Flatwork exercises for young horses

[BuzzLightyear]

Im bringing my 5 yr old highland on with dressage in mind (dont laugh!)

He was broken at 4 as was still weak (is still butt high now) and has been brought on slowly.

We've made great strides developing top line through teaching him to stretch and carry himself without falling onto the forehand, and have introduced lateral work. Walk and trot are lovely and forward and soft but canter can be tense and there is a tendancy to fall in/ out or end up on the forehand.

We have monthly lessons but outside of these lessons I think I've exhausted my repetoire of exercises! He's been out to a couple of pony parties to do some Intro dressage and has scored highly but comments can be to do with bend (specifically in the half 10m circles and turns across the arena)

I'm looking for some nice exercises to keep him occupied in the mind and engaged - our fav currently is a trot leg yield from the 3/4 line to the track, 10m circle at E or B and then SI down the remaining long side.

welcome all suggestions

 

[Shazzababs]

I've got this book: http://www.britishhorse.com/products/101-schooling-exercises.html its really good (shop around for price if you buy it though!).

There is a dressage and a jumping one too.

My favourite one from the book is to ride 20m squares rather than circles (eventually in all paces) and put in hot transitions, lengthening and shortening, inside and outside 10m circles, rein changes etc. while staying balanced and going into the corners properly. Its harder than it sounds!

 

[Rosesandhorses]

Pole work is a really useful one to introduce and keep their mind ticking over. You can do raised poles to encourage an active hind leg or poles on a circle where if you bring them in slightly it encourages them to shorten their stride and out makes them lengthen. I would imagine the canter will come on the stronger he gets.