tips for getting balanced in two-point...UP DATE!!!!!#19

[RunForIt]

....Its been FOREVER since I really did any work in two point and its damn hard!!!! Rasta's getting legged up just fine and dandy post 2-month eye demons drama, so 'it's time". Only I'm needing some suggestions for getting myself balanced again at the trot. My saddle is a work of art, so the fault is with me - I can balance just fine at the walk, but the first baby jog step and backwards I go. HELP!!!! :lol: :cool:

[McVillesMom]

IMO, it's OK to grab mane or breastplate for a while until you get stronger. That's what I do! :winkgrin:

[Mach Two]

Think of your weight all going down o your heels, and you might need to shorten your stirrups a hole or two....sometimes the greater leg angle will help you center your weight in your heels....and yep, a breastplate or mane helps....or a stirrup leather around the horse's neck for a while as a place to grab.
Good for you!:)

[joharavhf]

Get a new saddle! Seriously. I haven't done a ton of 2-point in the last 10 years....and I remember it being hard back then. Well, I bought a new saddle for my pony recently and took him to the beach the other day. I was able to 2-point and canter all day with no strain whatsoever!!!!

[Kairoshorses]

At a DOC clinic, David said that we should be practicing two point three times a week--at ALL GAITS. That's the hard part for me: doing it at the walk and trot....! He also said we could do it even during flat lessons, or even in our dressage saddle. I DO think we get stronger by making our stirrup leathers shorter, but doing two point in longer stirrups is ok, too.

I found that, if I stand up in the stirrups and I feel like I'm going to fall back, my cantle is probably too low. Conversely, if I feel like I'm falling forward, my pommel is probably too low. If the saddle is balanced on the horse, I'm more likely to be balanced when I stand up in the stirrups, and that will help me in my two point.

BUT--I've also learned that I balance a LOT easier on my long-striding horse rather than my poppy, up horse. So I have to practice on both. It took me almost a month riding the latter horse before I felt comfortable.

Long winded answer: practice. Three times a week. At all gaits. And don't just practice two point--practice "putting up the sail" (getting upright) and going down into galloping position to see if your horse responds to you by decreasing/increasing the speed.

[Wee Dee Trrr]

Ditto above.

Working on standing straight up in your stirrups it will help you find your center of balance. Start with a neck strap, so that when you fall backward (and you will, we all do) you don't slam your horse's back. Do this at walk and trot, it will place your leg in the right position. Practice lowering yourself into a 2 pt position without moving your lower leg.

This is one of my favorite things to work on by myself. Esp when my horse needs a low key day.

[SevenDogs]

Riding without stirrups helps strengthen some of the muscles needed to support a two point position. Try it at all three gaits and then add posting the trot as well as going into two point at all three gaits (even if you can only do it for a moment). If nothing else, it will make you so darn glad when you take your stirrups back, that your position is bound to improve! :D

Do also make sure your saddle fits this horse at this time. I had an absolutely fabulous saddle but after a year of hours holding two point, working without stirrups, and excercise, I realized that this saddle just didn't happen to fit my horse. I ended up selling my saddle to someone who LOVES it, bought a new saddle and BINGO (!), suddenly I could canter around in two point for what seemed like an eternity.

[Shortstroke]

George Morris recommends doing 2 pt. everyday for 5 min. and I followed his advice religiously for about 4 maybe 5 years. Now I do it about 3 times a week. I think you should work on it everyday. In the beginning I did it for shorter periods and then worked up to 5 min. and then sometimes did 7 min. I also started off holding the mane and then would let go for short periods until I didn't need that support any longer. Also, in the beginning, I would just do it at the trot. If you are falling forward, then your leg needs to be more underneath you - bring your foot forward a little. If you are falling back. then bring your foot back a little. Do not lock your joints - you don't want to jam your heel down. Keeping your body soft and your joints flexible will help you to maintain your balance. I am short and it took me forever to really get my leg wrapped around my horse's side. But I am proof that 2 point really does work. Stick with it - be really disciplined about it and don't give up. You'll be glad you did! Also, don't think about it as a temporary thing to do. It should be part of your program for the rest of your life. As you get better at it, you kind of melt into your horse even while holding your 2 pt. and you fill find that your horse will really soften his back and start to swing. It is best to do it out in the field with uneven terrain - much more effective and not boring!

[Sudi's Girl]

Squats!!!! Will Faudree worked with me on this in a lesson that totally kicked my butt! (not to mention I'm riding an unbalanced greenie, so MY balance is REALLY important).

First of all - at home - do squats! He assigned me 50 a day, and BOY have they helped. I feel so much more stable now!

Also - he had me practice doing my two point in really short stirrups too. (OUCH!)

Oh - and I really think it's true about the saddle. I can balance all day in an AP, but put me in a really forward flap (CC) and my balance goes out the window. *sigh*

Good luck !!

[RunForIt]

Squats!!!! Will Faudree worked with me on this in a lesson that totally kicked my butt! (not to mention I'm riding an unbalanced greenie, so MY balance is REALLY important).

First of all - at home - do squats! He assigned me 50 a day, and BOY have they helped. I feel so much more stable now!

Also - he had me practice doing my two point in really short stirrups too. (OUCH!)

