I hired a local western trainer who is very very good with young and 'problem' horses. It was a long road with him working with her and me. I had to check my ego at the gate and change my approach to her. Further digging revealed that she had a very poor start and never learned to trust that person on her back could be trusted. I spent a small fortune (not upset about that at all but I had to cash in some savings and cancel most of my plans). When we were done with the trainer I found a very good and knowledgable dressage trainer who travelled to my place and helped us.
I learned a whole new way to ride and how to find the balance between not avoiding something that was bothering her but not confronting her and picking a fight either. It was hard and some days I was in despair that it would ever work.
Last weekend I took her to our first show ever. The goal was to start to gain experience miles together so that we could further develop. She rocked the whole thing. She was stellar in the warm up ring. She was quite spooky in our first test but got better for the second. The next day she was even better and it was clear that she has learned to trust me. I would never have gotten even into the ring last year with her. Our scores went from 51 -55- 66- 70. our scores on the movements ranged from 2 to 8.
I am so happy with this girl even when some days she drives me nutty. She sweet and imperious, steady and reactive and basically a dramatic spanish mare. Here's a photo taken from the show.
![Image](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18422170_10155360117068593_1715491688546691872_o.jpg?oh=a2b0aa984584284458757c70cb1b5891&oe=59AA868B)