How can I stop my horse to have more self carriage???

[Vixter]

My horse is very heavy in my hand. I have only had her since July, and her old owner used to let her work really long and low, I have been working on preventing her to go too low, as we were getting marked down for this is showing, she was just dragging herself along on the forehand. She's not built downhill just been used to going like that. This has improved, but she's heavy in my hand, when hacking and schooling, my arms start to ache and if I let go, her head would just drop to floor - thank god we haven't had to to G&R in a dressage test yet!
How can I prevent her from leaning on the hand???? Help !!

Thanks!

 

[OrangeEmpire]

transitions transitions transitions(!) to get her sat on her bottom. Rather than thinking of bringing her head up, think of pushing her bottom forwards under her. This should naturally lift her head.

 

[ghosthooves]

I have the same problem, and doing a lot of transitions in the first 15 minutes or so really does make a huge difference

Makes S a lot more responsive and takes the weight off the forehand

 

[Baggybreeches]

Transitions and canter squares!

 

[Vixter]

Thanks I will try transitions out hacking, don't have a school at yard!

 

[the watcher]

Also start building in some lateral work, this seems to help them bring their hinds under and to start to use the back end more. forget about the head, as others have said, it will come up at the back end gets more engaged