re-schooling a strong horse, any tips?

[vickyguns]

Here's the thing! I am about to aquire a 14.2 cob. He is a fantastic driving cob and this is his primary job and he does it very well. He is however broken to ride also and has been hunted...by a load of lunatic young fellas that do everything hard and fast. As a result, if he makes his mind to do so he goes. I have ridden him a few times, on his own he is fine, forward going, but listening, though when ridden in his current home, when he comes to a gateway he knows he will try and go for it and gets arsey if not allowed. I also took him out on a funride, where-by he set his neck and everything else and took off and there was no stopping him. It took me a huge effort to stop him before we hit the main road and I ended up walking on foot for three miles cross country until I could get away from the group, where-by we went back to the trailer. I road him back and he was perfect!
The thing is, I'm hoping that away from his familier surroundings and a couple of months of sain and relaxed riding he might chill out. Also I think it may do him good to have a bit of re-schooling, but I'm unsure as to what exactly might be beneficial. If anyone has any ideas, I'd be grateful!
Thanks for reading this far. (Also thinking about changing his pelham for a loose ring waterford, as he does tend to lean quite a bit.)

 

[Ezme]

Driving horses can suffer alot of abuse in their mouth by ineducated hands who forget their whip and their voice so it might be quite difficult to change his ways.

If you have access to a school/enclosed space how about doing away with your reins completely? (obv i mean still there but no contact) Try and do everything off the voice/seat/weight/legs, when he's listening introduce exageratedly light rein aids in conjunction so he realises he can stop without hauling. May or may not work.

Hard to break the habit this time but at least as a driving horse he should have the voice aid well instilled in him just remember no matter how terrified you are keep your voice low when slowing down! It goes make me giggle rather when we get pupils who are shouting WALK!? at the boys who promptly get faster and faster! lol (I know i shouldn't laugh but it is kinda funny)

 

[vickyguns]

I did think of doing this lungeing him, literally beginning again. He does respond quite well to the voice and thankfully that's partly how I managed to stop him when he bolted, after about a mile at a flat out gallop!..it is hard to stay calm..lol!

 

[SillyMare]

There is something that worked really well for a strong horse I was riding last year IF you are confident that your hands are good enough (no reflection on your riding - this is a very tricky exercise).

Bridle set up like a double, but instead of a curb, use a hackamore. Other rein goes to snaffle as normal.

Ride like a double, primarily using the snaffle and focusing on exercises with lots of transitions and turns, plenty to think about. If the horse takes a 'pull', ask nicely first with the snaffle, then use the hackamore rein to halt sharply.

Whenever horse starts to lean, repeat the exercise (ask nicely then sharp halt).

Not as easy as it sounds though - you need to use two sets of reins completely independently. I found it quite difficult.