heavy on the forehand

Question
Hello, I have a 8 year old Haflinger gelding and have trained him myself. I am currently trying to get him to engage his hindlegs better so he can have a more pronounced lope and spins. He is very heavy on his front end and it is very hard to get him to hold his pivot foot to perform a spin undersaddle or on the ground. I am trying reining classes at my fair in the summer and want to get a better spin. It seems that he will do one correct spin (very slowly) and if i ask for more spins his front end stays put and he moves his hind end around. I have run out of answers on how to fix this. I have had points deducted from showmanship patterns (in which i have lost numerous championships too - judges say that is my downfall - the spins) and have points deducted from horsemanship and reining patterns from the weird spins. My goal is to get him to be consistent and able to hold his pivot foot. It would be nice too if i can also speed up the spins a little too.
I think because of his heavyness on the forehand that he has difficulty performing his flying lead changes. (what i have found that is just a temporary fix is that backing him up on a loose rein around the whole arena - but that only works for like 10 minutes before i have to do that again)
Also he has a headset problem, in western he holds his head well naturally (like a ideal western horse - relaxed and level topline), but when I lope him, he pumps his head up and down with his stride, his head goes up with the up beat and down with the down beat. He is starting to get it more level but then his feet get all messed up and he gets real heavy on his front end.
All in all, how do i get him to engage his front end?
Thank You and God Bless,
from Ashley with a awkard Haffie

Answer
Hello,
Sounds like you have done a nice job with your Haffie so far, he only needs a little extra help to stay engaged. Lets break it down into smaller pieces. Horses are as soft as you insist they are, what that entails is a new focus on just how much contact you decide is acceptable. It is a slippery slope, you need to be aware that any more than 5 ounces of pressure or so and you close your fists and hold until the horse steps off the pressure- then you give.  You have probably been doing a form of this, just remember because you respect your horse as a partner he may need to do it A LOT more until he really understands he cant push through you. It has been said that when you are Grand Prix Dressage there are 10,000 Half Halts in a circle. You never hit a point where your horse wont need any help with their balance, but once you show your consistency in your boundaries the cues should become unnoticeable. That being said, to get your spin lets break it into smaller pieces for him to learn as well. Don't try to spin! Go from a walk slowly close your fists to a halt then keep your outside rein pressure and lightly push your rein into his neck. Your inside rein can open-REALLY OPEN- up and out. Add a little outside leg and wait. Remember to exaggerate to teach. Your outside rein will stop him if he tries to go forward. Hold your position as he tries to find the answer, he may try lots of different things. Your job is to wait until you feel the front end move past the hind end that is still. In the midst of his correct answer give everything and push him out to a walk or trot. Pet him and repeat. Soon he will know the equation enough that when you start to close your outside rein, lean into it and look to where he is going he will slide over. You have to give for just one step or else he will start to ask what's in it for him, "pressure if I do this task, pressure if I don't, guess I'll just be heavy."
Once you play with this for a while write me back and let me know how its going and we'll come up with another recipe.
Best Wishes
Caitlin Day Huntress