Let's please not argue regarding what we think works versus what does not work, etc. and agree to disagree. All horses, trainers, etc. are different and different things work for different people. Please do not attack anyones suggestions or methods - I am open to everything.

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I always say, take from each trainer a part you like of their method. the downunder method has always worked for me, I just use a much softer approach than expected lol

https://cowboydressageworld.com/what-exactly-is-cowboy-dressage-all-about/

Hill work is excellent so long as you have hills to ride on (obviously) and is a surefire way to build great muscle on horses without too much prior knowledge and skill. However, if you are bound to an arena for riding purposes, there are still so many ways to build muscle.

I LOVE transitions. I find that they are often so overlooked as a way to not only build muscle but also to solve so many common under-saddle issues. It's also great for horses' brains. They are so conditioned to think walk, then trot, then canter, and by switching it up and maintaining the gaits at different speeds and durations, it really makes them think. For muscle building sake, one extremely important thing to remember is to have him move upward (or forward) into the down transition. Transitioning downwards (by downwards I mean from canter to trot, trot to walk, etc) should never be only hand, you should always be supporting with lots of leg, and applying hand as well. Making sure he is moving upward into transitions will force him to engage his hind end (something that most horses try their very best to avoid!) which is really what you are after. But yes, transitions lol. I could honestly talk about the uses of them for hours aha.

Ground manners are quite honestly repetition and reward. For standing at the mounting block, I would set aside a bit of time when you can to go out with him to a block and work with him. Walk him up to it, and put him where you want him. When he is standing in the correct spot, give him a pat and verbally praise him. Then go up on the block and stand there for a while fiddling. As soon as he takes a step, get off of the block and make him step back a few steps. You can also use a stern tone and let him know what he did was wrong. Horses aren't idiots. They are there to test you and pry. They will try to get away with everything. They also know praise from scolding. If you don't let them know they are doing wrong, they will continue doing it. That's why I like the backing up two steps when they don't stand. It makes them use themselves, and actually work a bit, which is a very very light but evident form of scolding. It lets them know that they were wrong without actually hurting them or scaring them. It just makes them aware. Eventually, he will get the point and just stand.

Backing up is just pressure and immediate release. Apply pressure to his mouth and sit deep. As soon as he so much as leans back to take a step, release. Just more repetition and reward. If he really isn't getting it and is always making a fuss, take one foot out of the stirrup (SAFLEY) and wrap it around to his shoulder. Then apply pressure there as well as with hand. (If you don't feel comfortable doing this, please don't do it lol. It's just an alternate way of teaching it.) Sometimes horses just need you to give them a different approach to something, so they can better understand it.

Balance and leads go hand and hand. Horses cant pick up the right lead if they are off balance. However, its always the riders job to maintain balance, and it's all just a matter of position. Make sure you are staying in the center of your horse at all times, and you are sitting up straight, and that your hands are horse's mouth length apart. If he still can't seem to get his leads, all you need to do is throw him heavily onto one balance. To do this (it sounds a bit odd but it really works) twist your hips so that it feels as though your belt buckle is facing the inside of your arena. Go as much as you can. Then pick up your canter. By doing this, You are altering his balance so that it is really difficult for him to even pick up the wrong lead. This method is obviously a teaching extreme, and once he gets the point you should wean him off of that extreme balance shift. He will eventually figure out which lead is for which direction, and the rest is history.

Working on the bit is a very final skill in my opinion. First, your horse needs to understand where his body is in relation to the world before he can learn to use it correctly. At this point from what you've entailed about his level of training, I would utilize transitions (again) to build the basics of it. Working on the bit is not just a matter of head down, its all coming from the butt. Transitions are going to make his booty work, which will translate slowly into working on the bit. If I can give you any advice for getting a horse on the bit, its hand, and a crap ton of leg.

I tried to cover everything you specifically asked. This is all just from experience and many fantastic teachers over the years. I wish I had a guidebook to give you, but sadly I don't lol. Let me know if you have any questions because if you cant tell, I really enjoy teaching. ;)

No hills here so lots of transitions, circles and ground poles. I've been focusing more on walk/trot than canter, unless it is just a quick circle around the arena - nothing fancy as long as we pick up the correct lead once both ways. I try to keep it very relaxed because I don't want him getting worked up or taking off like a bat out of hell lol. I'd like to have good balance and transitions in those two gaits before focusing on canter because if we try anything fancy (circles, etc.) we both tend to fall apart (which is probably not helping). I think it may be a bit too much for him until we build up to it.

With standing at the mounting block, he is good until I'm in the saddle - then he immediately wants to go. He doesn't seem to know what backing up is - we practiced it a bit today and at first it was him turning in weird circles freaking out because he had no idea what I was asking. Once he did move backwards, I released. We did this 2 or 3x and by the 3x, he seemed to be getting it. He REALLY disliked it, though, so I didn't push it anymore than that. That's what makes the mounting/moving forward a bit tough. Normally I'd back a few steps and have him stand but since he doesn't move in reverse yet, I try to hold him there and he gets really antsy/head tossy/yanking at the bit. Once I can get him to stand quietly for even a few seconds, I allow him to go forward. I guess this is just practice. When we were walking back to the mounting block at the end of our ride, I had asked him to stand and he was fussing about doing something, so I walked him in a few tight circles and after that, he stood pretty quietly LOL.

He seems very receptive to any kind of praise, whether it is my voice telling him 'good' or 'good boy' or a pat/rub. I'm very vocal with him, maybe too much so, but when he does something good he always knows. As far as scolding or reprimand, I've always used backing in the past as well (two or three steps). He didn't care for the tight circles today so maybe that will work until we have backing down.

Is there a way to practice backing from the ground w/ bridle? He does it fine in his halter but when I asked him while riding just about had a cow.

There's a lot of western riding out here too, frustrating when you want to ride English, you CAN do it without a trainer, it just takes a lot more effort and dedication.

I have a mare with really high withers that no amount of work can fix, but she's just built very uphill. If he has swayback, I've done trotting in small circles and trotting over poles to build muscles. They have to crunch their stride up a little, which forces the use of back muscles. I haven't had to work swayback out of a horse for about 10 years though, so there might be better methods now?

Best of luck! He sounds like a lovely horse 🖒