One of my favorite tools for training horses and riders of all levels is the four-stride line. It’s easy to incorporate into gymnastic exercises and courses in small arenas where fiveand six-stride lines don’t fit well. The four-stride line also demands more straightness and accuracy than longer lines, as there’s less room for error. You can practice it in either bending lines or straight lines—or both, as you’ll see in the course on page 44.
The gymnastic exercise and course I share here are just some of the many ways you can incorporate four-stride lines into your training at home. They will help you improve both your horse’s rideability and your own ability to ride any lines successfully. Additionally, they will test the quality of your flatwork. Before trying these exercises, practice changing the bend and lengthening and shortening your horse’s stride frequently on the flat. Transitions on the flat should mimic what you will start to ask for over fences, so try to make transitions every four strides or approximately every 50 feet on the flat. Also be sure that your horse is always nicely in front of your leg. That means that he is energetically moving forward carrying his own weight in every gait without you nagging him with your legs and spurs every stride. He also needs to be balanced between your legs and hands. Think of driving a car on a cold day. If you turn on the heat, you keep the windows closed to keep the warm air
