did I do right? (long post sorry)

I have had my new horse a week now and we are still getting to know each other. Each day brings something new and not always nice. A couple days ago he was almost impossible to mount, I took everyones advice on this forum and now he stands perfectly still. Today a new issue popped up. I saddled him and we started down the driveway toward the trail. He moved freely, I had forgotten something and came back up the driveway and got it and then we tried again this time he refused to move down the driveway, I nudged him with my heels and he pinned his ears, he refused to move I smacked him with the reins and he kicked. I was afraid he would buck me off so I got off and tried to lead him he would go any direction but down the drive. I spun him in circles and backed him for several minutes and still he refused to move forward. I just stood there for about 5 minutes and eventually he relaxed, licked his lips and started forward willingly. I got back on and we went down the trail. Several points during the ride the trail doubled back on itself, every time I turned his head back the way we came he refused to move, kicking him with my heels or smacking the reins on his rump caused him to kick. I would have to get off and spin him and back him several times. To get him to back or spin I would have to slap the saddle or his rump with the reins. A few times of that and I would mount again and he would go where I asked. Why would he refuse to gp back the way he came? Did I do right by treating him this way?? What should I have done??

That part where he was standing quietly licking his lips was when he was fully paying attention to you. Since circling did the trick, stick with it but from the saddle. It's much safer than getting off. Whenever he gets sticky feet, circle until you have his attention and then move forward. The trick is do it 100% of the time. If you let him get his way even once, the problem will persist. He will soon learn that every time he decides to do things his own way, he'll find himself chasing his tail. He'll choose the easier option of just walking on. Remember to reward him when he does the right thing.

I have to admit I am a little afriad he will buck me off if I stay on him, He will spin a couple of times if I am on him and then stop and will kick if I smack him with the reins, if I am off him and make him spin around me even if I get after him with the reins he doesn't kick just moves really quickly around me. But I will try staying on him next time until I can get him to go forward.

By all means, do what keeps you safe. Eventually doing it from the ground will translate into more respect from the saddle. You did fine, so just be consistent and stick to what works.

Thanks I was just worried that I should have handled it somehow differently and I was afraid that maybe I was causing more problems or something. I don't want to ruin him

The only way you can ruin him is to let him get away with it!

AMEN! That is often the answer to most if not all horse problems!

Ah, this sounds like my gelding. Main thing is (i know easier said then done) don't get off him. More you get off the more he thinks he can do it. Even though your discplining him on the ground, he's still getting away with it on top. Circle him while on him or move his hip around,pull him around, etc. If he does start to buck, sit back and deep and push him through it. He'll learn not to do it! :)

If you spin him on a very tight circle then he will find it next to impossible to buck.

Well I wanted to post an update. I don't think I am not going to keep my horse. After the post I made about him refusing to move he behaved well and then a few weeks ago he started bucking when I asked him to move. People on the forum was sure something was hurting him so I had a vet, a farrier, an equine chriopractor (who was not local but was visiting the area and agreed to check him out) come to see him. No one found any issues so I hired a saddle fitter to come and check the saddle fit (the saddle fitter lived about 10 hours way so you can imagine how expensive it was to get him to come) and everything checked out no pain no saddle problems. (he wears a hackamore so it was not a problem with his teeth) He behaved perfectly for a while and then he threw a temper tantrum bucking when I asked him to lope. I thought he was just feeling good and pulled him up and circled him while still on him. Then we stopped and stood still a miinute and I calmly asked him to walk forward. He reared straight up and flipped over on me. I was air lifted to the nearest hospital with severe internal bruising, 8 broken ribs, internal bleeding and badly damaged lungs. I am recovering and am finally able to breathe on my own but I am still in a lot of pain. I don't know what Rogues problem is but I do know I am not experienced enough to deal with it. When I heal enough to go home from the hospital I am going to try and sell him but I am not even sure I can find a buyer after I explain the problem. I love horses so much it breaks my heart to even think of selling him but it is not worth my life and I may not be so lucky next time. I don't think I will be healed enough to ride again this summer but I am not giving up, somewhere out there there has to be a nice little horse that will walk trot and lope quietly, I am not asking for a lot just easy slow trail riding a few times a week.