What is a deep distance and when is it a problem?

A deep distance — sometimes called a buried distance, a tight spot, or a close distance — refers to a takeoff point that is closer to the fence base than the comfortable standard distance, requiring the horse to jump with a more upright trajectory and greater effort to clear the fence from the tight position. Deep distances are a problem when they exceed the horse's ability to generate enough upward thrust from a very close takeoff point, when they produce a jumping arc that is more defensive and upright than the rounded bascule required, or when the combination of the deep takeoff and the height of the fence creates a genuine safety risk. In hunter competition, deep distances are penalized because they produce the cramped, defensive jumping style that is the visual opposite of the ideal hunter bascule — a horse jumping from a buried spot characteristically shows a more upright, defensive front end and a less rounded arc than one that takes off from a comfortable forward distance. In jumper competition, deep distances become problems primarily when the height of the fence exceeds what the horse can jump from a close takeoff, or when the deep distance in the first element of a combination affects the number of strides and the distance to the second element in ways that create additional problems. Deep distances from the fence are sometimes preferable to long distances for specific horses: horses that naturally back off fences and that jump better from a close takeoff point may actually produce better rounds from a slightly inside distance than from a forward one. The horse's scope and jumping style, the specific fence type, and the height all affect whether a deep distance is a minor adjustment or a significant problem, and developing the judgment to assess these factors in real time during a course is one of the marks of experienced competitive riding.