Old horse motivation help

[Tronniehead]

Well not sure if it's him or me! Probably me! I loan a 22Yr old highland. I ride him about twice a week and I have a riding lesson at RS once a week on RS horse. I feel like he is bored of riding. I tack up we go into the school and he is just so ploddy. I try pepping him up, with talking to him etc but it's not working. We do transitions walk trot halt etc, I put out cones, tyres, poles etc. but he just seems bored and would rather just stand in the field! When I do get him into trott it lasts a few strides and he goes back to walk. Sometimes he will literally just stand there, kick kick tap with whip and he won't move! He may go backwards but that's it I end up giving up and getting off and walking him around. Any advise greatly appreciated?
Just some background on him, owners don't ride anymore. Previous to me he was not ridden for a year and then only once a month. He does not rear but he is very spooky and nervous and naps with company or alone.

 

[stencilface]

Do you do anything but school?

I would at 22 he's seen quite enough of schools and needs more variety, take him hacking or do something different to liven him up?

 

[Tronniehead]

We hack and he naps and spooks. It's not that much diferrant from being in the school. Except he stops and looks back towards home when on our own in company a little better as other horse we hack with is similar and they take confidence in each other sometimes we have to lead other times they have to take the lead. Do more schooling than hacking as feel he is more confident in his home. I have tried taking him out on a lead rope but it's a nightmare and I end up having a full on workout fighting him from eating everything he can!

 

[Brightbay]

We hack and he naps and spooks. It's not that much diferrant from being in the school. Except he stops and looks back towards home when on our own in company a little better as other horse we hack with is similar and they take confidence in each other sometimes we have to lead other times they have to take the lead. Do more schooling than hacking as feel he is more confident in his home. I have tried taking him out on a lead rope but it's a nightmare and I end up having a full on workout fighting him from eating everything he can!

A nice way to improve motivation to work with you is to try to make sure there's something in it for the horse Older horses may well not be particularly motivated by play/fun - and may find variety a bit confusing

I have had a lot of success "waking up" older horses using clicker training, and provided your share horse isn't being slow because of physical reasons, I think you could find it both helpful and fun for you both. I would suggest googling Hannah Dawson Equine (the amount of equine clicker resources are increasing all the time, but Hannah in my eyes offers something that appeals to UK riders, whereas some of the others are a little US in slant). Even doing a little clicker ground stuff in between schooling sessions may be enough for the horse to start looking forward to riding activity. The effect of clicker training goes way beyond what you actually choose to train, and has a very nice overall effect on how the horse perceives you

 

[Tronniehead]

Will def look into clicker training. Any advise greatly appreciated. I just want us to enjoy our time together instead of me feeling like I am bugging him and taking him away from his field and eating time!