Horse Question

Question
I am new to owning a horse I have only had her for a few weeks and I was wondering how to gain her trust. Also how to tell when it is ok to breed her, she is only 7 to 10 years old and, I want to breed her so that she will have her foal in the spring or the summer. She just came out of heat a couple of days ago. I was also wondering how to communicate with her so she will get what i am trying to tell her so that she will trust me and listen to me. She likes to crow hop if you want her to go any faster than a trot. I am having her shod in the next few days. My boss has a couple of horses and he says that she is just fine because i was worried about her feet, so the boss came out and trimmed her feet until she gets shod. I was also wondering how do you learn to keep your cool and balance while they are moving faster than a walk? Also how long can i ride her safely while she is pregnant? sorry i have so many questions so if you cant answer them all thanks any way.

Answer
I am not able to provide you with answers regarding breeding, however, there is a category here at AllExperts devoted to breeding that could answer those questions.  I can answer your question regarding bonding.

The key elements here are: Intent and Tuning In

You need to be quiet in your mind and heart to truly listen to a horse.  Spend time watching your horse's behavior and consider mimicking some things such as exchanging breath when you first say hello.  Some of the more obvious things to try include grooming, bathing, hand walking, and grazing.  Be sure to build trust by attempting new challenges and learning together, using soft cues when riding - only apply as much pressure as needed, and always giving or releasing the pressure when your horse gives to it.  Also remember to praise your horse after your rides.  Many horses enjoy when their owners bring special treat recipes to the barn on occasion too!  All of these interactions help to build trust and leadership which is what effectively creates the bond.

I particularly enjoy the techniques of three people:  

Monty Roberts - http://www.montyroberts.com/

Kelly Marks - http://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk/

Franklin Levinson - http://www.wayofthehorse.org/