7 yr old App never trained

Question
QUESTION: Rick, I am a 40 year old woman with 7 Apps and 2 QH I recently bought a beautiful untrained 7 year old mare. I have gotten her to submit and good with neck flexions she took a while to have her working the round pen. she back but i can not get her to side pass and not sure how fast to push her so i can ride. she halters good and have bitted her and saddled her.but she is still skidish and i dont want to push her but am real anxious on riding??

ANSWER: Good, don't push too much, the old saying take the time it takes and it will take less time.

Slow is better, so do more sessions shorter time, the more you do the same things the better she will get.  Stand on a truck or step and give her treats from up high so gets used to you being higher than her without fear.

Your job with new horses is to remove fear not create it.  Don't get to chasing her in round pen, the pen is for control and to show the horse pressure and release of pressure, not to run and get them tired.

Under my horsemanship page I have a section on sacking out, do lots of that to show her, she can be scared with you but you will hurt her.

Rick

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QUESTION: Rick, thanx for the quick reply. I am going to check out your site. wish If I was any where near you i would love the visit but I live in NC. My App is red dalmation spotted with black and white striped maine and tail. She is an easy keeper and is 96% foundation. I love her very much and am a very patient person. I have never trained a horse that wasnt even halter broke but she is showing real progress. do you have any steps to follow?  like..walk forward, back, lunge , sidepass on halter then bit??  is there one order better than another. Just dont want to jump the gun or a step. oh and i do give her treats from a step and the bords in round pen good to know I was doing a good thing.:)

Answer
No real set steps, let the horse tell you when they are ready, when you are communicating good and you and your horse understand each other you will know it.  There will be little resistance and you can both tell that you are both trying to work it out, learn and grow together.

Your horse will let you know if you are going too fast when he gets confused and resistance or fearful.

Rick