R-e-s-p-e-c-t!

[Danae]

Okay I'm having some problems with Hopi..it's been a week since I got her so I assumed it was time to do some round pen work. Was this a bad choice? Should I wait for her to get more acustom to me?
What I really wanted to know was, is my problem a problem of lack of respect for me from her (did that make sense?!)

I tried working her today for the first time in the round pen, just to run off some energy...BOY did she have some to run off.
A factor I considered - It's alot softer of ground than she's use to, so I'm wondering if this is freaking her out.
When she would get to the softer part of the round pen, she would go just WIDE OPEN and take off and cow kick. She'd go around at this pace about once or twice, then come back down at a trot. Proceeding her little high of energy, she'd stop at the gate and then just stare at me. She trys to jump the gate or figure out how to get away. Although she doesn't suceed. Anyways, she won't budge after that. I try to get her to go the other direction and she won't she just stands there and stares at me or trys to eat the few pieces of grass that have grown up (okay I haven't done this round pen work with Gator in awhile..)

So is my problem lack of respect? Or am I rushing her? Thank you so much and if you have ANY suggestions on how I can fix this I'd really appreciate it.

[Julew]

I haven't done lots of round pen work but the stuff I have used/done and seen suggests you need to keep her moving so you decide when she can stop etc. How is the other ground work going as far as respect goes?
Whan I first tried round pen work with my boy he was so full of himself and bossy tried to be intimidating etc would only go one way and if I tried to turn him around he would just walk towards me so I couldn't. I just kept at it working on voice control etc until he settled down and would follow me like a puppy. Takes time though for all these things. Is there any rush? or can you afford to do some othr getting to know you stuff for a while. I'm sure some horses, just like people take more time to settle in a new place. We humans do tend to be really impatient don't we?
:)

[Danae]

Okay maybe I should explain a little better :)

There's not a rush, I'm just wondering if I was rushing her too much..I haven't done this training stuff in several years :rolleyes:
She is a little bossy when I'm leading her (always trying to reach down and grab that long piece of grass the mower missed). So how can I "fix" this? I correct her by saying "NO" firmly and low and then pull her head up (I don't jerk or do it choppy where I sling it up, I'm somewhat gentle about it). Am I babying her a little? I have never had a horse that was so headshy or nervous as she is. I think this goes back to being in a new evironment and around new people. Should I just spend more time with her? Or do different exercises? Or just take my time in the round? I am not in any hurry to do anything with her (the clinic I'd like to attend with her is here every month of the year) so I have as long as I need to work with her. I hope what I said made any sense lol. Thanks so much.

[Julew]

Have you thought about taking her on some nice quiet, led walks? around her new environment where you can be firm and fair eg let her stop to graze but only where you want to.
even maybe where you do the round pen stuff. Perhaps you can also let her do a bit of free running in the pen if it is safe with you as an observer only?
My boy was really headshy when I got him. Result of a teenage owner who had lost interest and become too happy to smack, seemingly with a brush mostly. It took me a while but we have gone from not being able to touch him around the face to now being able to do anything. This sounds awful, but it isn't, I can put my fingers in his nostrils if I wish or cover his eyes with both hands and he will just stand and let me do it. I think Parelli talks about polite persistence or something. Using only the amount of pressure you ned to get a response. We have to keep it slow and kind though, quick movements still make him pull away
(that's horses) but the trust is fantastic. You will get there in this way.