Bringing on a 5 yr old mare

My fiance recently brought me a 5 year old Arabian mare, I think she is a cross though, for my birthday and we are going to pick her up this saturday. I used to live in England and moved to California about a year ago and am currently selling all my horses back home. So I have owned horses before but I wondering if anybody has any tips as to how to bring her on. The kid im buying her from hasnt done much with her in terms of riding and has said that she is fine just doesnt want to do much... So we will see how she handles. Could anybody give me any tips as to gently ease her in to being under the saddle and bring her confidence up? Although I have had horses before its been english style riding etc and im really wanting to know all there is about western and as this is how she was taught any pointers on how to bring her on would be great.

I know nothing about "western riding" cause i've only ever done recreational riding or cattle work, but I would tell you to pretend that this horse has never been worked with because 1) despite what the seller says, it may not have been worked with and 2) even if the horse has been under saddle, if it is still very green, then the horse has gotten old enough that it may be a real unique challenge to train it. It's my personal experience that if a horse hasn't been worked with, then about the time a horse turns 4-5, they are like bachelors (or bacherloettes) in their 30's - they get set in their ways and you have a harder time getting them to do it your way.

I know that in times past, they wouldn't start training them until they were a little older than what people generally do now, but they were also breaking them a different way and for different purposes. Again, i'd tell you start from scratch, and if you don't like to do that or for whatever reason aren't capable of doing it, find someone really good to do it for you.

I've always wanted to try Monty Roberts joining up technique, maybe you could try that. It couldn't hurt. Otherwise I agree with starting at the bottom, just pretend she's never been tacked at all.
Are you planning on western due to what her previous training is said to be? Or because you're in the west? I guess it doesnt matter, I'm just curious, everyone I know tends to do english, not too many western ridiers left that aren't in rodeo.

I tried the Monty Roberts with my youngster back in the UK and it did work but to be honest she is already half way there. After my 2nd day of seeing her she was already following me around the field they had her in. I'm wanting to do western as that what she is used too. I ride English however so may do English on her too.