How to get him off of his forehand?

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Hattiehorse

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Basically, he's a cob (ex driving) and his engine seems to live in his front end, which obvisouly isn't great!

So I was wondering if you lovely HHOers could give me some exercises to do in the school/out hacking that would get him off his forehand?

He's extremely forward going but is alot calmer in the school and although halt to canter transitions etc in the school would work, out hacking, loads of transitions winds him up like a spring!

I'd mostly like to work on it in the school, as we are only just finding our brakes out hacking!

Thanks!
 
With my cob it's just transitions and circles, transitions and circles, transitions and circles... forever! I try to do a few 20-min sessions each week of this. There are a few different exercises you can do so things don't get too boring - I tend to start off with three 20m circles at A, X and C, then go round the school doing a 10m circle in each corner, then try and do a 5m circle at each letter marker, then do a 20m circle that spirals down to 5 or 10m and back out to 20 again. As for transitions, mine are mainly between halt, walk and trot because our canter isn't really going to work until we get the basics right, but I will do LOADS of them in a session - see how many times I can go from trot to walk and back to trot on one 20m circle, doing a transition at every letter marker etc. It's not fun - we usually need a little hack afterwards to blow away the cobwebs or we both get bored - but it's doing the trick and his back end is FINALLY starting to look well-muscled rather than going straight down like a ski-slope from croup to dock. :D
 
lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of transitions!
and a similar number of half halts and shortening and lengthening of stride etc!

its bloomin hard work, but trust me it makes all the difference!
 
As jenhunt said, A LOT of transitions. I wouldn't necessarily use halt to canter (sorry if you only used this to illustate what you are saying!) as that is a pretty advanced transition, and he needs to learn to and develop the muscles to hold himself up in normal transitions first.

When you are getting good basic transitions then move onto direct trans, halt to trot, walk to canter etc. And always make sure he steps forward into downwards transitions, supporting him with the leg. Many people take the leg off in downwards trans. He can only come off the forehand if the engine is running sufficiently, so to speak.

Sit tall, imagine a string drawing you upwards, GROW upwards, don't force yourself to sit up as this can create tension and think lightness all the time. A simple change in how you think can help your body do things more easily, thus helping your riding no end.

Imagery in your thoughts can really help too (think of a tree growing upwards, things like that. When I do flat work I always imagine us in top hat and tails, doing a grand prix, even though we don't compete at that level!!!)
 
Transitions with in the pace works wonders for this, it just sharpens the horse off the leg a bit and makes you, the rider, more accurate in your riding.
like someone else said imagine you have a string pulling you tall, also think of pulling your belly button to your spine (never your spine to belly button though as this will hollow your back and rock your pelvis onto a less absorbing angle)
 
Another shout for transitions, also can I ask what bit you have him in? As this can make a real difference due to differing pole pressure and can promote leaning and heaviness on the forehand.
 
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