101 Jumping Exercises by Linda L. Allen & Dianna R. Dennis

Author:Linda L. Allen & Dianna R. Dennis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storey Publishing
Published: 2002-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

EXERCISE 58

SETUP

Set up two ground poles down the long side of your arena at a distance that accommodates six of your horse’s normal canter strides between them. The diagram shows all three of the ways in which you will execute your two ground poles.

NOTE: The spacing that accommodated your horse’s stride in the last exercise will allow you to calculate this new distance.

Key

ADJUSTING STRIDE LENGTH OVER TWO POLES

How do I ride this?

1. Canter over both poles two or three times in each direction, keeping your pace even and all the strides equal in length.

2. If necessary, have your helper adjust the distance so it works for your horse.

3. Approach the line with your horse on a longer stride than normal. Count your steps and find a stride length that lets your horse fit five strides of equal length between the poles instead of the six you did previously.

4. Do this successfully once each direction before returning to approach the line again at your normal pace for six strides again.

5. Compress your horse’s stride on the approach and throughout the line so that your horse fits seven equal strides between the poles.

6. Practice until you can easily alternate between normal, long, and compressed strides.

Doublecheck

Can I feel my horse’s stride length?

This is an exercise in “feel” and learning to recognize your horse’s length of stride. Maintaining appropriate and consistent stride length is crucial to achieving good performances over any kind of jumping course.

This exercise can be practiced often, with great benefit to horse and rider alike. As your horse becomes stronger and better balanced physically, as well as more attuned to your aids, you will be able to confidently execute as many or few strides as you choose by asking for greater lengthening and collection in your horse’s canter.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPEED AND STRIDE

Speed translates to the rate at which the horse takes strides (strides per minute). Stride length is how much distance is covered in a single stride (feet or meters per stride). Together these two factors determine how much ground you cover and how quickly.

When asked by rider aids to go forward, horses tend either to speed up or to lengthen their stride, according to what feels easiest to them. It is important for both of you to be able to differentiate between the two. Always be very clear to your horse when you want a lengthened or shortened stride rather than simply a change in speed.

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