very spirited Shetland Pony

Question
We just recently purchased a Shetland Pony. She was kept with a Donkey for quite some time before we got her. She is scared of everything. The man we got her from said she was broke to ride. I tried to put a blanket on her tonight and I couldn't even get close enough to her without her kicking and trying to run away. She is also very leary about anyone touching her head. She will do anything to get away from you trying to pet her. We bought her for the kids in our family to ride, and we're having a hard time getting her to calm down. I don't know a whole lot about ponies, but we do own several other horses. Is there anything that you would suggest trying to get her kid friendly? Or even adult friendly, to begin with? We are willing to spend a lot of time and love on this little girl, we just need to know the right way of dealing with her.

Answer
Hi Ashli-
I don't know a whole lot about ponies but I do know they can have a mind of their own and can be a little tougher to deal with. You didn't say how long you have had her but I would assume, not very long. I also think you have partially answered your own question. Here's the deal- she came from a completely different environment which (based on the seller's claims) she has at best been neglected or not handled much lately or at worst abused (the head-shyness makes me wonder). She is going through a lot right now- taken from her only companion, new environment, new people, etc. A lot of it is time and gentle handling however I think you may need help in the form of training such as Parelli, etc. I was skeptical of it until I saw it effectively used to help owners and horses overcome quite a few problems such as you describe. I had a quarter horse I bought that would go over backwards when you tried to ride her and kicked when she felt threatened (who knows what she had been through before I got her but she was also "broke to ride"). I traded her to some very nice people (with full disclosure) for a mini and they used Parelli training methods, time and loving patience and she can now be ridden by anyone and is even doing pole bending! You can either do it yourselves or send her out to be worked with. Hope this helps, Toni

P.S. I would not put her out with other horses in the meantime if you can help it as she will form another attachment and be less amenable to your working with her. Being near them is enough.