MASTER YOUR STRIDES IN THE LINES
How many times have you come into a line too fast…
👉 and then made a mistake?
👉 or your horse stopped at the second fence?
Or the opposite…
👉 you arrived too slow and deep…
👉 added an extra stride…
👉 and got saved only by luck?
This is not about luck — it’s about **understanding, feeling, and reacting**.
Let’s go step by step 👇
NORMAL LINE
Standard distance — not too short, not too long
👉 The goal is to ride it in a natural, balanced canter
If you arrive too deep and slow:
➝ After landing, move forward immediately
➝ Then softly wait at the end to allow a nice last jump
If you arrive too fast and long:
➝ After landing, rebalance straight away
➝ Sit a little taller, close your leg, and soften your hand
➝ Then ride the last part of the line in control
💡 The key is what happens at the first jump, and be aware of which is the right reaction to it.
SHORT LINE
👉 Here you need a collected canter and control from the start
Best approach: come to the first jump with a slightly shorter, more packaged stride
This allows you to keep the same rhythm inside the line
If you arrive too forward / too open:
➝ You must come back immediately after landing
➝ Don’t wait — react in the first stride
⚠️ Yes, sometimes riders leave one stride out…
but in training, the goal is to learn control, not shortcuts.
LONG LINE
👉 Think: forward rhythm, but still balanced
Come in with a slightly more open stride, but not running
Keep the same rhythm all the way through
After the first jump:
➝ Ask yourself: is my stride big enough?
➝ If not, **move forward a little**, then wait
⚠️ Very common mistake:
Riders push too much before the line and keep pushing inside →
➡️ the stride becomes flat and quick, and the line actually rides short
🔑 THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL
👉 BE REACTIVE
Short line + too fast? → Come back immediately
Long line + too slow? → Go forward immediately, then wait
⏱ Timing is everything:
If you react late, it’s already too late.
🏇 EXERCISE TO IMPROVE YOUR FEELING
This is a simple but very powerful exercise to develop your eye and your feeling.
🔧 SETUP
2 small jumps or cavalletti in a straight line
Distance: 21 meters (around 5 normal strides, depends a bit also on your horse and the measure of his stride)
No need for big fences — keep it simple and clear for the horse
▶️ STEP 1: 5 STRIDES (BASIC CONTROL)
Ride a normal canter, not too big, not too short
Stride length around 4 meters
Get a nice, easy distance on the first jump
Keep exactly the same stride to the second jump
👉 Count your strides
👉 Repeat until it feels easy and natural ( of course give a break to your horse when you feel he needs it)
▶️ STEP 2: 4 STRIDES (FORWARD ADJUSTMENT)
Before turning, create a more forward canter
The stride should be longer and more open, but still balanced
Aim for a forward distance on the first jump
Keep the same stride without rushing
⚠️ Important:
If you feel you are getting the 4 → stop pushing
If you arrive too slow → react immediately after landing
👉 Repeat until the 4 strides feel controlled, not forced ( let your horse rest and walk sometimes, don't over do it if it doesn't come correct straight away)
▶️ STEP 3: 7 STRIDES (COLLECTION & CONTROL)
Before entering, collect the canter clearly
Come to the first jump with a shorter distance (second distance)
Keep collecting through the line
👉 Stay patient, don’t fight
👉 Believe in the plan
If it doesn’t work:
Maybe you didn’t collect enough early
Try again, but prepare sooner and more clearly
🧠 MAIN GOAL OF THE EXERCISE
Develop your feeling for the stride
Learn to adjust early and smoothly
Keep the canter regular and balanced
👉 Avoid big changes like:
short → long → short → long
This creates loss of balance and confusion for your horse
❤️ FINAL TIPS
- Don’t over jump or over do it — give your horse breaks
- Try from both directions
- If it doesn’t work today, try again tomorrow, don't over load you and your horse with too many new informations.
- You can also do it with poles if you prefer
🎥 I’ll post a video of this exercise here! Focus on how different is the stride in the turn, depending on how many strides I want to put in the line, and how different is the approach on the first cavaletti.
👉 If you try it, share your videos
👉 I’d love to see your work and help you improve
I hope you and your horse enjoy this exercise 🐴✨
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MASTER YOUR STRIDES IN THE LINES
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