horse breaking

Question
I have a 1 1/2 year old thoroughbred philly, and Im tryin to halter break her.She is very ill tempered and doesnt like people at all.I have gotten her in a round pen and sat with her so she can get used to me.I sat down on the ground with a bucket of oats,gradually she moved to the bucket and ate out of my hand.But she pawed at me and tried to bite so I took a step back.She has kicked before and rares up alot and I dont really know of anything else to do with her but just sit in the pen with her and earn her trust.If you have any suggestions of what I should do please let me know.Thank you.

Answer
Cecily,

This is one that the passive, friendly approach won't work on.  She's a dominant mare, even at this early age, and so far has managed to intimidate you very well.  

Put her to work in the pen.  Don't just sit there.  If you don't know anything about working a horse in the round pen maybe you know someone who does.  If not, get a copy of one of the books by one of the people who know horse psychology really well.  Basically, you have to establish that she has to respect you.  Right now she doesn't.  You work the horse at freedom in the pen until they decide it's easier to do what you want than to resist it.  There are some well-proven techniques to doing it that I cannot even begin to get into here.  Pat Parelli, John Lyons, Richard Shrake are a few who come to mind right away, there are a number of them.  If you want to look on-line try Amazon.com.  

Once you establish that you run the show things will go a lot easier.  Mares, I love 'em, but things like this are one of the reasons a lot of people don't like mares.  You can't bully them into doing anything.  You have to ask not order.  But once you have their loyalty they'll do anything for you.  

Good luck.  Keep me posted on how it's going.

Lyn