Two-Point Position
September 17, 2008
The Certified Horsemanship Association explains the proper English seat.
Illustration by Susan Harris
Compiled by Hailey Harroun
- The two-point position, also known as the half seat, is used to help develop balance and control with your legs.
- The two-point or half seat is achieved by bending forward at the hips, taking most of the weight in your ankles and heels. Your back is straight with your seat just off the saddle.
- Your hands should be in front of the horse’s shoulders and the reins should be shortened before going into this position.
- Be sure while in the half seat to keep your shoulders and back relaxed. In the beginning, you may place a hand on your horse’s neck or grasp a handful of mane to help you maintain your balance.
- The use of the half seat will help your balance and will strengthen your legs. It will help prepare you for posting and eventually jumping.
- Practice this at a halt or walk first.
From the Certified Horsemanship Association Composite Horsemanship Manual. CHA certifies instructors and trail guides, accredits equestrian facilities, publishes educational manuals and hosts interactive conferences. CHA is one of AQHA’s educational alliance partners.
Learn more about showing. Download AQHA’s FREE report, The Ultimate Guide to Showing. You’ll find out about the different levels of competition and what to expect at your first show. Plus, there’s a great glossary that gets you up to date on showing lingo.
English Classes
AQHA offers a wide variety of English classes, including hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, working hunter, hunter hack and equitation over fences. Each class is judged on specific skill sets, some requiring a predetermined jumping pattern, and some requiring controlled exhibition of the walk, trot and canter around the arena. Check out the online show schedule (http://www.aqhamembers.org/FS/showing/calendar/index.cfm) to find the next horse show near you, where you can learn more about the English disciplines.
Get more information on AQHA classes and the overall showing experience with this free report, The Ultimate Guide to Showing. Download it now, and share it with friends!
Comments
19 Comments on “Two-Point Position”
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September 18th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Thanks for this info!! I choose to ride western but like to ride english to better my seat. This potition will help a bunch!!
September 18th, 2008 at 8:12 am
My boyfriend taught me this position several months ago, and although I run barrels, I actually am in this position going between barrels and running out, it is amazing how much this seat has helped me and my horse.
September 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Thanks for the reminder! I’ve been away from the show ring, trainers and English riding for a while and it was nice to be reminded of such an easy thing to practice. It’s a great way to build stamina, it’s like pilates only on horseback!
January 16th, 2010 at 2:42 am
I was wondering…
When in this position, your hip and heel are meant to be in line and your shoulder and knee are ment to be in line. I was wondering if your toe is also meant to be in line with your shoulder and knee? My mother and I have been talking about it and she believa that it’s not meant to be in line but i think it is!! Can you please help us sort out this creative disagreement? It would be amazingly helpful if you could
January 18th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Great question on the two-point position. The toe should be in line with the shoulder and knee as far as underneath the rider, but should be slightly out so that the rider’s calf is on the horse. So in other words, you don’t want your foot parallel to the horse’s body in two-point, but instead the toes slightly out so that your calves are in contact with the horse’s sides. Please let us know if you have other questions and thanks!
Christy Landwehr
CEO, Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) – AQHA Alliance Partner
4037 Iron Works Parkway Suite 180
Lexington, KY 40511
720-857-9550
http://www.CHA-ahse.org
http://www.CHAinstructors.com
May 18th, 2010 at 6:02 am
[...] riding offers the benefit of traditions rooted in old European schools devoted to the discipline of riding, such as the famed Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, is one such school. “English riding [...]
June 4th, 2010 at 10:54 am
[...] Florida, has taught riders at all levels, in both western and English events, from barrel racing to over-fences [...]
June 28th, 2010 at 6:02 am
[...] the longest length because the rider is sitting back and is using lots of leg on the horse, while jumping is the [...]
June 28th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
[...] would slow the trot rhythm with your own posting. If you slow the action of your posting trot, the horse will match [...]
August 16th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Pilates is good for developing a strong abdominal muscle. a great complement to bench press:.`
August 28th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
[...] how versatile the horses are. I liked Earth To Wanda the instant I saw her. She was game and would jump [...]
September 13th, 2010 at 4:01 am
[...] a slight adjustment to a rider’s position or even a thought in the rider’s mind can make a big difference in her success at a [...]
October 13th, 2010 at 4:03 am
[...] Pennsylvania http://www.cheryllees.com 1. Jackets that are too long and the rider sits on it in her saddle. 2. Bright-colored shirts under English jackets. 3. Boots that don’t fit snugly to [...]
October 20th, 2010 at 1:29 am
pilates really made by ab muscles super great-*`
October 20th, 2010 at 4:03 am
[...] and joints. Different positions can be a good warm-up such as posting at the trot or riding in two-point – those are both great for flexibility, balance and [...]
November 9th, 2010 at 11:26 am
pilates can really tone your abs muscles and they also strengthen the abdominal muscles just like sit-ups `
February 23rd, 2011 at 4:03 am
[...] We work just as hard on rider balance and self-carriage as we do the horse. We make our riders drop their stirrups and work on staying straight and centered in the saddle and on the horse’s back. It gets them [...]
October 12th, 2011 at 10:36 am
[...] Two-Point Position – America’s Horse Daily "The two-point or half seat is achieved by bending forward at the hips, taking most of the weight in your ankles and heels. Your back is straight with your seat just off the saddle." … and you're thinking of posting trot also known as rising trot. You basically rise out of the seat every other stride. So you sit one stride then rise the other, on the correct diagonal of course.
[...]
July 26th, 2012 at 12:07 am
Looking for info on Stallion Tack barrel rcanig saddles?I am looking for a good quality new or used barrel saddle and I ran across Stallion Tack. From the pics, the barrel saddles look like pretty good quality for a low price, but I’d like to find out an oppinion from someone who may know about them.