Recently my teacher has been having me trot in 2-point.
I don't have a problem staying up, but sometimes I bounce up and down. Is there anyway to stop the bouncing?
Riding in two point position in any pace is a fantastic exercise to get a secure and independent lower leg position. You remember what happens as soon as your lower leg comes slightly in front of that "perfect" position: You fall over backwards and into the saddle. The other thing that may sabotage this exercise is stiffness in any of the leg joints: Your ankles must be loose as well as your knees and hips to compensate for the movement of the horse under you: The more your joints absorb, the less you appear "bounzing" (or vice versa - the stiffer you are, the more you will be moving in relation to the horse.... "bounzing"). Your upper body should be slightly forward inclined and when you have found the most effortless alignment, you will be balancing over your feet. Your point of gravity is low.
So: Your leg joints absorb the movement of the horse like a "zig-zag spring". Stiffening or opening/closing of any of the joint-angles too much will result in a loss of balance and either will make you bounze, fall over backwards (behind the point of gravity) or forwards (in front of the point of gravity)....).
So in a way: "Bounzing" is good as long as it is in those flexible leg joints that absorb the movement of the horse under you. If your bottom bounzes, these joints (or any one of them)are "blocked".
(Ps for starters: I always allow riders to hold on to a little bit of mane, because than they will not be tempted to balance on the reins......)
sure.... after all it's not a competition!
The more you will do it, the better (and more balanced) you will get - until you need no hands at all to keep balanced. It is one of the best exercises to improve body control on a moving horse.
Enjoy!
