Jumping advice for over excited horse

[AndalusianSara]

Hi i have just bout a 15.3 TBx. Hes fairly forward going, we've got the basics in schooling. Hes actually quite laid back when schooling and hacking out. But as soon as we go to jump thats it, he refuses point blank to trot/canter upto the jump in a nice rythum and canters on the spot working himself up going anywhere but foward eventually i get him going forward then he'l take a massive leap a couple of strides out from the jump and then after all this doesnt really clear the jump in a very fashionable style. I also find he lands quite heavy on his forehand. Basically any ideas on getting him working forward in a nice even rythum and ideas how to stop the cantering on the spot etc i dont carry a whip but after severals squeezes of asking him to go forward should i give him a tap to get him listening?
Ive tried doing circles until ive got a nice steady even rythum but he still manages to switch off and refuse to move or leap bout as we approach the fence. From one extreme to the other
I bought him at a v resonable price. He was out hunting, xc etc a few years ago so he can do it. He hasnt jumped for sometime so i really wan to start back at the basics and getting him going forward of my leg (which he does when schooling) instead of this napping, bouncing on the spot, then leaping.
Any ideas?

[Lot1983]

Setting some poles up before the jump to help him keep some rhythm. Are you jumping him in a school or a field? If your in a school is he any calmer in a field, set up a jump before hand, ride him around and ignore it and then during some canter work, pop over it and then straight back to some calmer schooling to keep him focused?

[AndalusianSara]

hi there do you know what the spacing roughly is between the poles? i do all schooling and jumping work on a grass area which is fenced off to give the impression of an enclosed area.
thanks for your ideas

[galadriel]

Here's an article with discussion of rushing at jumps:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/jumping/200-rushing_jumps/

[NoviceNic]

Someone sent me this link for distances a while back...Hope it is of good use..

http://www.cee.hw.ac.uk/~rose/equine/jump.htm

[DavidH]

Where abouts in northants are you?

I might be able to help ;)

[summerguest]

jumping on a circle and grid work helped with my rushing mare....but we discovered the problem was a physical one with her....she started rushing to get it over quickly cos she had sore feet (imflamed navicular bursa)
Hope yours is nothing physical and can be sorted by schooling.

[CurlyWurlyRach]

My horse used to rush and the other day i got a jumping lesson.
my RI made me do trot poles, lengthening and shorteing the strides by moving the poles, then we put a small X in the middle of the trot poles and jut asked her to trot it and not jump then the trot poles on the otehr side helped her to slow down. I ended up doing a 3ft double with trot poles on the approch and after the jump on a long rein (the second i picked up a contact she rushed so i had no rein at all) and my leg on (normally i never touch her with my leg coming into a fence!) she was so relaxed and soft.
(this vid shows the pole set up we did)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/lord_w_rox/th_3ftDouble.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/lord_w_rox/?action=view&current=3ftDouble.flv)