Exercises for a horse that likes to rush and get a bit strong

[sz90168]

I have recently acquired a 6 year old Welsh x Tb who was a late starter. She is a bit of stressy and sensitive type. We have made a lot of progress over the last few months but she still likes to rush a lot and likes to ignore half halts. She is hates anyone hanging onto to her reins and has to be ridden quite lightly if that makes sense. If you hold on to much she starts getting very wound and bunny hopping. Teeth, saddle and back all checked so no physical issues. She has started working in a more consistent outline however downwards transitions are still quite giraffe like. Currently ridden in a loose ring snaffle and Micklem bridle. Vet who is stabled at the yard looked at her when ridden last night and said there is no visible lameness and physio last week gave her all clear so I have covered all angles. She is ridden 5 times a week, usually 3 hacks a week and two 35 min schooling sessions. She is currently a little bum high which does not help.

Any schooling exercises/suggestions would be welcome.

 

[Wimbles]

I'm not saying it will work with your horse but with my big horse who was a very forward stressy type the best thing I was ever taught on my lessons was to send him forwards in trot or canter and keep going until he started to listen and accept my legs to hold him together in transitions. It all felt a bit counter productive at first but it soon became apparent that this was really beneficial to him.

I'm sure other people will give lots of good advice but it changed the way I rode this horse so thought it was worth sharing.

 

[SEL]

I'm not saying it will work with your horse but with my big horse who was a very forward stressy type the best thing I was ever taught on my lessons was to send him forwards in trot or canter and keep going until he started to listen and accept my legs to hold him together in transitions. It all felt a bit counter productive at first but it soon became apparent that this was really beneficial to him.

I'm sure other people will give lots of good advice but it changed the way I rode this horse so thought it was worth sharing.

I did exactly the same with my old warmblood. We used to trot a LOT of circles and I used to keep him on a pretty soft contact to start with until he would relax and start to stretch down.

 

[Breagha]

Following - my 5 year old does similar. If you give her a light contact she wants to get faster and if you hold her she tosses her head up and down and then fixes her neck against you (typical cob with a short ish neck).