Schooling exercises best for bring back to work?

[nuttynugget]

I have now found the motivation to start schooling my horse today! I want to make a proper go of it and possibly go to a few unaff sj competitions this year

I rode him in the school for the first time in ages today and it wasn't too shocking! I have been keeping him going through winter by lunging once a week and hacking at the weekend. He can work in an outline in walk and bends but completely falls apart in trot and just turns to wood, has anyone got some good exercises I could try to get him bending more?

Just to make it clear, I am not forcing him into an outline. I don't use any gadgets and don't expect him to work in an outline quite yet, I would primarily like to work on his bending. I am currently doing leg yield, serpentines and circles but mainly in walk because its so hard in trot!!

Thanks everyone

 

[spotty_pony]

Lots of transitions from walk to trot, to halt to trot etc to get him listening to you and to encourage him to work from behind.

Also, carrot stretches on the ground around to the side to stretch the muscles in his neck will help.