<p> WHPC SUPERSUNDAY UNMOUNTED LESSON PLAN FOR AUGUST 24, 2014</p><p>Pacing Pace means the speed, rhythm and length of stride at canter or gallop. When you gallop or canter, you need to learn to keep a steady pace. This makes it easier to stay in control, and is easier on your horse than racing fast and then being pulled up sharply before an obstacle. A good pace starts with free forward movement. A horse cannot move at a good pace or jump well if he is sticky, reluctant to move, or not paying attention to you. When riding cross county, the horse must be willing to move forward with energy when your legs ask him to and it is your responsibility to use your aids correctly to keep him going forward. Make sure your horse is warmed up and calm before starting cross-country, as a horse that is tense, rushing or fighting your control is not ready or safe to jump, especially over a course. With practice, you can find the pace at which your horse can gallop freely and easily, while maintaining good balance and easy control. This will be the pace from which you jump most cross-country fences. The standard cross-country galloping pace for eventing competition is approx. 400 meters per minute, or 1 mile every 4 minutes (15miles/hour). C level riders should be working at approximately 350 or 375 meters per minute, or 13-14 miles per hour. This is the pace for horses; for small or medium ponies, it will be slower. For galloping practice, you can measure off a galloping track 800 meters or ½ miles long (874 yards or 2,622 feet) by walking over the track with a measuring wheel, or drive it and measure with the vehicle’s odometer. You can place different colored markers at 700 meters, 750 meters, and 800 meters. If you ride the correct distance in minutes, you are galloping at a pace of 350, 375 or 400 meters per minute. </p>