Striding has to be one of the most popular questions I am asked as a jumping coach.
"I can't see a stride, how do I know if I'm right?"
"I can never place my horse in front of a fence"
"He either takes off really early or chips in a little stride, how can I stop this?"
"I've been told to count my strides down as I approach a fence, how do I know when I'm right?"
If you've ever queried any of these questions or anything similar, STOP!
"I can't see a stride, how do I know if I'm right?"
"I can never place my horse in front of a fence"
"He either takes off really early or chips in a little stride, how can I stop this?"
"I've been told to count my strides down as I approach a fence, how do I know when I'm right?"
If you've ever queried any of these questions or anything similar, STOP!
You might be surprised to hear that finding a stride is not the issue. The issue here is rhythm and consistency of the stride. Rhythm is easily lost once looking for a stride becomes more important, so let's revisit how to find your rhythm and consistency with an easy-to-do exercise. | Many riders are getting too bogged down in finding a stride and it results in overriding, fidgeting and interfering with the rhythm. |
Place two poles on the centre line (or the 3/4 line, whichever you prefer). No need to stride them out, but put them as far away from each as possible without them interfering with your turning space.
Canter down over your two poles. If you are on a young or inexperienced horse, trot him over them first so he has chance to see the poles and you have chance to keep him straight.
Count how many strides you get between pole 1 and pole 2. Ensure you don't count the stride over the pole, only in between. Repeat once or twice from each rein and use the number of strides you gained the most.
Let's say you counted 9 strides the majority of times. how can you tell if those 9 strides were consistent? Did you find your horse leapt over the second pole, or had to shorten himself into the first? If so, the consistency is being broken, either by the rider checking or pushing, or by the horse knowing where his feet are and not wanting to stand on the pole.
Out of those 9 strides, did you notice where the middle stride was? No? So, ride down it again. Your middle stride should fall in the centre of the two poles. For example;
9 strides - your 5th stride will be the middle stride
10 strides - the end of your 5th stride & beginning of your 6th stride will be the middle
11 strides - your 6th stride will be the middle stride
Etc.
Canter down over your two poles. If you are on a young or inexperienced horse, trot him over them first so he has chance to see the poles and you have chance to keep him straight.
Count how many strides you get between pole 1 and pole 2. Ensure you don't count the stride over the pole, only in between. Repeat once or twice from each rein and use the number of strides you gained the most.
Let's say you counted 9 strides the majority of times. how can you tell if those 9 strides were consistent? Did you find your horse leapt over the second pole, or had to shorten himself into the first? If so, the consistency is being broken, either by the rider checking or pushing, or by the horse knowing where his feet are and not wanting to stand on the pole.
Out of those 9 strides, did you notice where the middle stride was? No? So, ride down it again. Your middle stride should fall in the centre of the two poles. For example;
9 strides - your 5th stride will be the middle stride
10 strides - the end of your 5th stride & beginning of your 6th stride will be the middle
11 strides - your 6th stride will be the middle stride
Etc.
As you ride your middle stride, glance to the side and see where you are (or better still, have someone on the ground look at the footfall of your horse & stand where the middle stride is). Is it in the middle? Or is it closer to one of the poles? Chances are it won't be quite central, showing that the canter didn't have the rhythm and consistency needed to 'find a good stride'.
If your middle stride was closer to the first pole, this shows that your canter over the first pole was shorter than your canter over the second pole. This could be due to a number of things;
- Your horse might have backed off the first pole
- You might have half halted off your turn causing your horse to shorten himself
- The turn might not have been balanced, causing him to shorten and slow
- The canter was too 'holding'
- On approach to the second pole either your horse is taking hold and lengthening, or you're pushing to make the 9 strides
You might be experiencing the opposite issue, where your middle stride is landing much closer to the second pole, showing that your canter over the first pole is longer than the approach to your second pole. Have a think as to why this might be. If your horse is happy in the larger canter you're riding at the beginning, maintain the same canter. Eliminating the 9th stride isn't a bad thing, so long as those 8 strides are consistent in the rhythm.
The exercise can be advanced by raising the poles to small jumps and gradually building more fences around the arena | Repeat the exercise until you find that your middle stride is landing in the centre between the poles. Bare in mind that the difference needed in the canters might not be a huge amount, so try not to override, just allow your horse to find his own rhythm and ride that canter he offers. Once you're finding it easy, raise the poles to crosses or cavellettis and repeat, always having that awareness of the canter rhythm. |
Once you find yourself focusing on the rhythm of the canter you'll find you won't have the need to try and 'place' your horse in front of a fence. Having a good canter is key so that they can jump from a slightly longer or shorter take off point without you worrying that you're on a misser. Give it a try and see how you get on - I haven't seen a failed attempt yet!