[QUOTE=tinah;7176055]
Oh thank god. I haven’t had my coffee, obviously.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I was most definitely joking. Hence the laugh-y face.
Balanced, NOT interfering with horse, if the horse were “yanked” out from under you, you’d land on your feet.
I agree that there is not really much variation in what people consider correct.
McLain Ward and Beezie Madden are always excellent. You’ll also see good examples in many older photos.
Here are some pictures I have saved as good references:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/91b98dcaa16c403c4ec64925aea63213/tumblr_mqinbfphwk1s5rf3mo1_500.jpg
http://31.media.tumblr.com/1fd204e16ddc5f32cb65dc0c00106827/tumblr_mq07ysMlFR1qmtm35o1_500.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/d253e49b17af06d714258ecf3314b214/tumblr_mhpfgxhAgX1qb1k9ro1_500.jpg
http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m897fuiSzO1qjfq8vo1_500.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lye3c8SVNZ1ro9qqeo1_500.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5sb1hHFVN1rvvfk3o1_500.jpg
And in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zjlZie0UDM
Wondering why most of the pics are over fences. When I hear ‘two-point’, I think on the flat.
^ ^ ^ Exactly. Any Practical Horseman has GM’s dissection of jump position, including 2 point. Developing a balanced two point on the flat is where the majority of skill building takes place.
[QUOTE=snaffle635;7187837]
Wondering why most of the pics are over fences. When I hear ‘two-point’, I think on the flat.[/QUOTE]
Two point on the flat is just an exercise to strengthen your leg and balance by mimicking the position you have in the air over a jump.
[QUOTE=GoneAway;7175255]
At the risk of turning this into a “rate my eq!” thread, here is one of mine that I think is ok in terms of 2-point and balance.
Basically using your own core strength and base of support to act as a foundation for your own balance, rather than relying on the horse’s neck to keep you up (as some people do with the crest release). I like a short stirrup, partially closed hip angle (closed further by the horse jumping up to you), and a soft, upper arm with an unlocked elbow.[/QUOTE]
Gosh that horse looks familiar to me, is the horse yours?
There is certainly an ideal position over fences. And honestly, I’ve never heard it described any differently (from eventers, jumpers or equitation). But a lot depends on what you are doing as the ideal can change…and there are a lot of positions away from ideal that are still effective. Also the time of the photo showing the position will change how the postion looks. Most important is staying out of the way of the horse.
This is a picture of me from a clinic yesterday. The approach and take off of for this jump was on level ground (this is important because your position should change if the ground is not level). It was an early fence in our clinic and about 3’3" maybe a little bigger (it looks little in the picture but didn’t look little in person!!!).
I think my leg and my crest release are decent. I should have gone to a more automatic release but I had taken a hold of the neck strap because this horse is green and I never want to accidently hit him in the mouth–and I was unsure of what he was going to do coming to a bigger fence for him. At the time I felt my self over close going with him (an old and bad habit)…so that is the big negative in the position of the photo. I didn’t need to close my hips quite so much to go with him. I corrected myself after this picture as it can be a real fault if there is something after the fence or more of a drop. If the ground had not been level…my position would be slightly different.
