How important is seeing a stride?

[Keket]

The concept of having to figure out my horse's takeoff point terrifies me. I'm a good rider, don't get me wrong. But I literally have no depth perception (I was told this when I did my driver's test!). I've heard various opinions on seeing a stride though. Some people say that some people can just do it, and other people just can't, no matter how hard they work at it. Some people say that it's not important and if the rest of the approach is good (rhythmic, straight, balanced, forward), the horse should be able to get itself through, others say that it's always important. Some people say that it's only important over larger fences (over 3ft) while others say that it's important over small fences too.

Seeing as I'm still at the level of crossrails, and getting Coquette forward and straight means she'll jump nicely, how much longer until I have to worry about this "seeing a stride" nonsense?!

[Daffy Dilly]

I think it's pretty important to be able to see a stride, but it's also important not to get hung up over it. I'm just learning to see a stride now, and it's not easy, but I spent so long looking for it (invariably downwards) that I was forgetting to set up the rest of a jump.

Now that we're jumping more regularly I find I know (most of the time!) when Daffy is going to take off and that allows me to go with him, as opposed to get left behind. Although sometimes he takes out a stride early. Theoretically, I should be able to tell him when to take off. I don't think we work like that though, not atm anyway.

If I get good at seeing a stride, I assume I'll be able to correct the stride/shorten/lengthen/whatever so we can ride more technical and larger courses.

[Keket]

I think it's pretty important to be able to see a stride, but it's also important not to get hung up over it. I'm just learning to see a stride now, and it's not easy, but I spent so long looking for it (invariably downwards) that I was forgetting to set up the rest of a jump.


Ah, glad you responded to this, Daffy. It was your post about Daffs not being able to his stride that made me really start thinking about it. Minor panic moment where I'm thinking, ":eek: What if we get to a point where Coquette can't find hers?! I'll be lost!" as most of my jumping effort right now consists of getting her forward and straight to the jump and then not interfering with her.

[KateWooten]

There was a really neat exercise in this months' errr ..... english-riding focussed horse magazine ... mostly huntery jumpery stuff ... Darn, I'm helpful. He had people mark the ideal take off spot and then ride to it over and over in walk, and stop where you thought it was, with a ground person telling you how well you did. Then ride to it and jump. He reckoned that you gradually gained a 'feel' for where the take off spot was.

[Keket]

There was a really neat exercise in this months' errr ..... english-riding focussed horse magazine ... mostly huntery jumpery stuff ... Darn, I'm helpful. He had people mark the ideal take off spot and then ride to it over and over in walk, and stop where you thought it was, with a ground person telling you how well you did. Then ride to it and jump. He reckoned that you gradually gained a 'feel' for where the take off spot was.

Practical Horseman? Aren't they hunter-jumpery? :confused:

[Keket]

Double-posted for some reason...

[KateWooten]

Yes ! Practical Horseman !! I subscribed to it ... it was in the first issue I got :D

[Shadowlark]

Seeing the stride?

Bugger that.. that;s the moment I close my eyes :D

[KateWooten]

Don't worry Shadow, follow me I'll show you ...

... clipperty-clop, clipperty-clop, clipperty-clop ... wheeeeeeeeee .... clipperty-clop, clipperty-clop, clipperty-clop ...

did you see it that time ?

ETA : Sorry Keket, feel free to slap me. That PH article was really well-written - worth getting a hold of a copy ... I have a copier and a fax machine if that would work ... but no scanner :(

[Shadowlark]

LOL My horsees usually saw me through it :)

There are actually several photos of me kicking around at mom's with my eye's closed.. it's usually when I got over the 4 foot mark.. some of the big solid set jumps.. Guide in.. Grab mane close eyes...Visualize landing still attached...

Worked well really ... I am still hear to talk about it...

[Keket]

Don't worry Shadow, follow me I'll show you ...

... clipperty-clop, clipperty-clop, clipperty-clop ... wheeeeeeeeee .... clipperty-clop, clipperty-clop, clipperty-clop ...

did you see it that time ?

ETA : Sorry Keket, feel free to slap me. That PH article was really well-written - worth getting a hold of a copy ... I have a copier and a fax machine if that would work ... but no scanner :(

Ah, wouldn't think to slap you, Kate! Maybe a light thwack with a foam bat... ;) I'll see if I can get it. Good magazine, but hard to find around here! I can only think of one place that carries it.

And yes, I definitely saw the stride that time. Very obvious! How could I not? :D

[Keket]

LOL My horsees usually saw me through it :)

There are actually several photos of me kicking around at mom's with my eye's closed.. it's usually when I got over the 4 foot mark.. some of the big solid set jumps.. Guide in.. Grab mane close eyes...Visualize landing still attached...

Worked well really ... I am still hear to talk about it...

That's encouraging! So I'm assuming you're of the "point and trust the horse" category? And clearly you had some success with it. :)

I asked my temporary jump coach what the highest she ever jumped was.

"The highest I ever jumped was 4'6". And I'm never doing it again. Ever."

[Shadowlark]

The day we ran the chase me charlie up to 6 feet at the county fair was the day I nearly ruined my saddle by peeing on it...

I often struggled in the 4 foot plus classes with fear over the fence. Although I liked to think of it as self preservation more than fear... For me eventing was facing my "self preservation" head on and living dangerously.

