06/16/2026
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼💯💯💯
Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! This week’s question posed is: What are the most important elements to finding a good distance?
“Pace and track. If you have those two things correct, you will almost always have a good distance to the jump. Your horses stride must be rhythmic, and your horse must be straight to the jumps. The goal is to always keep the speed and rhythm the same and try not to make too many adjustments. When the rider has an accurate speedometer, they can rate the pace much easier so they can make sure the speed always gets reset back to the ‘right’ pace for the horse in between the jumps.” – Stevie McCarron Wigley
“I think the narrative around finding a distance needs to be changed to learning more about a quality canter. As a rider, you are always responsible for your horse’s pace, path and their balance. These three things will lead you to a quality canter. When a rider has learned to control the canter, the ability to find a distance will become drastically easier.” – Kari Briggs
“A horse carrying the rider to the jump (not behind the rider’s leg) continuing to the jump. Straight and balanced canter with one rhythm (I think 110 strides per minute but I could be mistaken) a clear track to the center of the jump. Once you have the right connection with your horse, and the right canter, the horse should show you the distance so you won’t have to work so hard to find it.” – Stefanie Mazer
“The most important elements to finding a good distance are: having a good canter, having the proper track & approach to the fence, and having your horse in good balance and connection so they are with you!” – Michael Tokaruk
📎 Continue reading more trainer answers at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2024/06/17/trainer-tuesday-what-are-the-most-important-elements-to-finding-a-good-distance/
📸 © Heather N. Photography
