Difficult stallion (long)

[celeste <celestem@badgermining.co.za>]

Ok all you wannabee trainers...here's your chance!

Let me first mention my experience.
I have been riding for 27 yrs, showing, endurance and fun. I consider 
myself a good rider (some people have mentioned the word excellent in there 
description of my riding :-)) I have trained/schooled +-8 horses from 
scratch to an advanced level (perfect transisions {is there such a word in 
a horse owners vocabulary?} lovelly paces and a do anything attitide) three 
of these have been stallion who have been complimented on there manners in 
hand and under saddle in all sorts of situations. I do not beleive in 
beating anything into a horse and will never use force in my training 
methods........now to my problem!

I have recently started riding my ara-app stallion who is five. Firstly he 
stands for saddling and mounting, stops fairly decently for a horse that 
has just been started, when hacking out he will pick up a trot or canter 
without jumping around or bucking and he has not shied as yet :-).......  
.however when I ride inside, in company or near to strange horses (past a 
paddock containing horses while riding out) he does the following: if he 
does not want to go or wants to see what the other horses are doing, or 
wants to get closer to the fence, he goes into reverse mode (and I mean 
REVERSE MODE!) no amount of kicking or (heaven forbid, I tried this once in 
frustration, to my eternal shame) walloping on the butt (it was with my 
riding cap) will get him to move forward...he has even reversed towards my 
dad's horse while out riding! He also will come to a  standstill  and give 
little half rears (nothing teriffying) if he hears the other horses (or any 
horse) making a noise and I won't let him turn etc. to check it out. He is 
otherwise a beautiful ride and I think he will make a super riding horse.
WHAT CAN I DO! these tricks have made me nervious of even the thought of 
going to a ride sometime in the future. What can I try to cure him of these 
habits? will riding hours improve the situation? (I dread meating other 
riders on a narrow track on a ride!) I have never had a horse try these 
tricks before, the occasional buck or shy as a youngster yes, but not this!
Let me just mention that I LOVE riding this horse otherwise!!!!

Celeste (South Africa)
Mawlud (its not me folks!!!)
Shadixx (whats the big deal? I'm just being me!)

Ps. I have approached trainers here (we do not have many specializing in 
problem horses) and they say WALLOP THE @#$#$%##!!!