is my throughbred ready to break

Question
I rescued my horse from Ojai Animal shelter. She was a suevivor of the lockwood valley horses that were left and most has starved to death. She is between 2-3 yrs old.I have been working with her since 1-1-2010. I rerently hired a trainer to break her she has been saddled since March and doing ok.she is not 100% with accepting saddle. Trainer attempted to put one foot into stirrup,stood in it, she was ok. He then stepped off onto his block, let go of her head by accident, she took a step, kicked out and kicked him in head. He is ok, however I sont think she is mentally ready. How do I know if she is just not ready.he said it was his mistake by releasing her head. I am afraid to allow him to continue.

Answer
Hello Pam,

I would only do ground work with her until she is for sure at least 3 years old, especially since she was starved.I do not know what sort of work you have been doing with her. She needs lots of gentle reassuring ground work, and then I think she should be "gentled", not "broken", in the classic way. Sane, sound, safe low key correct lungeing so that she can walk, trot, and canter on a big circle with tack on. I think you should use a Bitless bridle on her.

Once she is strong and supple and quiet on the lunge line....NOT chased around and NOT made tired...then you put someone light on her and then they get off. The next day get on, walk five steps, get off. Gradually increase until the skilled lunge person can walk and trot a person on the horse.

I hope you have long lined your horse first. Do not let her be "cowboyed". I LOVE good weatern riding...I started out that way....but a lot of abusive training has been going on. Good "natural horsemanship" can be good.....but I have seen many horses ruined by incorrect round penning and rough methods. Your horse needs to be treated carefully because of her past.

Read Dr. Temple Grandin's chapter on horses in her book ANIMALS MAKE US HUMAN.
Feel free to write back here or www.MitziSummers.com or Summersdressage@aol.com