I have a problem with a two year old filly. I can do anything with her from picking up her feet to rubbing her all over. She does not spook when she is with me even if a plastic bag goes near her. In other words she trusts me and I trust her. The problem is she does not trust other people. I am the only one that she will let near her. All I have really done with her is grooming and spending time with her. I have trained other horses before, but Mizzy has a totally different mentality and I want to train her properly. The other horses would just do as they were told, but Mizzy seems to be more of a friend and partner than a horse. Any help would be great thanks.

It sounds as if you have a great rapport with your filly. This is excellent for a young horse who has had very little education. You must remember horses are wild animals who depend on flight from the unknown as a defense. Your filly is just being a horse! Because she trusts you she will also eventually trust other people, if you introduce them on a regular basis. Horses also do not like change which is another instinct for survival.

To solve your problem have a friend duplicate the same procedure you used to gain your fillies trust. Do not expect your friend to enter at your present level. You will find that your filly will respond quicker to her than you, because you have already paved the path or set the cues in place. Then find another friend to do the same, soon your filly will be a social butterfly.

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Gordon Adair is a professional horse trainer and riding instructor with over twenty-three years of experience. Gordonıs specialty is instructing owners with their horses, the philisophy of teaching and communicating. The ability to teach and communicate can then be used with the ownerıs own discipline and personality. Visit Gordonıs web site on the Internet at www.adairmag.com/gordonadair for more informtion.

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