Hey Jem, I'm so happy for you & for Gabriel. I hope you shared lots of celebratory rubs. She has taken a chance on you - be proud! Your obligation now is to study her, learn to read her moods ( mares are more prone to moods than geldings - hormones ) so you can form a meaningful partnership. We can never blame the horse; they simply react to whatever situation presents itself & they never do something for NO REASON. We may not recognise the reason, perhaps something we can't hear or smell but we must trust their superior awareness. You're on a long journey but, believe me, it's REALLY WORTH THE EFFORT. I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on & if you want help in future I will always do my best. Cheers, Jo.

This is wonderful to read. I am new to horses, just 1 1/2 years in with no teachers but them. But now, I have this forum and the Uni. So grateful beyond words. My second mare Artemis is a Percheron/Dutch Warmblood and she was a dressage horse early in her life, lots of abuse along the way and changed hands several times until she and I agreed to have her come here with my other mare Maggie, an older quarter horse I'm told. I rescued her from utter neglect which was my first step into the horsemanship world. They certainly are both very head strong. They don't appreciate that in each other so they are not in the same pasture together at this point. 

But, to stay with this thread, Artemis just yesterday in the pasture, after about 25 minutes of slow, calm attempts and invitations, she let me put her first Dually on her. She's a 16-hand biter and turns on a dime. It was a huge achievement to have her finally let me put it on her. Lots of rubs and "good girl" whispers to her throughout the whole experience. The gesture that finally did it was gently laying the long lead line on her and letting her walk and turn while it was on her. She never walked away from me, but kept turning around so I know she was considering what we were doing. Then licking and chewing with a lowered head and soft eyes, she still reached to bite but not with effort to make contact. So I put the halter to her nose and it went on. Her first 20 minutes with it on was interesting. She shook her head and nibbled at grass and then decided to try and fly away. Thankfully it's the 17' line. I closed the session with walking and standing and a LOT of rubs on the forehead. I will be trying it again today. I don't know how she will feel with it... but the videos for catching in the pasture and the ones of the little girl in Join-Up for youth was very helpful. Artemis hasn't formally "Joined Up" with me in this manner yet. Sometimes she will follow me if I arc with no tack at all. But for a formal join-up session, there is too much mud in the field and round pen for that to be safe. I'm in a unique circumstance here and don't have control to improve the land they are on. Hoping that we can move in the Springtime to a drier more temperate homeplace. I would love any feedback anyone wants to offer this green horsewoman. Thanks. :)    ~ Erika

Welcome Erika to the Uni,so glad to have you with us!! Sounds like you are doing great with your biter.Please be very careful though,as you said she can turn on a dime and you could get hurt badly! You certainly do need a dry place to work first!! Join-up does solve alot of remedial problems with our horses if there are any.Sounds like Artemis has been  abused by humans so much she thinks she has to fight them right off the bat. Once she learns that she may trust you I know you will have a nice horse,I believe join-up will solve that issue for you but, you must learn it well!! Go over and over those uni lessons & over your dvd that comes with your halter which you said you had. This will help ingrain it in your soul so you know just what to do next,as you do not want to much time lapse in between which could make her nervous about you or like you don't know what your doing etc. Does this make sense to you? You are on the right track Erika keep up the good work,you sound like you are being very gentle and kind to her. She needs to know this is a person she can trust. Have fun too. Angie