What is it with planks?!

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MagicMelon

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BSJA'd yesterday, in the 1.10m we had the last fence down (planks), then in the foxhunter we had the planks down yet again (in different direction).

What is it with planks?! Can horses not see them properly or something? My horse is usually very clean but if we have anything down, it is usually planks. I try not to ride it any differently but maybe I do now because of this.
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I have the planks problem too - although last time out we cleared them 3 times, so hoping the jinx is over.

Seriously though, it must be something about them - remember recently at Burghley **** (think it was) almost everyone had the planks down in the SJ - was the last fence then too.
 
The trouble with planks these days is that most are on flat narrow cups and the slightest breath on them and they come down. Most fences you can get away with a slight rub on top but planks you have no margin for error at all.

Putting them at the end of the course or off a tight turn just emphasises this as you have to be right over them to clear them, it's a course builders speciality
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Planks stiles and gates are all very upright and have no real ground line, so the horse needs to be faster in front to clear them, then all you need is a course builder who put them after an oxer on a related distance, or off a corner and you have a fence that a lot of people could have a problem with!
 
absolutely spot on.....most people have them down when they are a related distance, at an angle ...usually the last fence and going towards home when the horse is going forward a bit strong. They get a little less careful and a slight tap on a plank resting on those flat cups will have it down....practice, practice, practice....for me getting in deep was the right answer and asking the horse to use himself to round over it, and not run on and flatten....crafty devils these course builders!
 
Aren't planks less stable than poles as well though?
Cause the weight is distributed differently, and if a horse clips them, they tend to wobble & then fall?!
Something to do with the centre of gravity or something..
Or am I just reading into them too much lol
 
SteveD - I think that coming in deep is our problem though. My aim is always to get deeper to them to try and get up more. But its all too easy for mine to just clip it with his fronts. It's odd as usually he's excellent at picking up when getting in deep. Its just planks. Must be the no-groundline issue.
 
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