cranky filly

Question
I just bought my first horse. An overo filly. She's not 2 yet and when we were looking at her at the place she lived at she was a very sweet and willing filly. acted nothing like a yearling. nobody had ever done anything with her. she did lead and back, but thats all. so we brought her home and she still is sweet, but i don't trust her. shes VERY nippy. when ever i try new stuff with her she trys to bite me. when i tried to teach her to lunge she charged me. that's happend twice so far. she hates me trying to push her at her shoulder and make her move. She bites and if that doesn't work then she'll either turn her butt to me and ry to kick me (thats happend and she almost got me) or she'll charge at me with her ears flat back and teeth bared. and i think it's a dominance thing. and i love her. but i will admit she scares me at times. Please help me and tell me what i can do to trust her and make a GREAT little filly out of her!

Answer
Hi Mandy!

Clearly your filly does not respect you as her Boss Mare and while you may "love" her, she is treating you like the dirt beneath her hooves.  Why?  Because you are allowing it.  I may be 5 states away and I just know you are doing just about everything wrong...because from what you said, your filly is telling you too.  The only one in your herd of 2 who MUST change is you.  Then, your filly will naturally bend to herd dynamics and you won't have to make her do anything, she will want too obey you.  That's just how they think.

So, what to do?  You need help and right now before she gets any bigger or stronger.  Speak to your vet, farrier or tack shop and ask them to recommend a local trainer who can show you how to correctly handle your little girl.  Have the trainer out and allow them to evaluate your situation and discuss your goals with them.

Watch how the trainer deals with your filly and how quickly she submits to their handling.  Watch and learn.  Mimic what you see the trainer doing that brings the results you want from your baby.

It is your responsibility to correctly train this filly to give her the very best chance to grow up to be a solid and trustworthy riding partner.  The slaughterhouses are full of ill-trained horses, either through abuse or ignorance it doesn't matter.

Ask for help and spend the time and money now to do this the right way and be rewarded with 20 more years of a wonderful riding partnership  :-)

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange