The only book dedicated to learning to find and ride the ideal jumping distance with fundamental skills and enlightening lessons from one of the best in the business.

Understanding how to count strides helps to develop the rider’s eye and “feel.” Stride control means producing the correct number of strides and quality of stride to jump the jumps at hand—the emphasis is on the quality of strides, not just the number. It is one of the skills that enables the rider to achieve success, whatever the size of the jumps.

Jen Marsden Hamilton has coached countless riders and horses around the world in the striding techniques that brought her success during her own impressive competitive career, and here Hamilton has compiled her knowledge in a concise book of exercises and insightful strategies. Inside you’ll find:

• Detailed setup for specific exercises.
• Connecting flatwork for between ground poles or jumps, such as transitions and serpentines.
• Strategies for completing the exercises and analyzing the outcome.
• Appropriate exercises for the rider’s desired discipline and level.

Jen Marsden Hamilton's profile page

George H. Morris' profile page

Jen Marsden Hamilton is an internationally renowned equestrian coach. Based in Canada, she travels throughout Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Kenya training horses and riders. For over 45 years Jen has combined her Bachelor of Education (Acadia University) with the most current coaching and equestrian training to nurture the next generation of star athletes. Jen developed and wrote the National Coaching Certification Program’s (NCCP) Canada, Level III - Jumper. As a rider, Jen gained valuable experience that informs her coaching today. She placed fourth in both, the American Horse Show Association’s Medal Finals and the Alfred B. Maclay Hunter Seat Equitation Finals at Madison Square Garden. Riding Wee Geordie she reached new heights in puissance classes, jumping six feet and higher. She also holds the distinction of being George H. Morris’ first student when he started his career as a professional horseman in 1963. In 1975 Jen was the Martini and Rossi Canadian Horsewoman of the Year. As a coach, Jen has been recognized for her dedication with the Canadian Coaching Association’s “Year of the Coach” Coaching Award in 1988, the 3M Coaching Canada Award for Coaching Excellence in 1996. She has also represented her country as a coach to young Canadian riders at international team competitions throughout North and South America. Jen lives in Sweet Corners, Nova Scotia, Canada.

“Jen Hamilton’s Stride Control is easy to read and easy to understand. It’s nice to read something that emphasizes the basics of correct riding and the use of gymnastic exercises. Many of her gymnastics are ones that we use all the time in our training and teaching.” —Beezie Madden, Olympic Gold Medalist, Show Jumping

"Stride Control by Jen Marsden Hamilton includes a great combination of sound basics, correct techniques, and excellent exercises to improve both horse and rider. Jen gives excellent advice on work ethic and valuable tips on how to be successful in competition. From the novice to skilled professional,Stride Control is definitely well worth reading.” —Jeff Cook, Hunter/Jumper Trainer

"Jen Marsden Hamilton is a teaching icon." —George H. Morris

“This book is more than a treatise on stride control. Someone once said, attitude is everything. Jen’s positive attitude is evident on every page: “You can do it and here’s how.” It’s no surprise she’s an excellent teacher, trainer, coach. I’m grateful she made the effort to write it all down clearly and concisely, so even a rider who is mostly on her own can follow her directives. Of her many pertinent sidebars, my two favorites are that you have to have unbridled passion for the horse and for the sport, and you must know when enough is enough, and when to quit for the day. The photographs and testaments from her students over the years reaffirm the validity of her treatise. I recommend it highly to serious riders of all ages and in all stages." —Judy Richter, Rider, Trainer, Judge, Author, and Former AHSA Horsewoman of the Year

Jen Marsden Hamilton's Stride Control is one of the only books that I know of that fully addresses just this specific paradox. It is loaded with actual examples of ways to develop that feel, and full of real examples of training strategies. Want to kick up your riding a few notches? Here's something to help." —Denny Emerson, USEA Hall-of-Fame Inductee and Author of Know Better to Do Better and How Good Riders Get Good

"This fun, approachable guide will help all riders train with correctness and form good habits at home so they can be stars at their next jumpiong or eventing competition. ...Throughout, Hamilton's straight-talk and wry humor entertain as well as advise, providing an all-around superb guide to an invaluable jumping skill." —Elite Equestrian

"Jen Marsden Hamilton is an icon in the world of equestrian coaching, and her latest book, Stride Control: Exercises to Improve Rideability, Adjustability, and Performance is essential reading for any horse person. And it’s a fun one!... This book is a gem, filled with color photos, but what really bounces off the pages are all the clear diagrams showing how and why….Stride Control is an absolute must-have for anyone in the jumping sports disciplines." —Horse Journals

“If you possess any passion for horse sport at all, it will be hard to read this book and not feel that passion reignite. Hamilton’s passion for horsemanship is what really shines through the entire book, and it is horsemanship that ultimately needs to come first.Stride Control is a treasure, and we would all do well to own a copy!” —Atlantic Horse & Pony