I cant see her stride anymore! HELP!

[RobaDob]

As most of you may know i jumped my first ever 2ft6 class yesterday.
Yes we got a clear round, but it was badly rode. (thats what i think anyway).
Because she kept on taking off too early or too late.
I cant seem to see her stride, she either canters slow, or canters fast, and when Honey canters fast i cant think of her stride, and when shes going to take off, so i just have to wish that shes going to clear it and land over the other side without anything bad going wrong.

Shes always backed off at planks, but yesterday she was fine in the 2ft3, but in the jump off (as it was a related distance) Honey jumped the planks fine, because the spread was after the planks about 4-5 strides away, i counted 1,2,3, and then she took off, luckily we cleared it fine, Thing is, its starting to become a habit when we are jumping spreads, shes fine at uprights and and cross poles and planks now, its just those damn spreads that things start to go wrong, she either gets too close and knocks them down, or too far away and i get left behind!

Ive tried using canter poles (3 or 4) in front of the spread jump at home, but she just jumps them, or kicks them.

I dont know what to do anymore!!:confused:

HELP !!

[RobaDob]

Bump?

[casey]

Aw I can read the desperation coming off you in waves.:)

Dont worry, remember a horse that isn't consistent in its stride is the hardest to ride and see a stride on.

It seems to me though, you may be a little too much of a passenger, by not altering honeys canter when it gets too fast.

If I were you, I would put poles randomly on the floor and just canter over them, keeping the same rhythm and half halting if she gets carried away. Then put a related distance and count the number of strides in between fences, and conciously make an effort to sshorten the canter, to achieve more strides. Also do the same lengthening.

If all else fails, sit quietly and let her sort it out. But flatwork really is the key to an show jumping problem.

Good luck.:)