Oh - and I really think it's true about the saddle. I can balance all day in an AP, but put me in a really forward flap (CC) and my balance goes out the window. *sigh*

Good luck !!

My saddle is a custom Amerigo close contact so no XC saddle "supports" to aid 2-point...big sigh (though Rasta and I love the saddle). I tend to keep my leg too far forward, so that is probably helping the "fall backward" feeling (I grab mane FAST to avoid plunking down on his back!). Between his Tendon injury mid-summer and then just 6 weeks post back in the saddle for walking and walking and finally early November "ya-hoo we can do trot sets" again...ulcer in cornea and immediately followed by a 2-month battle with an ocular abcess (Hoo-ray for fantastic vets Dr. Kim Kand Dr. Jenn W of Covered Bridge Equine!!!!) we are once again "legging up" but with legs of jelly. Saddle fit is fine - I'm just not fit.

The suggestions here are now routines: every day practice - and I'll try the squats, but am concerned about knees...

thanks everyone!

[Sudi's Girl]

PS - on the squats - don't try 50 at first if your knees are bothering you (mine are bad too since I've overly abused them). Once you build up the muscle though in your legs, it shouldn't be as hard on them. Maybe even start with 20/day? Or split them up throughout the day? - Oh - and remember to keep your weight in your heels! :D (pull your toes up off the floor when you do it)

Also - you can try placing your hands on a table/chair/exercise ball in front of you too for some extra support. And make gradual progress! :) It'll get better!! :)

[CookiePony]

OK... how do you do squats?

Believe me, RFI has been on at least a two year long quest to find the right saddle... she has found one that works... her friends cannot tolerate another saddle search (although some of us have benefitted from her castoffs)!

[Sudi's Girl]

I'm actually very jealous! I want a custom saddle so badly I could scream! :D I think I'm just built oddly! hehe

OK - here is a link for squats - http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightlifting/ht/Squat.htm

[Trixie]

I'm in PT for my knees at the moment, and my therapist has me working on similar squats - against a wall, though, with a ball between my knees to keep my knees in alignment. A few sets of ten, and build up. Don't just go into doing 50 squats, you're quite likely to tire yourself out and start doing them incorrectly.

[RunForIt]

Thanks on all accounts! Will heed your advice re: # of squats.

My body is also built a bit on the strange side, but Rasta's short, curved back is the ultimate culprit in the "custom" saddle being the answer to the "saddle quest". Between the saddle and "the eye", my horse account is rather in the red (though a recent acquisition by CookiePony and Taco has DEFINITELY given it more of a nice dusty rose color!). Have to say, the special tree that Amerigo has for curved backs has made an incredible difference - and I really don't mind riding in the lovely, balanced thing at all! :lol: :cool:

[cyberbay]

Runfor it -- when you say your horse's back is curved, do you mean that is curved upward? If that is so, would it possibly be linked to tight obliques and abs on your horse?

[RunForIt]

Rasta's back curves up from his wither - not drastically so, but its not a Flat back. We have a super chiro in GA - retired DVM from the track, but also knew that riding horses can need help staying in balance...when Rasta is fitted up again, we'll no doubt be paying a visit again to Washington, GA.

please add any insights you might have...

[jn4jenny]

Sadly, it's a strength thing. I too have a beloved Amerigo and couldn't possibly be better balanced in it (have noooooo problems balancing without stirrups), but four weeks of My Fitness Coach for the Wii have made a huge difference to my jumping position.

[RunForIt]

So, with all these smart ideas to get me going, out I go to ride Rasta tonight...first, I strap on a neck strap, he has lots of mane but I'm trying to do this right. THEN, I put the stirrups up ONE WHOLE HOLE!!!!!
Ka-CHING!!!!! :winkgrin: :lol: :winkgrin: Perfect balance at walk AND TROT!!!!!! Barely needed to touch mane or strap. Managed to stay up reasonably well for almost 5 minutes at the trot...

Duh, jumping saddles were meant to be JUMPING SADDLES, RFI! Still need lots of work, running will NOT be fun in the morning...

Thanks y'all!!! :cool:

[lstevenson]

So, with all these smart ideas to get me going, out I go to ride Rasta tonight...first, I strap on a neck strap, he has lots of mane but I'm trying to do this right. THEN, I put the stirrups up ONE WHOLE HOLE!!!!!
Ka-CHING!!!!! :winkgrin: :lol: :winkgrin: Perfect balance at walk AND TROT!!!!!! Barely needed to touch mane or strap. Managed to stay up reasonably well for almost 5 minutes at the trot...

Duh, jumping saddles were meant to be JUMPING SADDLES, RFI! Still need lots of work, running will NOT be fun in the morning...

Thanks y'all!!! :cool:


:D:yes: Finding your balance in your irons is always easier with shorter stirrups. Because of the increased angles in your legs, and the fact that the closer your center of gravity is to your feet, the easier it is to find balance. It will tire you out quicker, but it will also make you fitter quicker!

[slight]

One thing to add about leg being too far forward causing you to fall on your hind end: When you adjust try to do it from the hip/top of your leg - not just the knee down. Same with leg too far back causing you to tip forward. Adjust one leg at a time...and don't forget to let your knees and ankles be shock absorbers.
:)

[yellowbritches]

Isn't it funny what shortening your stirrups, even a little, can do? ;)