aboused horse

Question
hi i am 22 and i got a 2 1/2 year old black and white paint at a horse sell she had very mean owners and she is scared out of her mind i got her because i felt that she needed a better home she will not lead she plants her feet stiffens her neck and  she will not eat out of my hand and she runs from me when i walk up to her and when i get on her she plants her feet in the ground and will not move no matter what. i baby her as much a i can to get her to like me. what to do?

Answer
Hi Heather, I am glad to hear that this horse has a better home now.  You did not go into your horse experience, so I am not sure how much detail I need to go into.  First for your safety, if the horse is so scared that it will not eat out of your hand and runs from you, please don't ride her.  Not yet.  Things only get worse when you are on a horse's back.  When you mount a horse, you give up almost all control you had on the ground and give more advantage to a scared horse.  A horse is a reaction looking for a place to happen.  They spook, it is how they stay alive.  When in doubt, run, don't think, just react and run.  That is the way they are born and they are very good at it.  You really need to develop a relationship with this horse before you ride her.  You may get away with it for a while, but you will not have a good foundation and you will always be a one wreck away from getting hurt.

You can fix this easy and this can be a great horse.  I can say this, without ever meeting this horse, because I know horses.  This horse is still young and you have a lot of time, so don't rush it and you will have a better horse later.  An old horse saying "If you take the time it takes, it takes less time".   

If this horse was abused, it does not know a good human.  It thinks that all humans are mean, abusive, will hurt her, and does not know how to react to them.  

I don't know how long you have had her, but take it slow and just spend time with her for a few days or a week.  Go see her, bring her grain, carrots or hay, and  just let her know that you don't want anything from her.  Let her relax and not fear you.  She will come around fast.  Horses are very forgiving, but you have to go slow.  

She does not lead well from fear, she might have been hit, yanked, dragged, or beat for leading too close, moving too fast, or getting too close, all would confuse her.  If you take some time she will follow you without a lead rope.  I lead all my horses without halters and most will lead with a hay string around their neck.  This is because I never pull them, yank them or chase them.  You have to make the horse want to be next to you, if she feels safe, she will want to be next to you.  If this horse ties well, tie her up and walk away.  Come back every 5 mins and just pet her slow and soft and then walk away.  The more you do this more you will let her know that when you approach her, you will not hurt her and you will pet her lightly.  After she calms down you can bring her a small carrot.  Pet her and walk away.  She will soon start looking for you and want you to return.  If you do this 15 times in an hour, you will be able to untie her, and walk away and she will follow you.  Don't pull her or make her follow you, just pet her and slowly walk away to the end of the lead rope and hold out a piece of carrot.  She will come.  A horse is a reflection of it's handler.  

It is never the horses fault.  It is always ours.  Horses react to what we do.  The calmer you are, the calmer the horse will be.  If you pull a horse the horse will pull.  A horse will always run if it can.  It will always try and retreat when threatened.  If she is planting her feet, don't pull.  You will lose, she is stronger than you, and by pulling you teach her she is stronger than you (not good and you don't want her to know this).  A better way to calmly deal with a horse that will not walk is for you to walk to her butt.  She will spin to keep her butt away from you.  Horses can't see behind them well so they will always try and face the one that scares them or threatens them.  By walking to her butt, you make her move her feet to face you, not with muscle, but with your brain.  You out think her and remain calm and smiling.  In the horse world, the one who moves their feet first loses.  After moving to her butt a few times, she will move her feet you will be winning in the horse world. If you are going to save this horse, you have to think like a horse.  

Now, once you make some progress where you can lead her, she trust you, she does not run from you, then you can start to think about riding her.  I have a 3 yr old that I did not start riding until about six months ago.  And he had a very good foundation and is not scared of me or any person.  Starting to ride her is another question.  You also said you baby her?????  Horses are herd animals and have a very strict pecking order in the herd.  If all you do is baby her, she will eventually stop being scared of you and will try and dominate you and push you around.  That is easier to fix than a horse that has been abused and is scared of you.  By moving her butt and getting her to trust you, you will gain her respect and everything will get easier.

Try some of these and let me know how it works out.  I am near Sacramento, CA if you were close I would be happy to meet your horse and evaluate her for you.  Good luck,

Rick