Show jumping is a timed test of accuracy, agility, and partnership between horse and rider. Competitors must jump a series of obstacles in a prescribed order, aiming to complete the course within the time allowed and with the fewest faults.

Faults are incurred for knocking down a rail, refusals, run-outs, or exceeding the time limit. The sport rewards not only carefulness and control but also forward, balanced riding and precise communication.

At higher levels, jump-offs are used to determine the winner among competitors with equal scores, combining speed with precision. Internationally governed by the FEI Jumping Rules, show jumping emphasizes both athletic ability and training that protects the horse’s welfare and confidence.

It is a two-beat diagonal gait with a moment of suspension. Showing greater ground cover than the working trot but less than the medium or extended trot.

The lengthening of steps in the trot is a transitional gait that develops the horse’s ability to lengthen the stride while maintaining balance, rhythm, and relaxation. In this movement, the horse moves energetically forward with increased impulsion, allowing the strides to become longer and more expressive without quickening the tempo. The hind legs step actively under the body, and the forelegs reach freely forward from the shoulder. The frame lengthens slightly, and the contact remains soft and steady.

According to FEI standards, the purpose of lengthening the steps is to prepare the horse for the medium and extended trot through the development of thrust, elasticity, and adjustability of stride. It demonstrates the first stage of greater collection combined with freedom of movement.

Correctly ridden, this gait builds strength, suppleness, and confidence, forming an essential bridge between working gaits and the more advanced expressions of the trot in dressage.