Related Distances and Combinations: Getting the Numbers Right for Competition
Course walkers spend most of their time on related lines and combinations for a reason — a fence you jump alone forgives a lot; a fence with another one seven metres later does not. Here is how to actually check the numbers rather than pace-and-hope.
Related distance vs combination: not the same measurement
A related distance is two fences on a line with enough room for the horse to find its own stride between them — usually 4+ strides. A combination (double or treble) has one or zero non-jumping strides and is measured from element to element, not centre line to centre line the way a related distance sometimes gets described casually. Confusing the two is the most common course-walking error at amateur level. Set the line type in the stride calculator before checking a distance, so you are comparing against the right target range.
Why the stride count matters more than the metres
Nobody actually cares whether a line is 21.3m — they care whether it rides in four comfortable strides for their horse. The metres are only useful as an input to the stride count. This is why pacing a line in human steps and comparing to a generic table gets riders into trouble: the table assumes an average horse, and yours may not be one. Enter your horse's actual stride length (see choosing the right stride length) and let the calculator do the conversion.
Walking a related line: a repeatable process
- Pace the distance in your own measured stride, or use a course plan's published distance if walking an affiliated show.
- Enter that figure into Distance → strides mode on the stride calculator with your horse's profile selected.
- Check the stride-zone colour — a distance sitting at the extreme edge of a zone needs a different ride (more pace, more leg, or a deliberate check) than one sitting comfortably in the middle.
- Repeat for every related line and combination on the course, not just the ones that look tight by eye — short, easy-looking lines catch riders out precisely because nobody checks them.
Doubles: the one-stride trap
A one-stride double is unforgiving because there is no room to correct a bad take-off at the first element — whatever happens at fence A dictates fence B. If the calculator flags a one-stride double as sitting at the short end of its zone for your horse, plan to ride the first element with a slightly shorter, more balanced stride rather than hoping to make up the difference in one non-jumping stride. There usually isn't enough room to.
Trebles and changing rhythm mid-line
A treble often mixes a one-stride and a two-stride, or bounces into a one-stride — meaning the horse has to change its rhythm twice in the space of three fences. Check each element of a treble separately in the calculator rather than treating the whole treble as one distance; the two-stride segment and the one-stride segment can each sit in a different stride-zone even on the same line.
Ponies and combinations
Combination distances published for horses routinely need shortening by 20–40cm per element for a pony, and more for a small pony. If you are schooling combinations at home for a pony that competes at pony-specific classes, always re-check with the pony's own stride length rather than the horse default — see designing gymnastic grids for schooling-specific ranges by size.
Standard changes the target, not just the number
Switching the competition standard in the calculator (BS, FEI, Unaffiliated, Hunter) moves the accepted range for the same line type — a distance judged comfortable under one rule book can be tight under another at the same height. Always set the standard to match the class you are actually walking the course for, not a default.
Building this into your course-walk routine
Checking every related line and combination on a phone during the course walk takes a few minutes and catches distances that look fine by eye but do not measure up for your specific horse. Our full how to walk a course guide covers the rest of the walk; pair it with the stride calculator for the measuring part, and with how to use the stride calculator effectively if you want the full step-by-step on getting accurate results every time.