Measuring Strides Between Jumps

When setting a course of jumps, including gymnastic exercises, it is important to accurately measure the strides between the jumps so that your horse is set up properly for take off, suspension, and landing. In this video, we show you how to count the number of human steps between the obstacles and convert them into horse strides. Remember to start with one element, and gradually add more elements to create a complete gymnastic combination.

[@Bunnileila]

why dont you count with the take-off?

[@flydragon70]

Informative and useful but would be nice if you could provide metric distance units is well. Not all riders using imperial distance system. Thanks

[@emilytorr1094]

Very good video with very good and understandable advise but would be helpful if I saw it in action with a horse

[@oguzdemrbuken2564]

amazing- Show jumping footsteps.

[@EQNeightion]

Hello Bunnileila! Some people do start counting when they land, and they count the landing step as "1". The famous Jimmy Williams taught all of his students "counts".

[@reneezandberg8]

i will totally do this with my horse... does it help with rushing?

[@beatrizcasas9311]

Thanks you so much that was really helpful 👍

[@halmain7406]

Good video

[@horseisme]

Thanks so much

[@EQNeightion]

yes! It will take you out of the equation and let your horse figure it out on his own.

[@JumperForTheSky]

Ok thank you :)

[@JumperForTheSky]

Thanks, but it wouldv'e been cool to see someone ride the gymnastic.

[@EQNeightion]

Funny you should mention! Check out the video that was posted just before this called Gymnastic Jumping Exercises.

[@madisonqualey9441]

this is wrong, a regular horses stride is 12 feet. and a horse doesnt take of right before the jump it should take of between 1 - 2 feet and land 1 - 2 feet away from the jump.......

[@EQNeightion]

Madison Qualey Thank you for your comment. The measurements seem to work for this horse in this gymnastic, so it's difficult to argue that this is wrong. When walking a line, the first four human steps or 12 feet take into account the landing, and every four steps after that equate to one stride. Horses differ in the exact number of feet/inches per stride, but this is a general guideline for measuring strides between fences. If a line walks such that the last human step is right up agains the landing pole of the next fence, then the line will ride comfortable to too easy, and the rider will have to make adjustments in their horse's stride. If you walk the last stride and are still 2 feet away from the next obstacle, you are further away than normal and may be too long to the fence, especially if it is a wide oxer or combination.

[@EQNeightion]

You can also watch this video which confirms what you suggest: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnKpeYWMitWMbJI

[@zenyattasfan]

you take big steps in a normal walk.

[@brookewhyte4598]

So 1 stride for a horse is 7 Human foot steps

[@jennyiversonschwartz]

From a bounce to a one stride is about 7 human steps. If you are cantering into the first element, then it is 8 human steps to the next element.

[@brookewhyte4598]

Jenny Schwartz okay thanks And 1 horse stride is that 3 human steps

[@jennyiversonschwartz]

Cantering on dreams 1 horse stride is equal to about 12 feet. A human step is about 3 feet. This video shows the correct way to measure strides when doing a bounce or gymnastic and it takes into account coming in at a trot and the bounce. The last element will “walk” 3 steps or 9 feet because of the gait and the close proximity of the first two elements. When walking a line of jumps that you will be cantering into, the correct way to count is to take one large step to account for the landing and then count 4 steps for each stride. Check out the video Counting Strides and Walking a Jump Course in this EQNeightion Channel. A great book to have is Linda Allen’s 101 Jumping Exercises for Horse & Rider.