October 2017 is nearly upon us - beginning that time of year where our riding scales back in conjunction with shorter days, colder weather, and lighter event schedules. Therefore it's the perfect time to refocus on ourselves as riders and make our own strength and conditioning a priority going into the winter "bootcamp" season.
Which means it's that time of year for the annual Two Point Challenge, fondly referred to as 2ptober!!! And I'm thrilled to co-host this contest with Alli of PONY'TUDE!
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Alli and I are excited to continue the tradition -- and have taken a fresh look at prize offerings for champions and reserve champions in order to fully incentivize your participation! Obviously everyone is a winner when the outcome is improved strength in the saddle, but some extra material goodies never hurt too, amirite??
So. If you want a shot at the titles and prizes, check out the rules below to get started!
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The Rules:- Sign up to participate simply by leaving a comment here or on Alli's post. All riders welcome!
- Assume your two point (aka "jump") position during an upcoming ride. Meaning: seat fully out of the saddle but without relying on your hands for balance. Doesn't matter what gait, whatever you prefer. Any ride, any time, all that matters is your position - no leaning on hands, no seat bumping the saddle (otherwise you gotta restart the clock)!
- Hold that position for as long as you're currently able and time yourself. This is your baseline.
- Submit your baseline time in a comment here or on Alli's blog. Simply posting on your own blog does not constitute submission!!
**Baselines are due WEDNESDAY OCT 4TH by midnight!!**
- Make a plan and track your progress. Report your weekly progress on longest time maintained in 2pt position at the end of each week in a comment here or at PONY'TUDE (we'll have reminder posts up!)
- Spread the word! The more the merrier!! (This won't increase your chances of winning -- only your sweat, burning muscles and tears can do that!)
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After the end of October we will award Champion and Reserve Champion titles in two categories:
-Most Improved
-Longest Time
Limit one title per competitor, so FOUR distinct winners will be chosen! And get PRIZES - details on those next week!!!
Last year saw Sarah from Three Chestnuts win the Longest Time division with a monster 35:16 time, with L Williams of Viva Carlos snagging reserve in her first year as an eligible competitor with a time of 28:30. Liz from In Omnia Paratus saw a 1,048% improvement on her baseline time to secure the championship as Most Improved, and Olivia from DIY Horse Ownership braved the elements to log a final improvement of 959% to get the reserve title.
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Do you have it in you to be the next 2ptober Champion? Sign up to find out!!
Allison and I will post weekly reminders for competitors to submit their 2pt progress. We'll also post tips and tricks to make the most out of your practice.
This contest is a great way to get that kick in the pants and extra push to be the strongest rider you can be. It's furthermore a great opportunity to feel like part of a community while you're at it, and hopefully meet a few new bloggers in the process! Plus. Again. PRIZES!!
So get ready - Get set - And start your timers!!
Yay!!! I'm so excited to participate for the first time this year. I'll get my time this weekend and submit my baseline.
ReplyDeleteYay!! It's gonna be a fun contest I think - wait til you see the fun prize ideas Allison came up with!!
DeleteHmm, it will be interesting to see if I can 2 point in a my dressage saddle. Let me see what happens today. Does it matter what gait?
ReplyDeleteIt's been done before in a dressage saddle! It isn't the easiest but it's totally possible! Any gait is fine, and honestly any upper body position is fine too (for instance if you find it more helpful to stay more upright) - all that matters is no leaning on the hand and no bumping the saddle seat! Try to get a baseline this weekend and see if it seems like fun!
DeleteI totally did it in a dressage saddle last year, not that my time was good, but I did find it was helpful for solidifying my leg position
Deletethat's good to know Sarah! i think the mechanics are definitely a little bit different, as is maybe the center of balance, but you can still definitely use the work to help encourage a longer stronger leg!
DeleteI managed reserve last yeah in my dressage saddle.
DeleteOkay- I did my baseline today- it was 1 minute 44 seconds. I think I could have done better but I need to shorten my stirrups!
Deletewoooo way to go!! that's a great time too, can't wait to see how it grows over the course of a month!! :D
DeleteYAY LET'S DO IT!!!!
ReplyDeleteYESSSS LETS DO THIS THING!!!!!
DeleteHave fun! I think I'm retiring this year! I don't want to try to out do last years time and I think that's a nice time to retire on! I'll enjoy watching everyone 2 point instead!
ReplyDeleteawwww that's no fun!!! ;P
DeleteI know, no fun, but I'm too competitive about 2 point! Batty is grumpy about 2 point and boring stuff (when he's not colicking or dealing with hives or heaves) and at this point I just try and keep our rides fun. Subi was great about this stuff but he's 100% retired. And Ranger? Well, I'm not wasting lessons on 2 point! Honestly, I was spending so much time last fall recovering from concussions and migraines that walking and 2 point was good. But, I'm not going to make Batt deal with that this year! We mostly do what he wants to do at this point. Square peg --> round hole. Plus this will keep me from leading trail rides in 2 point which was complete hell last year!
Deleteyea i hear ya -- our own horses come first before any arbitrary online contests! hopefully no more colic for Batty no matter what!
DeleteAgainst my better judgment, count this as my signup. Even though I was about dying holding 2 point on the trail for like 3 minutes. I'll get a baseline early next week.
ReplyDeleteyesssss!! and hey, 3 minutes is nothing to sniff at!! pretty sure my baseline each year has always hovered around the 0:30 second mark lol. but that's the beauty of this contest -- it gives us that real incentive to keep pushing for MOAR :D (oh and trust me, the incentives will be worth it!!!)
