Sudden Behavior Change

Question
I own a 8 yr old Australian Stock Horse Gelding that has suddenly become stubborn. He is fine when walking, but when i ask him to trot, he puts his ears back, and starts walking backwards.He then swishes his tail and flicks his back feet up. Sometimes he does this as well when i try to get him to canter. I can eventually get him to trot/canter if I kick him harder and use the crop. He has only been like this the last few weeks and he has always been more then willing in the past. There have been no changes in his tack so I'm pretty sure he is not in any discomfort. I have tryed to encourage him to trot without conflect by setting him up infront of a jump and asking him for trot. This has proved more successful as he loves to jump. Any advise about this sudden change would be helpful. Thanks.  

Answer
Elizabeth,

You may be "pretty sure he's in no discomfort" but his actions indicate otherwise.  Horses just don't start doing something without reason, especially one that likes to please. I would guess his saddle is too small for him.  You've been riding him with tack that fitted him when he was still young and growing. He's outgrown his saddle.  Probably muscled up and changed shape several times over the years and while he was still immature the saddle you were using fit. It doesn't now.  Have you noticed any dry areas under the pad when you take the saddle off, especially in the withers area?  Those dry spots are caused by pressure that makes so much heat build up the sweat dries.  Ridden long enough those areas would swell, get white hairs, etc.  Take your saddle and put a thin, white cloth under it next to the horse.  Then put the pad and saddle on top of it.  Ride him for about a half hour, enough to sweat under the saddle, then take it off and look at the cloth.  Look for an even mark where the saddle sat.  Dark areas, dry areas, areas cleaner than the rest, all show where the tree doesn't fit any more.  Or the tree may haveroken or become twisted with use.  You are riding in an English-style saddle so you may just need to have the stuffing re-done.  If it's an older saddle that may be your problem too, the stuffing is compressed, it may have broken down, or just need to be reduced to accomodate his shape.  IF the saddle cannot be adjusted to fit him you'll have to get another saddle.  Do that, don't torture the horse by trying to make a saddle that doesn't fit work.  I've had people ask me if putting a heavier pad under a saddle that is already too narrow will help.  Yeah, like putting heavier socks on and wearing shoes that were too small to begin with!  If you don't know how to check for saddle fit then take him somewhere or get someone who can check for saddle fit to help you properly fit a saddle.  I think you'll find that his behavior will stop once you get a saddle that fits him.  

If you have any more questions feel free to ask.  I'll help all I can.  

Lyn