Exercises for Lightening the Forehand

[Gorgeous George]

George and I have been doing ok in our dressage, but the comments at the bottom of out sheets are getting a bit repetitive (although more than fair!) 'must lighten forehand and work more from behind to progress'. I have an instructor who is of course helping me

but I wonder if you all have any exercises that you find particularly helpful. I know I need to work on lots of transitions but what else works well? I know there is no quick fix, but we are determined (well I am, maybe not George

) to wow the judges one day - ha ha

 

[Stoxx]

Lots and lots of transitions!! Almost transitions, so like a very obvious half halt, then just as you are going to hit walk pick up trot again to really activate the hind leg. Don't accept shabby transitions either, they must be off the leg!
Lateral work, work on a square, anything to really encourage him to step under and engage his back end.
Also remember that 2/3rds of a horse's weight is on it's fore legs, so make sure you sit really tall with your hands in front of you - this will help to give a better impression and also make it easier for the horse to lift through his shoulder.

 

[Tharg]

Pole work is good. You could try doing that exercise when you do 5/6 strides of walk and then 5/6 strides of trot, aim for good transitions. It really gets their hindquarters going.

 

[teddyt]

Leg yield.
Leg yield to an upwards transition.
Raised poles
Transitions within a pace
Turn on the forehand
Small grids if you jump

All very simple but can be done out hacking too (maybe not the poles though!). you must make sure you have an elastic contact and dont try to 'hold' the horse up. Leg to hand!

 

[Happel]

Shoulder in - making sure you keep riding uphill,
walk-trot transitions remaining in shoulder in
But also very effective: counter-canter and 10meter canter circles