help with schooling please

[jenbleep]

k well it might be a long one so bear with me....
ive just started riding a 16.2 warmblood x thoroughbred, 7 years old, that hasn't been ridden for 3 weeks. i haven't ridden for a couple of months either. basically i need some schooling advice; what would be good exercises to get him listening to my leg? when i rode him yesterday he seemed a little dead to my leg. (maybe its me?) he can work on the bit but i want some exercises to make him really work using all his back and hind quarters, not just tucking his nose in. anyone got any exercise to help me make him halt straight away? because he tends to resist when i ask him. (again, maybe its me?) one more thing; sometimes in trot he would tuck his nose in but he would feel quite heavy in my hand. so i need some advice on how i could get him off his forehand.
thanks a lot guys i know im asking for much!

p.s the owner said ill be able to have lessons on him too, which will defo help me and him! i am in dire need of lessons, i work in an office so my posture its terrible! maybe yoga or pilates will help?! lol.

one more thing; i have noticed that i tend to lean forward slightly, and when i am told to pull my shoulders back it feels like i am really leaning back. but this is normal right? i dont look like im really leaning back?

god i am demanding! lol
Thanks guys xxxxx

 

[9cheese1]

Er, well i can only help with a bit!
Try lots and lots of half halts and downward transitions to try and lighten the forehand. Once he starts using his bum he'll obviously get lighter. And for the leg thing, I have a lazy horse/dead leg policy!
If they dont move when I kick, I kick again and if they dont move they get a tap with the stick just behind the leg. Do that a few times and they soon get more obediant.
Ive just started doing yoga - its really helpful as bizarre as that sounds!!

 

[Peanot]

Hi, a good tip for the lighter off the leg is halt him, then take your legs off his sides, then tap quite hard. He should shoot forwards, repeat this again from halt and after about 3-4 times, when you take your legs off, he should start to walk forwards without the kick. The important bit is to wait a couple of seconds with your legs off, just to give him a chance to walk forwards as he knows whats coming.
For the hind 1/4s working, plenty of little circles esp in serpentines, lots of transitions and changes of pace within the pace but most importantly make him go forwards as without this, he isn`t working or using himself at all.
A good way to halt, is to exaggerate it to start, by leaning back and legs forward. As he begins to get better, then you don`t need to exaggerate as much.

When he is heavy in your hand, just keep giving your hand away a little to ask him not to lean, and lift up and vibrate the offending rein.
With the leaning forward bit, get someone to take a p hoto while you ride so as you know exactly what you need to do and how it has to feel. If you have been leaning forwards a lot for a long time, then it will feel as though you are leaning backwards.

All the above have worked for me.
I hope that I have helped with something.