6 YEAR OLD APP MARE

Question
I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD APP MARE THAT I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH ON MANNERS.  I GOT HER FROM A COUPLE THAT STARTED OUT RIDING HER A GOOD BIT TO NOT RIDING AT ALL OR THEY WOULD PUT THERE GRANDSON ON BARE BACK AND LEAD HER AROUND THE PASTURE.  WHEN I FIRST GOT HER SHE WOULD RIDE BUT WAS A LITTLE PASTURE SOUR.  NOW WHEN SHE GOES OUTSIDE THE GATE SHE WILL NOT LEAVE THE FENCE LINE.  SHE WILL CROW HOP AND TURN SHARP TO GO BACK TO THE GATE.  ANYWAY I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HER ON MANNERS AND SHE HAS SHOWN GREAT IMPROVEMENTS.  SHE WOULD ABOUT KNOCK YOU DOWN AT FEEDING TIME NOW SHE WALKS AHEAD AND STANDS AT HER FEED BOWL AND WAIT FOR YOU TO POUR IT IN AND THEN START EATING AND SHE GETS LOTS OF PRAISE FOR THIS.  SHE NO LONGER RUBS AND NUDGES ON ME.  I HAVE STARTED TO TAKE HER OUT OF THE PASTURE NOT RIDING JUST LEADING HER AND SHE WILL DO FINE ON THE WAY OUT SHE IS ALERT AND WHEN I FEEL HER GETTING JITTERY I WILL STOP AND LET HER EAT GRASS OR I WILL WALK HER IN A BIG CIRCLE OR MAKE HER BACK UP SO SHE GETS HER MIND OFF WHAT IS MAKING HER NERVOUS.  ON THE WAY BACK TO THE PASTURE HOWEVER SHE WILL SPOOK AND JUMP AT EVERY LITTLE THING.  WHEN SHE DOES THIS I WILL STOP AND LET HER WORK THROUGH IT.  AND I WILL LET HER EAT SOME GRASS WHEN SHE CALMS DOWN.  THEN WE WILL WALK AND SHE WILL DO IT AGAIN.  SAME THING.  THEN SHE TRIES TO WALK TO FAST AND DRAGS ME ALONG.  WHEN SHE DOES THIS I WILL MAKE HER STOP, BACK HER UP AND DO A FEW TURN AROUNDS AND SHE WILL QUIT DRAGGING ME ALONG THEN BUT SHE SPOOKS AND SAME THING.  MY QUESTION IS, WELL I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING BY TAKING HER FROM THE PASTURE AND WALKING HER?  SHOULD WE STAY WITHIN EYE SIGHT OF THE PASTURE AND GRADUALLY WORK FURTHER AWAY FROM IT?  AND ALSO I HAVE A SMALL PASTURE AND NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR A ROUND PEN SO WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST I DO TO WORK WITH HER ON HER RIDING SKILLS? I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO MAKE HER DO SOME KIND OF WORK LIKE WALK AROUND BARRELS OR LOPE IN A CIRCLE BUT I CANT GET HER MIND OFF THE GATE LONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?  ANY ADVICE WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. THANKS.

Answer
Hello,
I would start with working her in your corral. Use a natural rope halter and lead, the halter gives better pressure and the lead is usually longer-about 12 feet. Tie a plastic bag to the end of a stick and start by walking in circles and slowly moving the plastic bag side to side in front of you with her walking all the way (12 feet) behind you. If she gets worried move the bag more slowly and keep turning so she is always behind you. This is to make her feel comfortable with the bag. Next you need to teach her to send out in a circle like you are lounging, to stop her lean and look at her hind end and start shaking your bag in that direction. As soon as she even starts to look at you and move her hind away stop and stand up straight. If she starts running off again lean over and repeat, stand still whenever she even tries to look at you until she faces you and stops on her own. Once you have this working for you take her for a walk away from the corral. Keep her walking behind you but keep all your attention on what she is doing. If she starts to dance and prance send her in a circle, then lean and make her face you- Pause- then send her off the other direction. Do this until she really Pauses while she is looking at you. Then walk on, repeating the exercise anytime you need to on the way back. She is getting worried because she is alone without her herd. Your job is to show her that you can be the lead in your herd of two, the only way you can do this is by making her have to work when she is worried and getting quiet when she gets quiet. I would leave out any grass eating. The release she gets is that she is done with work and the plastic bag is quiet. You are making it her choice, be very patient and take all the time it takes to get this going for you. Go out and work on it when you have nothing else to do for several hours so your not tempted to rush, if your not rushing this shouldn't take that long at all.
Once this is going well for you let me know and I will address your riding.
Best Wishes
Caitlin Day Huntress