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this looks like a good start to me. and let me say i feel your pain! i have a horse that has had several severe back injuries that have resulted in torn ligaments along the spine. he's about to be started back into work now that the weather is nicer, and i'll be doing pretty much what you are for several weeks to build his muscling so he can be ridden without an issue of back pain.
just keep in mind two things.
1- trot, trot, and more trot. then trot some more. keep canter to 10 min or less total (5m each dir) IF THAT. trot more. and then some more. trot builds muscle so that's what you want to focus on. this is true both on the longe and US
2- when riding, forward first, contact second. send him forward and let him figure out where to carry himself. if you've done the work correctly on the longe, just ride on a long rein, nothing for him to brace or lean on. ignore where his head is. headset means a LOT less than people think. if a horse is moving correctly he will put his head where it needs to be. if you need to ride him strongly forward into a contact to "hold him together" he's not moving properly. so when you do ride - ignore the reins. trot trot and more trot (see reference to trot above lol), and don't let him canter, but don't let him plod around. working trot on a long rein and he'll start stretching and reaching for your hands. it's fine if his head is a little too high or low right now - the focus is to get your horse to seek out the contact as he learns to move correctly and comfortably.
good luck!
just keep in mind two things.
1- trot, trot, and more trot. then trot some more. keep canter to 10 min or less total (5m each dir) IF THAT. trot more. and then some more. trot builds muscle so that's what you want to focus on. this is true both on the longe and US
2- when riding, forward first, contact second. send him forward and let him figure out where to carry himself. if you've done the work correctly on the longe, just ride on a long rein, nothing for him to brace or lean on. ignore where his head is. headset means a LOT less than people think. if a horse is moving correctly he will put his head where it needs to be. if you need to ride him strongly forward into a contact to "hold him together" he's not moving properly. so when you do ride - ignore the reins. trot trot and more trot (see reference to trot above lol), and don't let him canter, but don't let him plod around. working trot on a long rein and he'll start stretching and reaching for your hands. it's fine if his head is a little too high or low right now - the focus is to get your horse to seek out the contact as he learns to move correctly and comfortably.
good luck!