Striding between jumps?

I'd like to start working on some gymnastic-type obstacles to get my mare thinkning a little more. I board (at a really crappy place, unfortunately..) and I don't have a ton of jumps to use, but I think I can scrounge (sp?) together enough to do a decent line with 3 or 4 jumps. I've never really had anyone show me how to set up a line though, so I usually try to make sure it's at least about 3 strides so I can safetly adjust my horse rather than the jumps. However I'd love to start working on bounces and one and two strides now that she's a more confident jumper.

What is the general rule of thumb for a bounce and one stride? I know it obviously depends on the height of the jump, the horse's stride and the human's stride, but about? If it helps, my horse is 15h with an approximate 9' stride, and the jumps would be between 2' and 2'6 or so for now. Thanks!

I was wondering this too! I'm stickin around to hear answers

In a gymnastic some of it will depend on the placings of your bounces/oxers/verticals. But the general rule of setting a course is to allow 12 ft for each stride. Technically a horse's canter stride is on average 12 ft. IMO that can be a little long, esp for something small or older. But at any show around here everything ~3" and under will be set at 12 ft. For every jump you need to allow for 6 feet for take off (think of the highest arc of the jump being half a stride) and then 6 ft for landing.

So a 3 stride line?

(JUMP)(6 ft for landing)(36 ft for 3 strides)(6 ft for take off)(JUMP)

For something around 18 in to 2 ft, esp with a shorter strided horse, I might only do 5 feet for landing and take off.

This. And if you don't have a tape measure handy the rule of thumb for human-to-horse strides is 4 biggish (depending on how tall you are, but they should be about 3') steps for each horse canter stride. And then 2 steps (sticking to the 3' length) for take off and 2 steps for landing.
So the 3 stride line would be about 16 steps (again sticking with the 3' steps).

If you are trotting into the grid, the length of the first stride after the first jump should be closer to 10 feet than 12. Then, as you canter through the grid you go back to 12.

Otherwise, as the poster above said.

Alright, thanks guys. I counted out how many strides it is for me for a 10 and 12 foot stride so I'll see if I can set up a few lines tomorrow. :)

Thanks for adding that Allison! Forgot to mention you have to adjust for trotting in...

Cantering I walk it... 2 people strides for landing, 4 people strides for each horse stride and then 2 people strides for take off...

You learn what suits your horse pretty quick and adjust the length of your stride pretty good...

We use a 12 ft stride for a hunter (HAck) in NZ

Ohhh and walk shorter if the jumps are smaller...

This is how I set my jumps for a gymnastic, trotting in. Placement pole about 7-8 feet before the first jump (usually cross rail), to a bounce that is 9' away, to a one stride that is 18' away, to a two stride that is 33' away with the fences getting higher and wider as you go through it (you can do other variations, but this is the basics). Trotting in takes momentum away that the horse will slowly be gaining back as you go through the gymnastic with them lengthening the stride. This is set for a horse with a typical 12' stride or longer as you want the gymnastic to rock them back on their haunches and help them round up over the jump. For youngsters, it also helps them learn the striding without you teaching them. If you feel like your horse is reaching, you can bring each jump together a small amount at a time until it is comfortable for your horse.