What does it mean to ride forward versus conservative to a distance?

Riding forward versus conservative to a distance describes two fundamental approaches to the canter in the strides approaching a fence — approaches that reflect different pace and stride length choices and that produce fundamentally different distances and different jumping efforts if maintained to the fence. Riding forward means maintaining or increasing pace in the approach, allowing the horse's stride to remain longer and more ground-covering so that the horse arrives at the fence on a slightly longer distance — what is sometimes called a forward distance or even a long distance depending on degree. A forward approach produces a takeoff that is slightly further from the fence base, which suits horses with scope and boldness that jump confidently from a longer takeoff point. Riding conservative means slightly reducing pace in the approach, causing the horse's stride to compress and shorten so that the horse arrives at the fence on a slightly shorter, closer distance — what is sometimes called a quiet distance or a deep distance depending on degree. A conservative approach suits horses that jump better from a closer takeoff point, particularly horses that are cautious or that have a tendency to back off fences where they need the fence nearby to generate the effort. The choice between riding forward and conservative is not always the rider's to make freely — the distance set by the course designer in a related line largely determines whether the horse will arrive in a comfortable normal, forward, or conservative distance if ridden at a particular pace, and the course walk's analysis of whether the distance is set long, normal, or short tells the rider which approach will produce the most comfortable arrival. In hunter competition, the ideal approach produces a comfortable, forward hunter distance that appears neither long nor deep but meets the fence naturally — neither approach is inherently better in hunters, but consistency and smoothness of approach are highly valued.