It's important to note that I NEVER did the style classes.. only speed/survival ones :)

[Iron Maiden]

I'd say it depends on the horse. Some take you into a jump & see a stride for themselves, some wait for you to press 'go' which can be a bit of a shock if you are used to riding the other sort! My theory is that horses that were introduced to jumping loose or on the lunge are more likely to take you into a jump. Fits with my experience anyway!

[Shadowlark]

I would agree 100% iron maiden - if you teach them to think for themselves.. and then give them a hand when on board chances are pretty good you will do alright..

Still important to understand the premis :)

If you watch the big names walk at Spruce Meadows.. it's eye opening.. you watch some walk it and measure every little distance.. and others have a wander, sip some coffee and chat about the weather.. Dead giveaway what kind of horse they have ;)

[showjumper-zoe]

The worst thing to do is worry about looking for a stride when you aproch the jump look to the top and over the jump and the stride should come naturally, don't look and the ground bottom of the jump as you will probably get the wrong stride. Practice lengthening and shorting strides for j/o offs.

[Lucy J]

personally, i can always 'see' the stride. but i am such a big wimp jumping that it really doesn't help me much, now if there were2 people on the horse..one who knows how to jump and me who can see the stride that would work!!!

i would say confidence is the key to jumping. while i can see a stride i lack confidence which undoes it all.

lots of practise using placing poles will help. but also make sure you trust in your horse to know their own capabilities.

[KateWooten]

Would you have one of them hold the reins and the other one use the stirrups ... or how would that work ? Unless Lucy J is really really small, maybe she can perch on the pommel there, and Shadow could do all the actual riding ?

Dammit - I thought I wasn't responding to Canadians any more. :mad:

[Shadowlark]

Canadians have a way of worming their way into hearts the world over :)


And if you think I am ever going over a jump again.. HA guess again lady!

[Keket]

Would you have one of them hold the reins and the other one use the stirrups ... or how would that work ? Unless Lucy J is really really small, maybe she can perch on the pommel there, and Shadow could do all the actual riding ?

Dammit - I thought I wasn't responding to Canadians any more. :mad:

I've got confidence, and Lucy J's got depth perception! Perfect!

And why aren't you responding to Canadians? :p

[Shadowlark]

Liability thread.. or was it do greys smell different.. either way :)

[KateWooten]

errr ... I forget now ... seems like such a long time ago .... I think it was because Shadow was flinging insults at North Americans' knowledge of geography ... and managed to totally condemn British Education at the same time. Though why all the Brits didn't get upset at that, I can't figure out. Perhaps they couldn't read all the big words she used ?

[Keket]

It was Liability. I just looked.

And most Canadians don't smell funny. Just the ones from Toronto. ;)

[Shadowlark]

Actually I was insulting AMERICAN's not NORTH American's

Bloody heck Kate I think I shall buy you an atlas..

[KateWooten]

ooooohh. :o

Oh yes. I see. Now, now I see. Ho Hum. What does Americans include then ? You did still insult all the Brits at once, though, right ?

[Shadowlark]

Twas you who implied they had an inferior education system I believe I was suitably shocked that you would say such a thing!

[Keket]

*rings a little bell* Now, now, we've already successfully killed one thread. We don't need to kill mine too. ;)

[Shadowlark]

ONE thread??

HA look around a little more.. I would say we are on a roll :D

[CurlyWurlyRach]

*attempts to give thread kiss of life*
Do you use ground poles when jumping?
Grids can help you learn to see your strides, start really small and get someone to keep changing the distances, style of fences, height etc, eventually the proverbial penny will drop with a loud bang...




or do what i did and get a showjumper that does it herself and you just have nice loose reins, leg on and sit still :o

[Shadowlark]

Sweet.. Kate we are considerd the Kiss of death on a thread.. Mission accomplished!

Horses like Curly can teach you far more than any instructor yelling things from the other side of the arena :)

[Keket]

or do what i did and get a showjumper that does it herself and you just have nice loose reins, leg on and sit still :o

You don't want to trade my chestnut mare for your chestnut mare, do you? Just for a little while? :D

[Ali_fewins]

seeing a stride is something that comes natrually...if you try too hard it will never happen- thats what i found anyway.

you will get to a certain level, and maybe feel like you have hit a wall, etc..but then it just happens...i am not natrually talented and pick up some crazy lines, but i can now see a stride from around 6 strides out..maybe a bit more..Seeing the stride is one thing, meeting it is another issue for me! lol

just enjoy jumping, the rest will just happen.

[carrimclaren]

I don't really tend to worry hugely about making sure i get "the stride". I think it's important that you get the basics sorted first like impulsion, control, position and then the rider can start learning the basics of striding. When i first started jumping i couldn't understand what the hell a stride was let alone see one :D I'm probably not much better now eh. But i seem to be able to feel the stride and don't usually do too badly, but maybe i'm lucky that the horses i've ridden recently are pretty forward going and it makes it a lot easier for you to feel the stride. No point trying to do it if you've not got the impulsion as from previous experience this results in you riding like a bag of sh** and the horse going onto the forehand and it just ends in tears :o I rode a friends horse recently while she was away, first time jumping anything else apart from my own in four years, and it was great as he's got a lovely bouncy canter and it really helped me with the wait and hold and to see the stride. Made me realise how impulsion and going forward really does help you with jumping.