Any tips in helping an old hunter girl keep her butt in the saddle?
I find myself constantly wanting to two point in my western saddle. I’ve been trying to get my stirrups right, and don’t think I’m there yet. Any rule of thumb? Should they hit you at or below the ankle bone? How much bend in the knee? I have them too long now thinking that would remind me to sit down but I just reach for them instead. Maresy has a long strided hunter type canter too, so its a bit harder to sit, even in a hunt saddle. Aaargh! Thanks for any and all help 
Have you tried just dropping your stirrups? I was a hunter rider who converted to western and didn’t have that issue, but I also never felt the urge to two point.
Do you always two point in the English saddle? Could you work on sitting in that saddle, and then in the western?
I’d make sure the saddle fits you and horsey well so you know you’re not being pitched forward which makes you want to two point.
Dropping your stirrups may help. Generally when a person can’t figure out how to sit a canter (lope) they are putting too much weight on their stirrups. Also make sure you are sitting up straight and tall, not leaning forward over the horse’s neck, and that your hand(s) is either over the saddle horn if riding one handed or just to each side of the horn if riding two handed. Thinking of relaxing your back muscles but engaging you core muscles usually helps, too.
Video example http://youtu.be/rdzVjwEJGow?t=21s
General rule of thumb for western stirrup length in just below the ankle bone.
Get someone to longe you for a bit before you ride on your own and do exercises on the longe line, some with, some without stirrups and concentrate on your seat only, on any saddle, western or English.
Your problem is common to many of both kinds of riding if they have been training colts and youngsters and/or mostly ridden hunters and not really worked that much on flat work.
Can you ride a horse with more of a lope a few times so you can get a better feel for it before moving back to your horse?
I will be no help at all, but part of it could be your horse. I have one that I rode English for a long time and switched to Western and no problems. Same saddle, different horse and I am forever wanting to two point the lope on him. It’s a lot to remind myself to sit back and correct. I thought it was just me, but my trainer (who only rides western) said she’s had the same problem the couple of times she’s ridden him as well. Just gotta work on sitting on those back pockets and concentrate.
It could be your saddle (balance of it), it could be your stirrups (try putting them up a bit so you aren’t reaching for them - sometimes if you feel you have to reach, you try to get into two point to lengthen your leg). It could be you need to work on core strength - it doesn’t take much core strength to canter around in two point, but it does take more to sit up straight and stay with the horse. It could be your horse is going around on the forehand and dragging you down with him.
Lots to consider! I would actually start by putting your stirrups up a hole or two so that your leg can be stable underneath you. It is kind of awkward in that there’s not the dramatic “heels down” focus as there is in h/j land so the stirrups (especially if they have a wide base) may be throwing you off as well.
Can you keep a hula hoop up? That’s the motion your hips have to have to be able to keep you in sync with the horse’s back at a lope. Best to learn it no stirrups. In order to help you relax, hook your fingers under the horn and pull lightly UP while seen if you can slide your shoulder blades down and leave you hips loose. Once you get it, you’ll feel glued to the horse.
For a decent sitting trot or canter, you need to move your hips with the horse. The trot can be easier because there isn’t as much power flowing thru the horse’s back, but it can be tougher because the pulses come faster. This video is from a western perspective on cantering, but I think it does a good job of showing how your hips need to move for either a sitting trot or canter.
Think about pushing the back pockets of your jeans- the tops of them- into your saddle. This is how they worded it when I first learned to ride on reiners and it stuck with me. Probably the opposite of you hunters, especially because to sit a stop you sink down into the saddle and almost “slouch”. BUT, rather than worrying so much about your stirrups, just try to think about pushing your back pockets into the saddle, and I think it will really help make you sit up and back.
Thanks everybody. I am concentrating on sitting on my pockets and sitting up straight. It is helping a lot. My mare has a great jog, you can sit it all day long. But she has a more English canter, hence my wanting to two point. I grew up riding TBs and we always had to be light on them. Have to get it into my head that she doesn’t mind if I sit on her back.
