My friend, that knows absolutely nothing about horses bought a mare because he "just fell in love with her spots, ok?! She's gorgeous!" She wasn't gorgeous. She was 100 pounds underweight, extremely dominate and aggressive, and utterly terrified of humans. She had been mistreated and obviously been beaten into a trailer. I worked with her as often as I could. She was 100 miles away. I finally made him send here to my boarding barn for 2 months so I could work with her everyday. She was afraid of everything! She was afraid of horses, fences, trees, wind...but most of all people. I started over with her, as though she knew nothing. Initially, she would rear and leap at you, charge you, pull back and bolt from you. I researched training methods and discovered natural horsemanship, which made sense for her. After 2 months, I had won her confidence and trust as a leader. She was quite, responsive and willing. And, at the end of the 2 month training, I simply refused to give her back. I knew that the friend has the mindset with animals that he is the master and force will make an animal comply. And, that she would revert to her former self within 2 weeks. He agreed that buying her was a mistake - especially since she is much too small for him. And so, I am the lucky and proud owner of this beautiful, extremely smart tri-colored leopard App mare. She is lovely!