercise for finding the right position in the first place. With you're horse standing still, stand straight up in the stirrups. Find your balance over your feet where you need nothing to hold you up. Then while keeping your legs in the exact same position from the knee down, almost sit back down in the saddle. When you get 2 inches from sitting in the saddle, stop and hold the position. That's a balanced 2 point position. Once you've found it, just take it out for a spin. Trot and canter all over the place occasionally stopping to stand up again to make sure you're still in the proper spot. It really works well, especially if you have nobody on the ground to point out a lower leg slippage problem. Good luck.
 
#11 ·
wow thank you so much!

upnover, thats great advise and i will use it! i just get so scared, tense up and forget everything i've learned!!!

myboypuck, i will definatly practice and use that excersize!

ridingtowardsgrace, thank you! seeing a visuale diagram is very helpful!

thank you all for your help its nice to know that there are so many people willing to share tips for a stranger!!! its great!

thanks again!!
 
#12 ·
You might practice holding the two-point at a walk or trot without jumping. Maybe even doing it when you're not on the horse so it's easier for you to figure out where you need to correct your posture without also having to focus on the horse. I know it helps me as a beginning jumper really get the feel for it.
 
#16 ·
actually i have been thinking about that too! and i think thats actually what im going to do! right now im trying to convince my friend to jump sable for me, while i just take my time and do my training all over again. actually the more i write this the more i think its the best way to go! so yeah i think im going to do that! thank you guys so much for everything!
 
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