Maintaining two point/cross country/light seat

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Penguin_Toes

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Hi everyone

My old boy was retired last year, so I took over the care of a friends horse who was on rest following a suspensory injury. I slowly fittened him up over winter through to now - I've just started pole work and small grids.

He is a bit panicky with a short, tight stride so my instructor suggested I school in a light seat and approach jumps in a cross country seat. I couldn't do it! Not even for a second. We tried several times and she didn't know what to suggest other than practising on hacks.

I've done that and I still can't get up for more than a few seconds. I tried rising for two beats and sitting for one but I can't even do that!

I used to be able to do this no problem a few years ago! Does any one have any tips or exercises?

Someone said I should pop my stirrups up five or six holes on a hack to force my balance to improve. What do you think?

Thanks!
 
Shortening Stirrups a few holes may help. And a neck strap so you don't jab him in the mouth. Also try walking and trotting in light seat. You'd be surprised how hard it is to maintain in walk! Unfortunately it is just one of things that comes with practice I think!
 
Just learning light seat etc at the moment. My first instinct would be to wonder about leg position. Does the saddle put your lower leg in an odd place? Impossible to be in a balanced light seat if leg too far forward!

Use a neck strap and don'tbe afraid to use the neck to help balance.

How supple are you? Should be easy enough to stand on ground in light seat then move onto something like a half round block. Better yet if you can stand like it's a stirrup

In my group the typical issue is tipping forward rather than folding and softening knees etc. As one tips forward the leg goes back. Alternatively the leg ends up too far forward (defensive) and you can't stand up either. My usual trick for a physical skill is to find one simple positive instruction that triggers everything else to work. For jumping that trigger phrase is legs forward. For skiing its hips forward
 
You need to absorb the bounce thro your knees. It's my guess your using a braces knee to try and keep the position. Relax the knee hip and of course ankle joints

Ps I brace the knees more the longer the stirrups are lol

I started practising it in walk. Find you balance the relax the joints. You need a fair amount of good tenseness in the muscles to hold it

Thanks. Well reminded I need to start doing this again after coming back from surgery I will struggle
 
budley95 said:
Shortening Stirrups a few holes may help. And a neck strap so you don't jab him in the mouth. Also try walking and trotting in light seat. You'd be surprised how hard it is to maintain in walk! Unfortunately it is just one of things that comes with practice I think!
Click to expand...

It's so hard in walk!

Now I think about it I haven't even been trying to hold neck strap or use the neck to balance, I've just been expecting I should be able to do it.

I need to practice practice practice like you say!
 
If you can't do it at all it sounds more like a technique problem than a strength problem. Endurance got easier when I remembered to breathe...
 
elb0801 said:
stand with your back straight against a wall, slowly walk forwards until your knee joint is at 90 degress with your foot flat against the floor and back still flat against the wall like this
http://0.tqn.com/d/exercise/1/0/9/M/wallsit.jpg

and stay as long as you can, building up gradually

GREAT for leg muscles
Click to expand...

Oh my goodness I just tried this- so much harder than it looks! It feels like the muscles I'm struggling with!
 
Wishful said:
If you can't do it at all it sounds more like a technique problem than a strength problem. Endurance got easier when I remembered to breathe...
Click to expand...

I think it's actually both! But first and foremost it's technique because I can't find my balance point at all, even for a second
 
I find it really hard too. I've improved my leg strength a lot with trotting in shorter stirrups, we are having trotting issues at the mo and it has made me feel more balanced and secure. Simple thing but have you tried going into two point at a halt and staying there? I find I try and then fall forwards naturally, so you need to find your centre of gravity to feel the position that is balanced for you. Saddles often do not help at all but stirrup length can make a huge difference. Think with my improved fitness I might give this a go tomorrow :-)
 
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