Learning to canter in two-point?

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earthisours

New Member
Oct 25, 2008
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Canada
Hi there,

My teacher was talking to me last class about starting to canter soon in the two-point position. I'm terrible so far at sitting trot, so I guess that's why we're doing it like that.

But I've never heard of riding the canter like that. =/ Is it an unorthodox method, or have I just not really noticed?

I would've thought we'd just wait until my sitting trot was better. >.> Which may be a while.

EDIT: Whoops, meant to post this in Training of the Rider
 
Cantering in 2 point is very common. Many happy hackers canter this way all the time out on hacks.

It frees up the horses back to allow them to canter more easier.

However conversely it deprives the rider of having their seat to use as a form of communicating with the horse.

It's a great thing to be able to do and will help you to find your balance.

Hope this helps :)
 
Im assuming you mean rising not leaning forwards?

Ive done this a bit before- my old loan pony found it very hard to keep the canter going and also had a very uncomfortable stride so to start with, we tried rising to the canter so she didnt have the weight all the time, it worked sort of.
I never did learn myself to sit to her canter properly in the school as it was such a weird stride, but rising seemed to work for both of us!

Though you should find that sitting to the canter is easier than sitting to the trot.
 
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I first learned to canter in two-point and I didn't like it - it felt too insecure. I much preferred the sitting canter. Now if I could just get my riding muscles back into shape so I can canter again! LOL
 
I was taught stand to canter right from start over 30years ago. We didnt ever sit to the canter in those days. So I still find it hard to sit for more than 3 strides and I'm up again.

I think the two point seat is also called a three point seat, both being standing and rising canter is rising, and sitting, sitting.

If you start to stand to the trot and find your balance, then you will find standing canter/2 or 3 point seat much easier.:)
 
I think my teacher means the actual two-point, not rising, to the canter. But I don't know for sure. We've been practicing my two-point in trot a lot lately, she says it's important to really build those muscles now, way before I even start jumping. So I imagine she won't suddenly change what her terminology means.

But I don't know for sure. X_x I'm afraid to try sitting the canter. The horse I ride has an incredibly bumpy trot, and I feel incredibly unstable. Makes me feel unsure for the canter. My teacher mentioned that barely anyone feels comfortable in the sitting trot with him. >.> I guess it's good we're gonna do it in two-point first?

(Sorry if I make no sense, haha. It's 2am here and I'm writing an essay and am tired. >.< )
 
I thought 2 point was the same as rising - in trot though. In canter I don't know.
I do know the light forward seat in canter that is often used to get off the horse's back - often used for cantering on a hack - bit like jumping position for lack of a better description. But that is not rising in the same way as you rise in the trot though.

I get confused about these terms. Where does 2 point come from - is it an American term or is it used in the UK too?
 
earthisours said:
I think my teacher means the actual two-point, not rising, to the canter. But I don't know for sure. We've been practicing my two-point in trot a lot lately, she says it's important to really build those muscles now, way before I even start jumping. So I imagine she won't suddenly change what her terminology means.

But I don't know for sure. X_x I'm afraid to try sitting the canter. The horse I ride has an incredibly bumpy trot, and I feel incredibly unstable. Makes me feel unsure for the canter. My teacher mentioned that barely anyone feels comfortable in the sitting trot with him. >.> I guess it's good we're gonna do it in two-point first?

(Sorry if I make no sense, haha. It's 2am here and I'm writing an essay and am tired. >.< )
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A canter feels a LOT different to trot, so Iwouldn't worry too much. My old share pony was a Welsh D with a very bouncy trot that I found it hard to sit to unless we were going slow, but her canter was really flowing and smooth. When you first canter it feels really bouncy and fast and out of control but it's far easier to get the hang of than trot.

IN regards to 2 point - I always thought two point canter was similar to a jumping position, but with less fold and more of a weight in the heels and bum just out of the saddle. I've never been taught rising canter? :confused:

Same with trot you can have a rising trot (similar to rising canter I presume), a sitting trot and a floating trot (ie. where you are in a jump-type position in trot). Far harder to do a floating trot though, especially if the movement is jarring.

Only thing is as joyscarer said you lose the control with your seat and sometimes it's harder to apply leg aids without tipping.
 
earthisours said:
I think my teacher means the actual two-point, not rising, to the canter. But I don't know for sure. We've been practicing my two-point in trot a lot lately, she says it's important to really build those muscles now, way before I even start jumping. So I imagine she won't suddenly change what her terminology means.

But I don't know for sure. X_x I'm afraid to try sitting the canter. The horse I ride has an incredibly bumpy trot, and I feel incredibly unstable. Makes me feel unsure for the canter. My teacher mentioned that barely anyone feels comfortable in the sitting trot with him. >.> I guess it's good we're gonna do it in two-point first?

(Sorry if I make no sense, haha. It's 2am here and I'm writing an essay and am tired. >.< )
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry either. My horse has a really easy to sit trot but I've been warned that he has a bouncy canter. Another horse I tried out had a hard to sit trot but I was told he had a marvellously smooth canter. The teachers usually want your body to be totally secure when you transition from trot to canter so if his sitting trot is a bit bouncy, then she may want you to go in 2-point to ask for the canter so that you start from a secure position.

I've read somewhere you can rise to the canter but I've never seen it or done it. I've also heard of 3-point but I haven't done it unless 3-point is the jumping position.
 
Personally I hate cantering in 2-point, galloping and jumping fine but canter no LOL!.
I hate trotting in 2 point to I feel like I have no control over the horse...
Duno why? LOL!
But I would go for it anyways alot of people like it!
 
Rising canter is what the polo players do, exactly the same as rising trt, sit one beat rise one beat.

3 point seat is jumping seat, standing.
 
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