How to...

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loverly

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... get a horse to enjoy hacking?

A long story short but here goes. As a 4 year old my gelding enjoyed hacking everywhere for hours on end with no problems. But now rising 6 he hates it. He has never, as far as I'm aware, had a bad experience out hacking. In company he will now chuck himself around, shaking his head, jogging on the spot and not concentrating at all. Alone it gets worse. He will nap at every left turning (don't know why as I am constantly changing the routes), he will spin, sometimes rear - not big I have to admit, spook (although this is getting better) and generally behave like he is not enjoying it at all.

Has his back done (equine massage) once a month, teeth checking every 6-12 months, new saddle bought and fitted a month ago and farrier every 6 weeks.

Anyone have any ideas? Or similar stories to make me feel a bit better!?
 
He's a teenager, my wb x did exactly this at 6 years old, to the point of rearing vertical and backing me down a ditch if I tried to take her out alone!!! Thankfully she would still hack out in company, I sent her away as I could feel my confidence buckling but when she came back we had the same issue daily! She'd school amazingly, so in the end I moved yards to somewhere with a school, after about a year or so of hacking in company and schooling, she just forgot there was ever an issue and has since hacked out anywhere, everywhere alone or in company!! I'd try to get him out with horses that he likes well, try to vary what you do, not just walk trot, try to find some canter routes, try to box a few of them out away from home somewhere and enjoy canters, etc away from home. or just leave things to settle, then try again? Good luck.
 
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