So what did I do?
"Slower is faster."
I took a jumping crop (a carrot stick or dressage whip would work too...) and I moved my space. What this means, is I "bring my energy up" by standing squarely on both feet, standing up straight, and waving the whip in to show Her where my personal bubble is. After she is comfortable with the whip waving in front of her, then I take a step toward her. I'm very careful not to change my bubble. I do not adjust; she does. As I walk at a normal speed toward her, she needs to move in order to get out of my bubble. If she doesn't move, my whip keeps waving and she gets touched.
It is very important to know the difference between touching and hitting. Touching is a reminder that gets stronger if it is ignored. It has a purpose, and is a demonstration to the horse. A hit is without direct warning, is not understood by a horse, has no training purpose, and is an act of aggression.
After she backs 3 (STRAIGHT!!!) steps, I stop moving. My bubble does not disappear, and the whip keeps moving back and forth. She should stop moving as soon as I "bring down my energy" by relaxing my body, not ready to move, and give a visual clue such as cocking my hip, slouching a bit, or sighing. The horse should do the same, and become relaxed. Don't worry if your horse doesn't do this right away, just stand there moving the whip at the same tempo until he or she relaxes.
Once she is relaxed, you have the option of bringing your energy up and doing the same thing with maybe a few more steps, stopping and scratching your horse, or trying something new with the same concept.
If you are going to scratch you horse, use your whip, not your hand. This shows the horse that the whip is a friendly reminder, not a horse-eating, fire-breathing beast. Best scratching places: behind ears, on under cheekbone, or on the withers. After you scratch with the whip, feel free to scratch with your hand.
If you are going to try something new, just remember to keep the whip moving in a steady rhythm, and that it is YOUR space, even if its not near you. For example, if you wanted to pivot the hindquarters around, then you would move the whip in a constant circular motion like stirring a sideways pot right next to the back leg of your horse. You should be standing right next to the horses shoulder, and hold your hand (the one with the leadline) at the horses eye level. This gives the horse a signal to not move his or her front end. At a constant pace, begin moving your space (the whip) toward your horse's leg. He or she should respond by moving his or her hind end around; the preferred step would be inside leg over outside but that comes with time and repetition. If the front legs move too, then continue to do what you are doing until you get 2 steps without the front legs moving. During this exercise, don't pull on the horse's head to keep the front feet from moving, or to keep the horse from walking forward. If the horse responds to the whip in anyway other than fright, he or she is TRYING to give you the answer, whether or not it is correct. Keep trying.
The key in moving your space is to be patient but persistant. Take your time and let the horse figure out what the right answer is. IF the horse is not trying, then continue to move your space with a faster whip. Do not stop shy of your horse, reach out and tap him or her, or soften the whip when it makes contact.
Remember that at the end of moving your space, it is important to scratch with the whip BEFORE you make contact with your hand!
By doing all of these things, you are re-connecting with your horse, whether he or she has been gone all winter or just overnight. These are also a good ending exercise for you and your horse, because it makes your horse think throughout the exercise, not just in the begging. Remember that you can move your space wherever you want, and after doing this quite regularly for a while, your horse should know exactly where your space is and where he or she should be.
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