Hey all!

I'm putting time on my 4yr old home grown and man does this girl have a motor on her. I have quite a bit of experience with off the track quarters and I expect this from them, but I wasn't expecting it from a home grown. She is rather reactive as far as if you try to use any leg on her, however she needs to start working on her rib/shoulder control. How can I approach this without her trying to RUSH everything?

Her diet consists of alfalfa pellets & beet pulp, she gets a slow feeder of # 2 hay during the day to keep her busy. 

Supplements are: Med Vet In Sync, Redmonds Stress Relief, Raspberry Tea Leaves, Quiessence (calming), and ForeFront Equine Colostrum. She was on Total Equine grain, but after a small muscle episode this was removed from her diet (hints the In Synce supplement).

Thank you all in advance! 

I just asked with the lightest pressure possible until I got a response, no spurs, used my environment to help them have a reason/understand what I was asking of them, and a lot of praise. Everything we did we did as relaxed as possible and there was a lot of riding down the road and just asking for a step or two of what we were working on then just walking or trotting for awhile before asking again. If I got the response I asked for I didn't ask again. We did heading out and heading home, too. Some consider it boring but I loved it. So much better than riding around in an arena unless the arena had obstacles to play with. 

Can you possibly teach her pressure and movement from the ground first? Such as using a stick and string or using your hands and body, to help not so much desensitize her but to help her understand the pressure is no cause for her to be reactive. This way it is a minimal pressure situation without being on her, and she has less of a reason to be reactive. Pressure and release, and get the thinking side of the brain going. 

My first thought is to really pay attention to how much pressure your horse actually needs. In the round pen, how sensitive is she to your body/ eye position? I have one that is so in tuned to me that just barely changing my eye contact and body position can get reactions. He is the same way in the saddle. He needs very little leg pressure to get something done. I've had to work hard at controling my body position / pressure to keep from overwhelming him.  When I have one like this, I try to give them jobs that have a reason for me to put a leg on one. Working cows, trail riding in a lot of trees. I really love using one to pony other horses. I use my goosey guy to help break colts. Chris cox, Steve Lantvent,  and Buck Branahman all have videos about using a horse to work colts. It has done wonders for my goosey guy because he has a job and there is a reason for me to put a leg on him. It will help them get better broke.

I've used colostrum with success for certain instances, and I love that brand. But I also find it can make many feel overly fresh. And while that's great for some, it's not always what I want. 

Have you considered CBD as needed?

Have you checked for ulcers?  I would do desensitizing after every ride.  It helps take the overly reaction down from the pressure applyed.  C.A. has good exercises on taking the edge off reactive horses.

Have you checked for ulcers?  I would do desensitizing after every ride.  It helps take the overly reaction down from the pressure applyed.  C.A. has good exercises on taking the edge off reactive horses.