[screaminglove]

Ickabod has been doing ok lately, not great of course. It feels like we are back to square 1 again. When I first got him, he was sooo stubborn, and headstrong. He would NOT go on command, and we just stand there for like 5 minutes while you tried everything to get him to GO. lately he has been going ok, but today after I trotted him (wasn't good with that either) he was being stubborn again and would just not go. SO, he did much better by not pulling on the bridle, and chewing the bit, but of course, I didn't even have a bit in, because I thought that it might hurt his mouth, and i am going to get a dentist out once I get my pay check. So I just had him in a halter, and reigns, he didn't go right well, but left was ok. I don't want him to start thinking he doesn't have to listen, I don't know what to do when he just stops. I mean, first I click, then I say walk on, then I nudge with my feet, then increase, till I have to like kick him, which i don't like. Do you think it could be an off day? Its taking a while for my riding teacher to get back a hold of me, so I am on my own here for a while. He is an 8 y.o appy gelding btw. Any suggestions? I know I have posted on here a lot with problems, he is a real sweety on the ground though, and perfect when I just sit on him when he grazes. It doesn't help that I don't have an arena our round pen either oh, and he lunges pretty good except he bucks on the lunge, but otherwise goes around nicely.