Morgan being outright Viscious

Question
I've been working with horses for a very long time. I've handled many abuse cases but never one like this. At first we thought it was the foal for she came tome with a foal at her side. when you fed her she would try to pin you in the corner and kick you. or she would try and bite after her food was already given. I've tired round penning but I could never make her move out for she wouldn't listen to a rope and if you so much as showed her a crop or whip she would trample you or try to buck you off if you are riding. when riding her she never goes faster than a walk. she is outright dangerous at times. I was able to control her to a degree but only by being forceful and I prefer natural horsemanship but NONE of it seems to work for her. I've run out of options and I cant seem to figure her out. her story is, she came form a horse trader she never had any big problems with her but she was still very mean. she was told that she had been a 4h pony for the lady's kids but I don't see how with the temperament she has. I would love to help this mare if I knew how. She frequently pins her ears but half the time she's bluffing and will just bare her teeth and I have to hide a crop (to defend my self) incase she does get brave and try to attack. she still does this after the baby is weaned. I've just run out of answers and I'm now looking for new ones for she just has me stumped.

thanks

Answer
Hello Nikki,
Whenever you come to a difficult horse come back to basics first. She may have had some bad experiences with people, but in truth she is just acting like a horse- think more like a mustang. Horses are into pressure animals, and that pressure may be you just holding a stick, she will push into you and perhaps she will get a head start in her get away! If you haven't much experience with tricky horses I would seek out someone who has, if you were in Oregon I would help you myself! Now, if you are comfortable, with a natural rope halter and at least a twelve foot soft rope line the first goal will be to teach to give to pressure. If she has charged you I would suggest using a stick or long crop with a plastic bag at the end. First you will, as if you were lounging or in the round pen, lead the rope in the direction you wish her to go-then lift your other arm which has the stick and bag-if she is still holding still start to shake the bag towards her shoulder/neck area until she takes even the smallest step away from you with her two front legs. That is, her front moves without the hind end in the direction you are pointing. Then stop everything and wait. If she rushes you use the rope you are holding and your stick and bag to get HUGE with your energy and stop as soon as she stops coming towards you. You can also shake your rope and stick/bag to get her to take one step back, or if she even thinks of taking one step back STOP. That's it. Practice this until it feels like she is bored with you, the stick, everything. Do not ride her. Fix this first and you will be amazed how lovely she will become. Remember that horses learn from you making a request, applying pressure, and taking off that pressure when they even remotely try to do what you are asking of them. If a horse rushes someone and they back up or stop asking for what they were asking for the horse learns they get a release if they rush people! Nasty habit, but somehow she learned it and now you have the opportunity to show her life can be much better than that. Let me know how it goes, and when you have this down I'll give you a few other things to work on.
Best Wishes