John rode Calo today

In today's lesson, we started by doing a 10 meter circle, then keeping the bend and switching to a 20 meter circle going the other direction.  We did this a few times each way, with a gradual change to the correct bend on the 20 meter circle.
After we wrestled our way through some canter, John suggested that he ride him.
He made Calo look beautiful, but they were both pretty sweaty at the end.  He had to use lots of hand to soften Calo, but then he switched from being an inverted U to over bent with his chin on his own chest.
John said that for the right lead canter, it would be best to have him do shoulder-in, and then ask for the canter from shoulder-in.  Otherwise, he swings his haunches really far in, which throws his shoulders out, which makes him even more unbalanced than he already would be, which makes him throw his head up and rush around for a while before he can round and try to canter like a normal horse.
Peaches was watching and she said that Calo probably isn't strong enough to hold much of the trot or canter over his top line, especially after so many years.  Peaches also suggested that he needs the hands, but with enough leg to keep him moving up into his hand, and then making sure to give forward, like pushing him into the bit, once he softens and gives to it.
It was really cool to watch John ride him; he got Calo to step underneath himself and to soften and come over his top line, but it took him a lot of work.  He said not to get frustrated, that Calo is a frustrating horse to ride because he ignores a lot of the aids, but just to keep asking until Calo responds. Peaches also suggested that it will probably take a few months until he gets strong enough to really be able to hold any of the top line work.