Things had been going great for my horse and I lately. We won our division at our schooling show, he was being much more responsive and I was doing better and being more decisive and seeing and directing him to the distances with the fences.

 Today was terrible and I feel like I lost everything I gained. We jumped some small lines and every jump except a few, were just all over the place. I would end up on his neck a bit, or behind, or I would freeze up before the jump after he took off way too soon or too late. I know this complicated things.

I was feeling so good about this, I had been counting seeing my take off and today was like ten steps (or months in training) back. Any tips or excersises??

thanks! 

 Here is the secret to distances:  DON'T THINK ABOUT DISTANCES.  Seriously.  The key is your canter -- make a great, rhythmic canter with good impulsion and good balance.  Sit quietly.  Don't do anything but maintain your canter and stay soft with your hips and hands.  The horse sees a distance wayyyyyyyyy before anything you can pick up.  Just keep your leg on, keep your eyes up and ride that canter all the way to the fence.  It will work as long as you keep your rhythm and stay out of the way.