Speak to me of correct two-point without stirrups.

[Hafdressage]

I’m a dressage rider that recently moved to an H/J barn and I decided that since I’m at a good barn with some nice school horses, I might as well take a few jumping lessons (only had a couple so far). Hopefully, it will make me more versatile overall, which I always think is a good thing.

So, I have some questions as I get up to speed on H/J life. My trainer remarked to me that when she was growing up they would do two-point without stirrups all the time. I didn’t want to sound like an idiot to her and ask how that works, so I figured I would sound like an idiot on here and ask how that works. :lol:

So, without stirrups, what holds your fanny out of the saddle?

[AmmyByNature]

Your muscles.

Do you post without stirrups? Then do the same thing you’re doing on the “up” and you’ll be pretty close.

It takes strength and core stability.

[DogIsMyCopilot]

I wondered about the same thing when I read about stirrupless half-seat recently (I think Ingrid Klimke recommends it in her book). It seems like you need to be pinching somewhere to stay out of the saddle.
I would assume it’s the thing muscles that are supposed to hold you up? But hiw to you keep from pinching with the knee and also keep an independent lower leg?

[AmmyByNature]

Lots of thigh. Thigh and calf. And you can have contact with your knee without pinching. Pinching with your knee implies lack of strong contact along the rest of your leg.

Try going into a two point with your stirrups, feel where your contact is through your legs, strengthen that contact, and let your stirrups slip off and stay in two point.

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

This is an exercise we do in my lessons regularly, as well. Along with one-stirrup posting and no-stirrup posting. Not my favorite things but once you’ve done 15-20 minutes of those types of exercise, going back to regular posting/two point seems SO easy.

[Foxglove6]

Ditto to the above. I used to do lots of 2 point without stirrups as a kid. I’m not as good at practicing it now that I’m older but I recognize that I do need to have the strength that it requires.

[Wonders12]

As the others said, it’s your muscles. Ideally, you want consistent contact throughout your leg so you’re not pinching with your knee (or anywhere else really). This is an especially popular exercise for children and it does improve leg stability, stick-ability, and confidence.

However, I think it makes a better “when I was young” story than a useful exercise. Two-pointing without stirrups is useful, but not for endless laps around the arena. Even strong riders tend to pinch, clamp, and get stiff through the upper body after enough time. For no stirrup exercises, I definitely prefer posting and 2-up 1-down. I’ll mix in some two-point without stirrups because it is beneficial, but not for extended periods.

[rockonxox]

It was much easier as a kid. Now sometimes my back will start hurting if I hold 2 point too long without stirrups. Lots of that has to do with my strength which I am working on. It is all in the legs. When I started back doing some stirrupless 2 point I would feel a little off balance and grab a little mane to prevent pulling on the horses mouth while I “readjust” my balance and so I don’t slam back into the saddle. It is never fun, but definitely gets better with practice and if done right you will have noticeable results.

[Ambitious_Kate]

We used to do no stirrups and no reins, arms out to the sides, reins knotted in a half our lesson, over a figure eight course. We rode these ponies which would jump around and around and we would have to stay up for the entire half hour. Once you could do that, you could graduate to lessons with the BNT, lol!

[luvdogz72]

work on it bareback in a round pen. The saddle impedes your feel a lot.

from what I feel, it’s your inner thigh muscles. the same ones that you use for two-point stablility when you stay in 2-point at the w, t, c to get a stable lower leg for jumping

[541hunter]

When I’m doing it right, my entire leg is on, with even pressure. So yes, there is some pressure in the knee area, but it’s definitely not pinching because there’s also thigh pressure. I also don’t get up out of the saddle NEARLY as much when I’m two-pointing without stirrups. My breeches still skim the seat. That’s why no-stirrups jumping is so beneficial for people who get ahead of the horse; you really CAN’T do that without stirrups.

I say as if I’ve ever had the stomach to jump no-stirrups…:o