As the owner/foster-er of quite a few senior horses, I’d also recommend a bute test if you haven’t already done something similar.
I know you said your vet has checked him out and his teeth and saddle fit are good, but putting him on NSAIDS for a few days and monitoring his behavior is a good way to tell if there’s any low-level pain that is contributing to his actions and attitude.
Whether he improves with the meds or stays exactly the same, that’s more helpful information about him for you.
Yeah, Bute is cheap and, given responsibly, most tolerate it well. Overdosing over years leads to problems as with many meds.
On the bit thing, many of these horses are well broke but never really “trained”. Most get very inconsistent riding with no consistent riding/training schedule for long enough to really learn the finer points.
He does not know about the fine points.
Hiw often do you rhandle him and how often do you ride?
He is introverted, but DOES love spending time with me in the pasture and receiving love, like the older horse you mentioned. It’s just when I take him out, he gets recedes into himself like he is scared and looking for an escape. I want to be able to gain his trust outside of the pasture.
I’m not looking for him to be some extroverted lovey horse, I just want him to trust me when we work together.
He physically does not want to be there yes because I annoy him, but mainly because he is worried.
That could be worth a shot, thank you
You need to take him out of the pasture every day, use treats to build confidence, baby steps. Feed him grain outside the pasture, scratch his itchy spots. Little bit at a time. Work up to grooming him. Hand graze him outside the pasture.
He associates the pasture as a safe, comfortable place while being taken out means he has to work and/or asked to do things he may not understand knowing his rider is frustrated. That is what has learned in his life.
Does he have pasture buddies he prefers not to leave?
I take him out about once a week, and ride less because of I ride too much he begins to run from me in the pasture. Riding is the least of my problems and he will do nearly anything for me under saddle.
I worked at a barn for a while and brought him with me so I could work with him nearly every day and get help from a trainer… That was the worst mistake I could of made. It made him completely shut down and get extremely anxious.
Riding more hurt him mentally more than anything, and I honestly don’t need to ride him often. I just need him to be able to engage with me on the ground instead of going mentally anywhere else like he does, and know that he can trust me when I take him out 
You don’t have to ride him when you take him out of the pasture, just feed him treats or grain to start. Make it a nice experience. Put him back as soon as he settles. He can learn its not a crises but it takes time and really, once a week is not going to be enough to reprogram him.
Ah, got it! It may be that you (unfortunately) just have to take more time to try to establish that trust outside of the pasture. Good luck!
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