Jumping flat and knocking

[nuttyarab]

My horse has the talent and the scope but when he jumps he rushes and has to get it over asap, resulting in jumping flat and knocking poles.
He has everything checked and is fine, I have also had other people ride him in case it was my position but he still does it. his flatwork is good but falls apart when jumping, I have tried gridwork but again just knocks everything, I spend more time getting off picking up poles than I do riding! I dont ride him in boots either. He will even knock the tinest of jumps yet he has can jump 1'20. He is quite sharp and I always ride him quietly as he panicks easily, its such a shame because he has so much talent

 

[Batgirl]

With the grid work have you tried just poles to the jump? MY friends horse was doing a similar thing and lots of poles to the jump really helped, as did jumping a lot from trot (again over the poles)?

U probably have tried but hey, might as well have a little input

 

[be positive]

For grid work to be really beneficial you need someone experienced on the ground, to be able to make constant adjustments to the fences and poles on the ground, they may need to shorten or lengthen distances sometimes 6 inches either way will make all the difference to the way the horse jumps.
You will not be able to do this on your own so will find it difficult to get the results you are looking for. Find a really good trainer to have some lessons with it will be worth it when his jumping improves.

 

[PolarSkye]

Kal came to us like this . . . huge scope but with a tendency to throw himself at jumps flat and fast (possibly a hangover from his hunting days). Part of his problem was sheer exuberance . . . the rest was a lack of balance. We spent lots of time on the flat just getting him more balanced in all three paces. We did lots and lots of pole work - getting that "ooooh poles" out of his system. Lastly, we didn't "let" him jump unless he was calm . . . so he would be made to circle in front of a (single) fence until he was listening to the rider and then be allowed to jump (when calm). This only worked because we knew he wasn't a "stopper" and would jump anything he was actually presented with. Not until we could keep him calm over the first element did we start introducing grid work . . . but grid work did also help . . . got him thinking about where he was putting his feet.

The thing is, Kal was never strong in front of a fence - just fast and flat. Had he been strong, I'm not sure our approach would have worked. We also started jumping him in a waterford bit . . . just to make him sit up and listen a little more in front of a fence . . . he jumps in a snaffle without being strong at all (he doesn't lean) but the waterford just gets his attention a little more.

I don't know if our approach will help you (I don't know you or your horse) - just thought our experience might give you some ideas.

Good luck.

P