Riding/Training Schedule

If I end up "renting/leasing" one of the horses at the stables, I'd have the horse to work with for at least an hour each day, for a whole month each time we pay. My question is this:

It's been a while since I've ridden, and I'd like to have some "purpose" behind it. Any ideas of a schedule so I'm not just saying "oh, i'll trot" or "oh... I'd like to try a canter now".

Any ideas? The horse can do almost anything I ask him to, though he's still young. He needs quite a bit of work. I'll put up a bit more info in a bit...

Week 1 - I would start out in an enclosed area just walking until you feel comfortable and then once you're comfortable I would go on a nice, easy trail ride just to get to know the horse. Also, spend lots of time grooming to help you bond with the horse. When you feel comfortable I would start trotting some in the first week, first in an enclosed area and then maybe in an open space or on a trail ride.

Week 2 - Again spend lots of time on the ground with the horse letting the horse get to know you. I would maybe take a day or two to work in a roundpen, free lunging or lunging whatever you're most comfortable with, getting him responding to voice commands. On the other days I would practice on the trot more, both sitting and posting, work on getting your heels down, head up looking where you're going, etc. Maybe even squeeze in a ride w/o stirrups or bareback once you're comfortable.

Week 3 - This week I would practice cantering some, if you're comfortable enough to do it. Take it slow and don't rush yourself into anything you're not ready for. Also, this week I would work on doing more circles, getting the horse to bend, get him going at a steady pace, not too slow, not too fast.

Week 4 - Since this would be your last week with him (unless you decide to lease a month longer) I would just have fun with him. Go on some long trail rides, canter through a field. Enjoy the last few day you get to work with him.

But if you are going to continue leasing I would work more at perfecting your trot and canter. Also, I would work some more on some problems the horse may have.

I hope you choose to lease one of the horses. Leasing is an awesome way to get the feel of owning a horse, just WAYYY cheaper. Good luck!!!!

Haha... this is a really odd leasing setup... for the most part... all I get to do is ride. Ride ride ride. He does all of the feeding, mucking out, and so on. (hopefully I can convince him to let me groom and tack up)

I'm fine trotting. I'll try working on the ground... pretty much I get an hour (maybe two) each day. So I don't know what all that entails... we'll figure that out on the trail ride tomorrow... I guess...

I'll definitely try your "schedule"! It sounds like fun!

Yes spend some time grooming and "cuddling" with it everyday x)
When you ride, you can trot and try to get him to bend , make circles all the time, never go straight out, not untill you can get him to bend and keep his head position without moving out of the position.
When you feel like you can control him in trot smoothly, you can try cantering, again stay in circles (:
If you do the correct things in how to bend a horse, it should only take half an hour the first time (depending on the horse). Then he should bend for you everyday in the first 5 min or so.
Also, circles help you control the speed.
I usually ride to music because it helps me keep the beat xD
That way its easier to get the horse to go to the rhythm.
When you've pretty much got him to bend and ride calmly, then you can try out some excercises, go out of the circle and if he lifts his head, bend him into a circle straight away, get him to go down then try again and so on.
Same in cantering.

And as I said before, try doing some excersises where he has to cross his feet, unfortunately I can't remember what these excersises are called in english right now.

You can also ride over some poles!
Just a few poles on the ground which you can walk, tror and canter over.
You can also try laying them out in a circle, so you're riding over the poles while you're riding in a circle.

Then maybe in the last 2 weeks you can try a few small jumps or something :)

I'd love to try some jumps at some point. I highly doubt that I'll be able to get music going, but I'm sure everything else will be more than OK!

Hehe well there's always an ipod, but of course its up to you ;)