My very spoiled mare needs a tune up-young and herd bound

Question
I have a mare named Milly. She is very disobedient. She poops on the wind break and then pees on it. She poops and pees right infront of the gate where i enter the paddock. When i'm riding her, she doesn't respond to the reins. She has a bit too. I don't know if it's the right kind though. Shes only 3 though. When we take the other 2 horses out for a ride and leave her in the paddock. She has a hissy fit! She kicks the wind break all peices. She kicks the side of the tack shed, she re arranges the paddock fences. She also poops everywhere and runs around bucking, snorting whinning. Meanwhile shes totally destracted our horses. What do I do?

Answer
Hi Taylor, Milly is young and needs a few things from you. First she needs a good saddle fitter to check her saddle and bit for proper fit. Secondly, she needs a trainer that is willing to reschool her from the ground up into saddle work. She tears up the paddock because she is herd bound. Riding her away and back (trot away, walk back) helps. Also have someone hold her while the other horses leave and put her to work on a lunge line. This will distract her, she will call to them at first, but eventually learn that they will come back. Giving her a job to do while the others ride away helps to keep her attention on training instead of the herd. As far as her urinating and leaving manure everywhere, it is probably a sign of her anxiety. Stress can make a horse poop. Have you ever notices how they will do it upon loading into a trailer or entering the show ring? Stress. Talk to your vet to be sure it is only stress and not a physical problem. What kind of bit are you using? My suggestion, without knowing your riding style...is a simple, well fitted, O or D-ring sweet iron snaffle bit that fits her well.  Have the vet check her teeth to be sure that they do not need to be floated. No bit, no control. Make sure it fits her mouth from side to side and that she is holding it comfortably in her mouth. Be sure that her riders have soft hands and if they do not, they need lessons at the same time as she needs training. I know that you will be able to figure out what this problem is and have a good idea as well. You wrote that you though Milly needed a tune-up and you are surely correct.  Please leave me some feedback, nominations if you wish, and keep me posted. The only way we can tell we are doing a good job as volunteers is by your feedback or reposting us. It is much easier to see results in our classes or at the barn. So let me know how it goes with Milly. Thank you for writing. Regards, Susan