| The twelve foot horse stride is the industry | | | | foot fence, they will approximately land five feet |
| standard when designing courses for the show | | | | from the jump. Some riders use their judgement |
| jumper or hunter competitors. Designers will use | | | | and pick the spot they believe their horses will |
| this standard to create "tests" for the horse/rider | | | | land on, others determine landing points, by taking |
| combinations by altering the length of distances | | | | a landing step first, before actually walking the |
| between fences based on this measurement. | | | | strides, this is done by placing your back against |
| Some horses have a larger stride than twelve | | | | the fence and taking an initial step before counting |
| feet, others have shorter strides, it is up to the | | | | out the four steps to one. |
| riders and trainers to decide how to ride specific | | | | Once the landing point is established, a rider will |
| distances according to the animal they are | | | | pace off four of his own three foot steps and |
| competing with. It is essential for the show rider | | | | this will be stride one for his animal. The rider |
| to be able to walk courses and figure out how | | | | trainer will continue to do this until he arrives at |
| many strides their horses will need to do within a | | | | the second obstacle in the line. Every four of his |
| course of jumps. | | | | steps equal one stride until take off. Take off |
| The twelve foot horse stride is the average | | | | points, are usually similar to landing points, the |
| length of stride for show horses in this country | | | | same height as the jump. |
| and abroad, it can be walked by humans, who are | | | | Walking courses is more difficult than it sounds |
| believed to have an average step of three foot. | | | | here, and requires years of practice and |
| Every four human steps, should thus equal one | | | | experience to master. I recommend getting the |
| average horse stride. Riders may determine an | | | | tutelage of an experienced trainer to help you |
| amount of strides in a line by "walking the | | | | master the process. I have just touched on the |
| distance." When a rider walks a line, they must | | | | basics of walking the twelve foot horse stride, |
| first judge their landing point. Horses will usually | | | | but from these basics can come the necessary |
| land out from a jump the same height as the | | | | knowledge to move on to the next level. |
| obstacle, for example; if a horse jumps a five | | | | |