How long does it normally take to get the hang of riding 2 point?

[silverunicorn]

How long does it normally take to get the hang of riding 2 point?
Just curious! I've only recently started and it feels quite strange, but I really want to be able to jump. ?

 

[Shay]

It really depends on your age, your fitness, your body awareness and the quality of your instruction.

 

[silverunicorn]

I'm early 30s and pretty average in terms of fitness and body awareness, I think - my legs and core still need to be stronger, but they're much better than they were. My instructor seems very good.

 

[Shay]

I think the answer is probably in the second part of your sentance - your legs and core need to be stronger. Once you have the stength and balance you can get it in one lesson - but its getting the strength and balance first thats the problem!

You could try asking your instructor for exercises to do on the ground to help?

 

[silverunicorn]

Thanks, Shay, I’ll do that. I had another go at it today on a different pony on a hack and it was a bit easier, but he has a smoother trot.

 

[Shay]

Do you do any work on the lunge without stirrups? That can help with balance and core stength. Its one of those things - when you get it it "clicks" and you don't know how it was you didn't know - but when you are trying to get there it feels like the impossible!

 

[silverunicorn]

I haven't done much lunge work at all recently, mostly because I couldn't have lessons with covid, but hopefully I can try it again soon. Thank you!

 

[Equi]

Jumping doesn't require 2 point (unless you mean the actual part were you fold over the jump and not just riding around the arena)

Its all about practise. Stay up for one or two strides, rise a few times, repeat until you can make it longer. Making sure your heel is under your hips is key too, you can't do it if your legs are way out in front of you so you need to make sure you can adjust your legs.

 

[silverunicorn]

Thanks Equi! The repeating and gradually increasing it definitely helped a bit yesterday.

 

[Trinket12]

I do core exercises in-between my lessons, and in lesson we do 2 point in trot, over poles in trot and then also without stirrups (that I did not enjoy!). It's just practice, practice. I have a tendency to roll my right should too far forward, so always working on that :-D

 

[silverunicorn]

Wow, Trinket, that sounds really hard without stirrups!

 

[Keith_Beef]

If I've understood correctly, "two-point" is what is known here in France as "en équilibre"; we do a lot of work in this position, and I agree, it is difficult at first. I think you need to make sure that you have your stirrups at the right length, heel down and ankle flexible.

We do the exercise of rising trot, then staying in the up position for two strides, four strides, then staying up for a complete circle. And in straight lines over poles, sometimes into a box where we stop in the up position before sitting down and leaving the box at a walk.

The instructors tell us that if we're having trouble keeping well balanced, we can grab the horse's mane or a grab strap (if there's one on the saddle).

It's not only for jumping; when riding up or down a slope it takes the weight off the horse's back so it can move more easily. Well, that's how the instructor explains it, but your weight is going through the stirrup leathers to the saddle, so is still on the horse's back...

 

[tristar]

balance really, and a balanced horse, the point of balance for the rider needs to be stable, so you are not dependent on the reins, i think if you are in a good balance so you don`t topple forward,

you need to be thinking of the point of balance a bit further back than when in 3 point seat to start with, and the skill is to shift the balance forward as you jump

 

[Trinket12]

Wow, Trinket, that sounds really hard without stirrups!

My thighs were not happy the next day!