Training Ex-racehorse

Question
I'm training my four year old thoroughbred fresh off the track. He's doing perfect with everything except one thing. When I'm hand walking him, he tends to stop and not want to move forward and if I try to ask him to walk on he backs up. He'll stop backing up right away but still won't go forward. I've tried being easy and gentle, petting him to coax him forward. Tried carrying a crop and tapping his hind end as I urge him forward. Tried running him in a tight circle for a few seconds and then walk him forward. Pretty much the only thing that has worked is a bucket of grain and I don't want to play the bribing game with my horse. I don't believe in it. He seems to have a sort of attitude about walking into an arena or roundpen or even just a certain area in an open field. I know I need to build more trust with him, but he minds me so well with everything else. What can I do to keep him moving forward while I'm hand walking him? Tanks!

Answer
First thing is make sure you are not presenting yourself with an erect posture and don't turn towards him with your shoulders squared to him. Don't even turn and look at him. Wait, give slack on lead and maybe take a step forward then back to him touching your back to his shoulder. It can even help to drop your head and expose your neck. Stop coaxing him with grain now since he is getting wise to this. Keep very patient and calm, don't speak unless its in a very soft voice. If body language still doesn't work, get a long buggy whip and hold in left hand while facing the direction you are trying to walk and tap his flank behind your back  with wrist flicking manner so your hiding him seeing you do this. It can take some practice to do all this smoothly while holding lead. You are 100% right about building the trust. When he realizes you guys are going to be paired up for a while, he'll come around.

Let me know if any of this helped....

Christopher Crocker

Crocker Racing Stable inc

Http://crockerracingstable.com