Video Discussion # 105: Andrew Nicholson shows us how to ride a cross country complex with tricky striding between the elements.

This is a great example of how it works better to "ride the canter" rather than try to make a certain number of strides between jumps on cross country. This complex walked as a 2 and a half stride. It would be dangerous to try to insist on either 2 or 3 strides here... With this undulating terrain, trying to FORCE the horse to add a stride or to leave one out is just asking for a fall. 

It is best to do just what Andrew Nicholson did here. Ride the line and the quality of the canter, and let the horse do the footwork that he wants to do in the heat of the moment.

Can you see the exact moment that this horse makes the decision about what to do with his feet before the second element?