Ya-hooooo!  Sounds like she is finally figuring out that she's in a good place, that she doesn't need to be so 'on her guard' and fret over everything all the time, that it really is OK.  Way to go - that's a huge accomplishment!

Sounds like you're doing a great job with her!  Bless you for taking her; I'm certain she will be a blessing for you too!  One thing that will help her trust you and any other handlers working with her is by handling her face A LOT with gentle scratches and rubs.  I'm curious to see if you have worked more with her under saddle since Jan.

If you haven't watched any footage from the Road to the Horse, available at Clinton Anderson and I think Chris Cox (both champions of this competition) I highly recommend them.  Obviously you have more time than what they had, so just break the different exercises down to baby steps, and do them more repeatedly.  I also recommend the Riding with Confidence series and Gaining Respect & Control on the Ground by Clinton Anderson.  These and bunches more can be rented at www.yourhorsematters.com for a very reasonable fee. 

 Another poster said to not be sneaky around her, I agree; this will only make her more suspicious of you.  After you have introduced another "new" item to her and she calms down, make sure to do something she likes.  Just a release may not be quite enough for her becuse of her being so mistrustful.  Glad to see that you are also making sure to put her in her place if she gets a little pi$$y, too.  Finding the balance between desensitizing and gaining a horse's respect is a fine line, and it's different for every one of them.  Congratulations!  We need more peeps like you who take their time and give these poor creatures a 2nd chance.  Hard to do in today's economy!

 I just read this thread and want to add my congratulations to the job you've been doing with Dreamer. On the vet and shots, if you haven't already done that, why not call the vet and ask him/her for suggestions? When I was working with a "foot shy" filly to get her ready to have her feet done, the barn's farrier gave me some really good advice about exactly what he needed her to do and it was very helpful.

On Sunday April 19th she let me ride her for the first time. Only spooked a couple of times and my husband had a lead rope on her. No real bucking, I stayed on her for about 1/2 hour, then gently slide off. I was able to move in the saddle some and talked to her the same time. I'm very pleased with her progress. I give a lot of thanks to evertyone who helped with suggestions. I think I used just about all of them. It not only helped with her training but helped me with some of my own fears. I haven't been on a horse since 1992 when the horse I was on tried to kill me."put me into a tree flipped over on me" I almost lost my leg from it. The previous owners never said what he was like with a saddle and ridder on him. He just got worse after that and had to be put down. He could not be trusted. I hated hearing that and lost a lot of confidence in myself.  I learned to retrain me you could say.

But My thanks to everyone here. You helped heal me along with my horse.

god bless you all.

I agree... It takes alot of quality time.  Best if you work 10 or 20 minutes per day.  We had a horse last year that came off of a wild horse reserve in Wyoming.  The first time we walked up to her we had to go backwards.  When you face away the horse thinks you are retreeting.  If you haven't, maybe you can try that.  Just take it slow and good luck.

This is an older post, but here goes... It sounds like you don't need too much input from all of us, as you seem to be doing the right thing. She sounds just plain green and fearful to me. She will get past that with the things you are doing already. Just remember to get her used to as many different things as possible so she sees as many things as she can that will not hurt her. If you know for a fact that she was abused in any way, then you will need to be peticularly attentive to body language and the possibility of flashbacks. Horses that have been severely abused or injured will tend to revert to a fight or flight instinct when exposed to a situation similar to the one where they were abused or injured. These flashbacks can be very dangerous to someone who doesn't see them coming. You should be commended most of all for your ability to get over your own fear of injury. That in itself is probably what has helped you and her the most. Much success and three cheers to you !!

Dreamer has come along great. She no longer spooks at every little thing. The problem I have now and could use some sugg. with is getting a bit in her mouth. Is there any idea's to get her to take and accept the bit? I have had a straw in her mouth and it didn't really bother her but when I try the bit she throws her head and doesn't want anything to do with it. I have a med. size D ring snaffle for starting her with. I thought that might be less harsh on her mouth. I am the only one that works with her, So some things are hard to do by yourself.

We have also rescued another horse that was badly neglected and mistreated. He is a saddlebred gelding and he is also teaching my mare some manners. She is more relaxed with other people around and even accepts some men to work with her. That alone is great. But any help I could get with her and the bit I could use greatly. I have used alot of advise from others on this forum and that is why I think I am so far with her training.

There are many more experienced people on this forum than me, but I just wanted to put in my thoughts.

It's great that you have got your mare to this point! I would try to to rub a natural flavor on the bit, like apple or carrot, and see if she would accept it with very gentle coaxing. Maybe she could associate the bit with her favorite treat. Have you had her teeth recently checked?

Dreamer takes to riding like she has always done it. She is not a bucker at all.  She stands tied to be saddled, groomed etc... I still have some problems with bit but , she eventually takes it, and gets rewarded for it. She responds to commands voice and some leg. Backs great with saddle and on ground. She has become my shadow. I get so much response from her it's terriffic! She is still the typical T/B and has her moody times but she has realized I am more stubborn than her and do not stop until I get my way. (Which at times has been hours) Still working on the spook thing, She has gotten better but I will not ride her outside the pasture until I know she can handle it. Cars, Trucks, 4 wheelers don't bother her much anymore, just certain sounds from the woods and motorcycles. I owe alot of what I have taught her and taught myself to the many responses I have gotten.  Thank You to everyone. 

Time and Patience! That's my reply to anyone in this type of situation or with any horse, dog or really any animal.

Sounds like y'all are making great progress, congrats!