Hi Lani, you can post as many questions as you like, this is an open site but I have to ask, are you listening to any of the answers and information you are being given?! Ok, I sound rude, but I hope you know me well enough to know by now that I have yours and your horses best interests at heart (as do others on here) but you are full of contradictions! You said about this horse "...this is a absolute lovely mare with hardly any problems, shes fine with the farrier and picking up her hooves and stuff, shes a real sweetheart :)" Now, a few days later, you say she is a "stressing mare...not good in the float...can't be used at shows...(what's a pc mount? - sorry I don't know what this is)...is dangerous in these situations...". You want to take her to clinics but you don't know what she is like - the previous owner has told you what she is like, she is a problem. Why did you buy this mare? What attracted you to this horse that is clearly not "a sweetheart" but a bag of nerves and is a PROJECT horse! Of course this horse can be 'fixed' but are you prepared for the road ahead? Ok, enough of my questioning - some practical advice as requested. Can I also ask how old she is and what she was used for before and why the owner is selling her. (1) Let her settle in for at least 6 weeks so that you get to know each other very well. (2) Go very slowly and start exposing her to lots of different things and see what exactly does stress her out (3) Start with trailer loading training first, I strongly recommend you do NOT take her anywhere until you can handle her, you know her well, and you can load and travel her (without going anywhere - just go for a drive). If she stresses at shows she anticipates the trailer as going to a show - the car stopping means "I've arrived at the show and now I'm going to get really upset" so just travelling her will help to disconnect her from that association. Did you want a project horse? If you want my honest opinion based on what you WANT (go to agility clinics, travel, in hand clinics) and what you have GOT (doesn't like shows, doesn't travel) I would send her back and look for something that fits the purpose of what you want a horse for. If you wanted a project - you've got one! Good luck, enjoy, and you will always get support here. I make no apologies for my bluntness Lani, please do not be offended, this is about the welfare and safety of the you and your horse - it is not personal.

Ditto to everything Vicci had to say. I also wish to echo her sentiments. Don't take this personal. Your horse comes first. I am indefinite agreement that you have a PROJECT horse on your hands. This is very typical of show horses, competition horses and racing horses. They have only learned one thing their entire life. Now they have to relearn everything all over again. I would not even bother with a trainer or horse clinician. It will cost you a bunch of money and you still have to deal with the horse yourself. Why? Because its not their horse, exposed to their environment. That is also why trainers and horse clinicians work great for show/competition/racing horses. For the horse the environment is the same, just a different rider. Since this horse is for trail only (as I read). Then all training must be for the trails, you and the horse experience together. For desensitization a horse clinician may work well. But that's something you would have to work out with him or her. That is also the first place I would start. For me, I did it with both my horses, Ferrari (barrel racer) and Alex (OTTB). Alex would have been consider dangerous. He was just as bad as FERGUS (see MONTY'S TOUR DEMONSTRATIONS: 4-8 on the Uni). But I am either completely stupid or very lucky. I like everyone else, are here to help you in anyway we can. If you were close to Los Angeles, I would come over and desensitize the horse for you. But even with that if you can't put in the time, than sell your Molly. Its for her benefit.

shes not really a project horse in the case of riding, shes 9 years old and has done extensive dressage and jump training, jumping 90cm+ and has lovely dressage skills. under saddle at home and on trail rides she is lovely, i rode her a few times before deciding to buy her and she was lovely. she has a sound and pretty good education. she also used to be used as a polo and polocrosse umpire. I do listen to the answers and i do try them :) im just looking for more opinions on how to deal with it :) she doesnt have any problems at home and trail riding. pc means pony club :) I am not planning to take her to shows and pc, i dont intend to, i didnt buy her for that, i bought her for a pleasure mount and a trusting partner, she is also very nice on the ground to work with. shes only a project horse in these situations i have pointed out, the old owner did say shes taken her out to cross country days and out to show jumping days and she wasnt a problem, as i said it may have been the riders/handlers nerves that she caught onto. she is a tb but never even raced, trialled twice and came dead last in both, here in aus tb's and standardbreds are basically all there are, they are a bit over bred for racing :/ I have handled and trained these horses before with these situations, as i said just looking for tips or opinions, i trained a 5 year old mare who was rescued along with 3 others who were starved and left out in the paddock with hardly any handling. within 3 weeks she was doing liberty and broken in to ride :) I have time for her as i see her everyday to feed her and stuff, i am still aclimatising her to her surroundings so i will wait a bit longer and then whip out the plastic bags on a stick and the tarp ;)

Help ..... Just read through your comments here and on your other thread and think about how they read to us. Do you find any inconsistencies in what you are saying? If so then try to avoid them in future so that we can gain a better understanding of what you are trying to say and hence be in a better position to help you and your mare out.

I'm with you on this one too Vicci, Greg and Maggie. little bit confused over the different descriptions of Molly.

yes as i said im very sorry i really dont realise until ive actually posted it how muddled up it is! haha :) the only problems she has are the anxiousness in the float, the apparent inability to cope with stress pointed out by one of the old owners, but previous owner said she was fine when she took her out to cross country days and jump days and the distractions, shes slowly getting over the distractions as she is zoning on me more and more, im slowly noticing differences everyday i work with her :) she had her feet done yesterday and was an absolute gem! perfect for the farrier, i am actually very pleased with what i bought :) you can never find the perfect horse, just because she isnt absolute perfect for the float and in stressful situations, doesnt mean shes a project horse and needs lots of work. she is a great horse :) she handled the move pretty well :)