is a horse ever too old to learn manners?

[ellis9905]

so ive recently taken on a 23yr old cob, ridden wise hes great, very steady and total confidence giver, however....

i cant leave him in a field without his field mate ( even tho a different horse he knows is in neighbouring fields)- he will constantly pace the fence line- to the point where he is dripping in sweat like ive turned the hose on him. we have a big dirt track where hes done this!!

but i also cant bring him in to a stable, he paces the stable ( regardless of hay net, treats, toys etc) kicking stable door and threatening to attempt to jump the door

tied up he has limited "good " behaviour, tie him up, groom, tack up and ride hes fine, but tie him up and walk away to get something - such as rug from the tack room- 12 ft away, and he'll start misbehaving, to the point he'll snap the baler twine and bog off to the grass! he'll do this regardless of whether one of his friends is tied up next to him or not!!

had the farrier today, had to stand and hold hime whole time, despite having 6 horses on the yard to get done!!

im so frustrated, he has company, he has good grazing, nice stabling, rugged well, fed - yet its still not enough!

just dont know how to help him,

bit of a vent really, but any suggestions gratefully recieved.

 

[LittleBlackMule]

It's unlikely you can do much about the anxiety issues as he is obviously stressy by nature and that isn't going to change this late in the game.
But you can certainly teach him how to behave when handled, it is never too late to enforce manners around people.

I have succeeded in teaching many a veteran that I am not to be stood on, barged into etc., and it didn't take long!