Two point position

[Claire Louise]

I know what two point is or at least i'm pretty sure I do. Just curious, Is it an american teaching thing??

[Mehitabel]

AFAIK it's just american for jumping position.

[Scarlett 001]

Ah, useful to know the different terminology. I did not know the UK term...

[ChristianRider]

I live in the US and was taught "two-point" from the beginning! I didn't even notice that you use "jumping position" in the UK:p

[IrisSilverMoon]

My instructor tends to use jumping position rather than two point. Simply because she differentiates between the two. At least for us jumping position is with your feet slightly farther forward and your rear balanced deep in the saddle, but still not touching it. You can slide into jumping position from two point where the rear is slightly more over the cantle of the saddle and your legs aren't so forward...but we mostly go w th french methods of training, not american ones, so that could be the reason we differentiate between the two.

[Alex]

we use 'jumping position' at my yard - I'd never heard of '2 point' until I came to NR :)

[cvb]

hmm - it is taught in Uk and is not the same as jumping position.

2 point (in UK anyway) is more like a half-seat.

3 point is when you are sitting fully in the saddle.

Typically enough all the web references I can find are american, so describe it as out of the saddle - and all my books are in Sweden.

Cos this subject keeps coming up, and it would be nice to find a proper reference to find out if I just have a very vivid imagination !

[Alex]

Originally posted by cvb

3 point is when you are sitting fully in the saddle.



3 point??? never heard that until now :)

hehe

[Mehitabel]

ok. so is 2-point like the position you have between the fences on an x-c course? something like this?

[cvb]

Pretty close - yes, only a bit more bent at the near so a bit closer to the saddle, which would also bring you a little more over the saddle ie centre of gravity not quite so far forward ;) (But that would be nit picking)

The only way I can make the 'points' work is if you agree with the US idea that 2 of the points of contact are your legs, and the third is your derriere. Then as you move into a half seat, you 'unplug' the third point - but only just.

But given it is a 2 point seat I think my difference is that the 2 'leg' points of contact are - for me- the top of the leg. ie the bits you are actually sitting on, rather than the whole leg. SO in 2 point, you still need to have some contact there.

In jumping seat you are more fully out of the saddle, and actually your thighs are off the saddle with just your lower leg still against the horse.

In jumping position you are going over a jump, so the horse's centre of gravity is moving forward and up and yours needs to follow (and be in a position to follow).

In 2 point, you are on the level, so your centre of gravity needs to stay over the horse's but will be a little further forward then in 3 point (normally because the horse has also moved its centre of gravity forward by going up a gear !).

Most try and find a better description :(

[CityGirl]

CVB - maybe this is useful....

2 point is only 2 points of contact - your legs (hence the name).
This is the description from Practical Horseman...

Maintaining soft contact, lift your seat slightly out of the saddle, with your pelvis tipped slightly forward, toward your knees. Center your hips and weight over your heels, and keep your shoulders square and open, slightly ahead of your hips, roughly in line with the fronts of your knees. (By "open," I mean that your shoulders are rolled back, with your stomach muscles pulled up toward your sternum, literally lifting that bone up as you push it from below. This shoulders-back/chest-up body configuration is necessary for flat-backed balance and upper-body control.) With your elbows softly bent, carry your hands above and about six inches in front of your horse's withers. Keep your eyes up, looking ahead at an imaginary fence.
From such a position, your center of gravity-located about an inch below your navel, and halfway between your back and belly-is directly over your horse's center of gravity, which is located just behind his withers and about halfway down his belly. I'ts a balanced position.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

i have one instructer that says 2-point and one that says half-seat. I do the same thing with both and noone ever yells at me, everyone once in a while i hear 'jumping position' i have never done anything with 3point though.

[cvb]

CityGirl - the point is that its not the "same" 2 points as you guys seem to get taught in USA and I was trying to find a good UK definition !

[CityGirl]

Ah - tis the transatlantic differences again;)