I’ve had this horse for about 10 years and he’s always been this way. I’ve explored so many medical routes, including regular soundness exams, checking for kissing spine, scoping for ulcers, he gets his teeth checked every 6 months, he’s been barefoot, shod, he’s had multiple years off, he gets his hocks and stifles injected annually, just had another saddle custom fitted to him as his body has changed a bit over the years, and I currently ride him in a bitless side pull. I just want to know if there’s something bigger picture that I’m missing.
Currently, he gets turned out 24 hours a day and it’s been about 6 months since I’ve ridden him consistently. I just began riding him again at the walk for the past two weeks and the reluctance to go forward is still there, especially to the right. He will go forward if I apply pressure, but I have to use all my leg strength to keep him moving. He will, however, happily move forward when free lunging with very little pressure. If I have him on a lunge line he is much more reluctant to go forward. It almost seems as if it’s the pressure on his head from the bridle or halter. I’m not opposed retiring him from ridden work if it continues, but as he ages I find that keeping him in consistent work helps him to maintain his body condition. Does anyone have any ideas?