"Hi, I have a six-year-old ex-racehorse/steeplechaser that I am retraining. He is very forward going and I find it really difficult to contain the power from his hind quarters at the same time as starting him to work in an outline (he would rather go fast with his head in the air!). We have had problems in the past with rearing when I have taken too much contact and wondered if there were any tips? We work at novice level and enter unaffiliated prelim level and are usually placed but always comments like ‘needs to relax more over back.’ I have had him for just over a year now. Thanks, Heather"

H&C blogger and dressage rider Alice Oppenheimer replies: "Your horse sounds like a typical ex-racehorse with the usual flatwork issues that are caused by the way they are trained. At six, he is not too old to learn, but it will take time, as horses do. It sounds like he needs to learn to wait for you to ask him forward rather than run forward of his own accord. Lunging with side reins so he is on a contact or in a pessoa to help him work softly over his back and through from behind will help him accept the contact and become accustomed to verbal commands, which you can then use when back on top to help him understand you don’t want him to rush off. After all, he is only trying to help as that is what he was trained to do.

Also, under saddle, you could try to get him to stretch long and low and seeking the contact out but in a slow pace that isn’t too forward or powerful in a calm manner. I would just start in walk and when he is stretching and waiting move on to trot. Try to get him really wanting to seek the contact but keep the trot very slow, not even forward enough for a test so he learns to wait on your seat. Think about rising slowly to establish the rhythm. Once this is established in trot move onto the canter and really think about sitting deep and using your seat and/or voice to keep him quiet and calm. After he has learnt to do this you will find him much easier and will be able to ask for more power. I hope this helps."