DeleteYayyyyy, can't wait!
DeleteWell, have horse this year, so here goes nothing.
ReplyDeleteyessssssss!!!!! :D
DeleteYay I'm so happy this is back! Thanks for running it :)
ReplyDeletewe're so happy to be hosting!! thank *you* for participating!!! :D
DeleteAssuming my horse stays sound and I don't fail at 2pt in a dressage saddle, I'm going to try to participate.
ReplyDeleteall fingers crossed for sound ponies!! the dressage saddle is totally doable too - maybe not the easiest, but what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger, right?? :D
DeleteHow convenient that this is coming up right as I'm getting more serious about rider fitness. Count me 100% in!
ReplyDeleteyessssss!! and this type of stuff is such a great way to log that all-so-important saddle time while being able to avoid pressure or stress on the days when the ponies just... can't lol.
Deletewell......got a baseline hahahhaa. 20 seconds. but hey, it was at the walk since I wasn't sure how the princess would react in other gaits (SOMEONE is sensitive to changes in the riders balance) can only go up from here!
Deleteeverything counts for sure!
DeleteI'm in! I was just writing my quarterly goal post and put participating in 2ptober as a Q4 goal :)
ReplyDeleteperfect!!!! it's a great way to kickstart the last quarter of the year too!
DeletePlease put me down! I'm in! So psyched to be able to participate this year!
ReplyDeleteexcellent - hopefully Scout is feeling much better now too!!
DeleteI've got a horse and a dressage saddle, might as well give it a go 😂
ReplyDeleteyessss!!! it's gonna be good!
DeleteGot my baseline today, starting out at 5 minutes and 38 seconds. Did a lot of work over the summer to make sure i could two point for the length of a xc course 😂
Deletewooo killer time!! can't wait to see how far you can take that over the course of the month!
DeleteHeck ya! I am in :D and I actually have a pony this year
ReplyDeleteha that's right -- i totally forgot you manage to claim a title last year despite not even having regular saddle time!
DeleteI'm in though I don't think I can get anywhere near last year's time.
ReplyDeletenever say never!! glad to have you back again!!
DeleteI managed 1:17 in a last minute bid to get it done before the 5th.
Deleteexcellent!
DeleteI was wondering if you guys would have something this year! I'm super excited! Although am I allowed to do this in a western saddle?
ReplyDeleteyup all tack is allowed (or no tack if you're really ambitious lol), any gaits, any type of riding, any location, any rider. whatever. only rules are you can't lean on your hands and your seat can't touch the saddle!
DeleteSweet. I'm game. It'll be great training for the next show! I was panting to death after my reining pattern LOL
DeleteI'm in!!! Thanks for hosting again!
ReplyDeletegreat, glad you could participate again!!!
DeleteI will try it on Zoë today and see what happens. We may have to hold off til next year.
ReplyDeleteexcellent!!! you may be surprised - charlie and i spent a lot of time with me just bummin around practicing two point last year. tho... then again, he was a 7yo ottb as opposed to a newly backed bebe. still tho, could be fine and fun! and just wait til ya see the prizes!
DeleteDefinitely joining this year. I really need to work on improving this!
ReplyDeleteexcellent! this contest is the perfect motivation to make the practice count too!
DeleteOkay, got my baseline. It is embarrassingly low but the whole point of this month is improvement. I've got 22 seconds without holding on or hitting the saddle.
Deletegreat thanks! that's honestly not far from my typical baseline either lol - now you've got all month to build on it!
DeleteHi! I don't have a blog, just read many of them, but I'd love to join the contest this year if that's alright!
ReplyDeletethat's fantastic Laura - no blog needed to participate! all riders are welcome :D
DeleteI was thinking about this contest the other day!!!! Signing up this year (will be my 1st!) and will probably score a really shitty baseline 😂 But improvements the reason for the season 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
ReplyDeleteyessss improvements are what it's all about!!! i was always super embarrassed by my baseline until i realized that.... actually unless you practice often it's REALLY hard. thus, why we use 2ptober to practice!!
DeleteI'm in! I tried to get a baseline yesterday but my lesson started sooner than I expected it to. Will give it another go on Monday!
ReplyDeleteawesome!!! definitely get that baseline in soon - it doesn't have to be perfect and mind blowing or anything like that, we just need a logged time to get your entry finalized!
DeleteHa! I’d love to try this... Like several others, this will be my first and a REALLY low baseline is to be expected. I mean heck, I even lost a stirrup on Saturday! That said, can’t get much worse, lol!
ReplyDeletehaha that's great! definitely participate! and everyone loses a stirrup every now and then (some of us more often than others lol!) -- but that's what this practice is all about!
DeleteI started yesterday! My baseline is 2 minutes and 36 seconds. I had to wait until almost the end of my ride before I could time it because there were too many people in the ring and I needed someone to time me. Can't wait to see where I am at the end of October :)
ReplyDeleteawesome, thanks for joining! that could be like an added level of extreme 2pt practice haha - "how to hold your two point while navigating around excessive traffic" !
DeleteThank god I'm not too late! I will get my baseline today! ^.^
ReplyDeleteexcellent!! still lots of time - baselines due wednesday by midnight!! good luck!
Delete1:15!! Not my best but I knew I'd forget if I didn't get it done!
Deletenot bad at all! thanks for getting it in - can't wait to see where you take it this month!!
DeleteMy baseline is 2 minutes.
ReplyDeletegot it!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt's not midnight yet in California! My baseline is 1:58!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am a weakling from not riding much and I was riding a different horse. I plead the fifth.
haha no pleas needed! we gotcha!
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