overly dramatic 2 year old

Question
I have a 2 year old mare that i just bought a month ago and she has been getting worse in her training I have just been trying to do basic things with her not pushing her too far until she masters those and then we will move on well shes not progressing she wont lope in a round pen, she wont let me pick up her feet, she wont stand tied at the hitching rail, the sight of a saddle scares her half to death and she becomes uncontrollable she has already broken 2 of my halters from pulling back and recently she wont let me catch her in her stall she starts to run away.  Shes scared of EVERYTHING! I am good with horses and have been working with them for almost 9 years and I've had spooked horses before but shes so overly dramatic that idk how to handle it very well. HELP ME!

Answer
Hi Heather!

You did not say her breed or what training she had prior to you buying her.  From what you did tell me, I would guess she had NONE and you assumed she DID!  So, you take her home, treat her like a horse that knows what she "should" be doing.  But, she knows nothing and acts out and is frightened half to death because she never knows what crazy (crazy in her mind) thing you are going to ask her to do next.

Start at the beginning as if she is a weanling.  Stop tying her to anything as she will break her neck and forget that saddle!  Make sure she is in a good quality leather halter or a nylon halter with a break-away crown or side-piece.  Leave it on her 24/7 and begin to S-L-O-W-L-Y train her to the big world.  Just like she was a real baby and actually she is...inside.  Stop treating her like an experienced horse because she has proven over and over again, she is not.

Ask your vet, farrier or tack shop to recommend a local trainer who has experience in babies to come out and evaluate your situation. Get some solid exercises to use on her and start the training process all over again.

It may be slow going in the beginning but, she'll pick up and once you see the wonderful results you (and her!) will be much happier!

Good luck and remember to always wear an ATM/SERI approved helmemt!

Solange