I have a 4 yo filly.  She's a granddaughter of Special Effort and Crickets Pie (pie in the sky).  She's so darn watchy and spooky.  I've had her since she was 8 months old but she's just always been that way.  She isn't the first youngster I've had.  I just don't get it???  Her mother goes back to Joannas Prince and Cactus Tino (never heard of them)?  

Just asking but how was she handled by the breeders ? I'm wonderfing since you got her at 8 months. 

Nothing out of the ordinary.  I guess I'm wondering if genetics is coming into play here.  I've hauled her a fair amount to see the sights and rode her outside a ton and she just doesn't change.  Maybe it's her personality,....maybe it's genetics.  

I dont have a ton of experience with them but know quite a few friends with special effort horses and I dont recall any of them being real anxious/watchy...

I try not to be this person but ever considered hearing or eyesight? I think we all forget about this and I have seen a lot of people working through horrendous issues to find out the horse is deaf and/or impaired vision which explains the hell ride to training them.

Crickets Pie has a few PSSM2 suspects so if you end up with other issues, might be something to check in to.

Thank you!  I appreciate you mentioning this