Need Help with Stubborn Green Fjord

I am leasing a 5 yr old fjord named Evanesco. He's sweet as can be, but he hasn't had much training and was used as a husband horse before I got him. He's okay on trails, but I want to be able to jump and do a little dressage. Evan gets distracted easily, and doesn't know how to canter. When he gets bored, he gets extremely stubborn and naughty. He'll ignore my aids and get fast. Like most horses, he has his good days, but most of the time he is hard to ride and it's just not much fun.

Does anyone have any suggestions or exercises that could keep Evan entertained and help with some simple training?

PS: There aren't any experienced horses that I could use to get a feel for things, and I only have access to a medium outdoor arena (which I don't feel completely comfortable with Evan outside yet) and a small (about 1/3 of a full sized arena) indoor arena.

I would keep his mind busy, do circle 8s, serpentines, put cones out or if you have barrels.....weave around them, change directions alot.....changing directions alot keeps the horse's mind busy where he has to pay attention. If you are indoors, ride along the rail and turn into it quickly to change directions zig zag back and forth from side to side....keep him busy, that is why he is getting bored and not listening to you.

Thanks :) i've tried that a little and sometimes it works but sometimes he still misbehaves. I'll see if it works with cones though :)

Let us know how it goes, I think if they are kept busy enough with their mind on something then they don't have time to misbehave.....

Can you teach him how to canter on a lunge line?
With greenies and those who get distracted eaiser then other I like to makenthings fun, incorporate treats and lots of treats!

Yeah, we've tried the lunge line and he seems to do fine. And the first time I rode him I was able to get him to canter no problem, but that was quite a while ago

He might see the riding arena as no fun. My training sessions under saddle are kept to about 20 min. Then a half hour or so trail ride to mentally refresh the horse.

Hm, a ride around the field might be a good idea. Thanks :)