What is a bounce and what does it develop in hunter jumper?

A bounce — sometimes called a no-stride or a gymnastic with no strides between elements — is a gymnastic exercise in which two fences are placed approximately nine to twelve feet apart, close enough that the horse lands from the first fence and immediately takes off for the second without an intervening canter stride. The absence of a stride between fences means the horse must use its hindquarters explosively to push off for the second fence the moment its front feet touch the ground after the first, developing the quick, powerful hindquarter engagement and the athletic front end technique that bounces are specifically designed to improve. The physical demand of the bounce develops specific jumping qualities that other exercises cannot target as directly: the rapid recoil of the hindquarters from landing to immediate takeoff develops the pushing strength and athleticism of the hind end; the necessity of getting the front legs up quickly for the second fence as they are still coming down from the first develops the horse's front end quickness and the tuck that produces clean, careful jumping; and the overall athletic demand of the bounce develops the horse's coordination, balance, and body awareness in a way that single fences cannot. For riders, bounces develop the automatic following position because the speed of the exercise eliminates any opportunity for deliberate position adjustment — the rider must be in a following, balanced two-point through both elements without interruption, and any position fault that requires the rider to adjust mid-exercise is immediately apparent and uncomfortable. Bounces should be introduced carefully and progressively — starting with poles on the ground before raising to small fences, and beginning with a single bounce before building to multiple bounce sequences — because the physical demand on the horse's hindquarters is significant and must be developed gradually to avoid soreness or injury.