What is a related distance in show jumping?
What is a related distance in show jumping?
What is a related distance in show jumping? So in short, a related distance is when two jumps are placed at a specific distance from each other so that a horse does the specified amount of strides between the two. They range between three strides and usually cap off at eight or nine strides. Anything more than nine strides is not usually considered a related distance. One or two strides are called a double combination.
So when showjumpers walk their course before they ride it, they pace out the distance between jumps. Depending on how many paces they get will determine how many strides there are in the related distance. So a horses canter stride averages out at four paces long. You allow two paces for the landing zone and two paces for the take-off zone. So the first four paces are allocated to landing and take off. Thereafter every four paces you take will equate to one stride.
I hope I explained that in a way that you can understand. The image bellow should also help you get a clearer understanding of how you pace out a related distance.
Master a related distance in showjumping. These training videos are a great way to gain insight as to how other people are training and to gain valuable knowledge in order to improve your riding. In this video, we focus on how to master a related distance in showjumping and the mental techniques you need to develop to ride a related distance well. Related distances are found in every course you will ride. Therefore it is essential to be able to ride them well. Through regular practice, you will get to know how your horse travels through a related distance. You’ll learn what ride best suits him in order for the related distance to ride well.
There are three types of rides you are likely to get when riding a related distance, and they are as follows:
The Waiting Ride
So you generally get this ride when you have a fast or long ride into the related distance. This will usually put your landing spot a little further away from the jump than the required two paces. As well as making your first stride a little longer than the required four paces. So because of those two factors, your related distance will ride short. You will then need to compress your horse’s stride to get a good takeoff spot at the second jump. Hence the term ‘waiting ride’. The key is to realize this on your approach to the first jump and take action as soon as you land.
The Forward Ride
This happens when you have a really quiet ride into the first part of the related distance. The consequences of this will be that you land close to the jump and that your first stride is short. So, you need to act immediately and lengthen your horse’s stride to get a good takeoff spot at the second jump.
Mental Preperation
The key to riding your related distance well is to know at the start how your related distance is likely to ride. So you need to make a mental habit of paying attention to how you are approaching the related distance! This is key! And then take action as soon as you land. Never wait until you are right on top of the second jump. Then it’s too late to make any meaningful changes.
Better yet, watch the video below. I’ll give you a demo on all three rides and the mental steps and actions you need to take.
That is why we make Show jumping training videos… To help aspiring riders become the best version of themselves they can.
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