[OveroHunter]

DH volunteered me to "course design" a once around twice around division at a very small local show. Most of the horses will be ponies and QHs.

Quick question - do you typically still set these on a 12' stride with a 6' landing and 6' take off? It just seems like 72' for 5 strides down a crossrail line is a bit ambitious. What would you recommend?

[caryledee1]

I don't think they are. Makes it hard when you have a horse with a huge stride. I would guess the ones I have seen are about 6' short.

[AmmyByNature]

In a class like that, the safest thing to do is set them on real 12' strides and let them all add appropriately. The horses will add at least one, and the ponies will add two or more strides.

That's honestly the safest thing to do. Make sure the lines are all at LEAST 4 strides, 5 or more is better, so that there is lots of room to add as many strides as they want.

[Small Change]

In a class like that, the safest thing to do is set them on real 12' strides and let them all add appropriately. The horses will add at least one, and the ponies will add two or more strides.

That's honestly the safest thing to do. Make sure the lines are all at LEAST 4 strides, 5 or more is better, so that there is lots of room to add as many strides as they want.

This is what we do at our Fall Fair hunter show - set the lines with a generous number or strides, then let people wiggle, squiggle and add at whim.

[GypsyQ]

Agreed. I would just set the regular distances and let people add. If it is the same kind of very small local show that I have been to, the class will not be pinned based on striding anyway. The least scary round will win.

[OveroHunter]

Agreed. I would just set the regular distances and let people add. If it is the same kind of very small local show that I have been to, the class will not be pinned based on striding anyway. The least scary round will win.

Yes, it is that kind of show

Thanks everyone. I'll just set two 72' 5 stride lines. That should give people enough wiggle room and still have enough space in the corners to get around the arena.

[GypsyQ]