Aiding A Green Horse With Striding

One of the green horses that I've been riding has been struggling with striding while jumping a line. I'm capable of holding a horse back or applying leg to get a specific number of strides in a line; I do it constantly. This horse, however, will takes off from a very deep spot, barely clearing the jump. He's knocked rails down innumerable times. He's never actually refused the jumps, but his takeoff point is nowhere near ideal. Even if it appears he will get the correct number of strides and take off from an excellent place, he always sneaks in a mini stride right before the jump. Any suggestions?

Gymnastics, gymnastics, gymnastics, with lots of placement poles!

My mare used to like to jump very deep as well, we only jumped in gymnastics with low square oxers for a long time. I would add a ground line to every fence that is pushed away from the base of the fence about the height of the top rail (ex, 2 foot jump, should be 2 feet away) and then add another pole about 9' in front of that, and add another pole about 18' after the fence. This is great at getting them in the right spot. You can add more fences in this line. My trainer's favorite is a trot in (with trotting poles) to a small bounce, 1 stride to an oxer with a landing pole 18' or so after the jump. You may have to adjust this as your horse goes along, to fit her stride or as she changes it. The point of the exercise is to stay out of her way and let her figure it out, it may be rough a few times through, but it should smooth out as she figures it out. Keep the fences low, under 2' or 2'3" that way you can make mistakes without a big risk of injury or scaring her.

What does your trainer say?

My trainer suggested using ground poles, which I did. However, he would approach the jump at a steady pace, freeze when he saw the ground pole, and then pop over the jump when leg was applied. We tried a crop, wearing spurs, nothing made a difference.
Posted via Mobile Device

Have you worked him over lots of trot poles and canter poles without a jump in the picture ? Will he pick his feet up over raised cavaletti ?

If I were you I would try neuroticmares exercise first with all poles and no jumps and see how he does.

Okay, I'll give it a try.
Posted via Mobile Device