Keeping an outline when riding straight!?

[ChestnutConvert]

We don't do masses of schooling but when we do he seems to enjoy it and i do too, only thing is that when we are circling and bending he comes into a nice shape and stops his grabbing at the bit or being heavy. When i come out of the circles/bands his head is up again and the heaviness on the bit starts.

This is probably really basic but any tips on keeping his outline when i'm riding straight lines too?? I'm about to change his bit as i think this will help the grabbing and leaning too.

 

[timefort]

I have a similar problem - when riding on a circle I can get the horse working really well behind and light in front, but 9 times out of 10 I lose it when I straighten. My instructor assures me that my problem is just that my legs aren't strong enough to be consistent in a straight line. Maybe that's also your problem? Does he work well when hacking?

(Mostly this is a shameless *bump* in the hope that people more knowledgeable than me will reply as I too have this problem.)