advice on how to catch a cheeky horse ? :)

A

aimeejay

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 August 2009
Messages
1,120
Visit site
My horse is in a 'big mares' field and has a certain friend who she likes to play with and run off from me as I try to catch her. When sh has one of these days where I cant catch her I bring her friend in hoping that she will stop playing around now her friend is in. This doesnt work tho ;/. I will go out trying to catch her and then leave her for abit & try agen, but no matter what I cant catch her. I take out a crisp packet to rustle and either carrots or apples to tempt her to come in with. ANY ADVICE????
confused.gif
 
I take a few nuts or polo's for bob, but dont give him them every time in the field, usually as he has just come out of the gate. Don't make eye contact, walk positively, and don't anticipate her walking away. We have had 2 bad catchers in the past (we still have one) and both really improved.

S
 
You need to basically shadow him around the field, follow him where ever he goes, do not let him stop but just keep pushing him forward, You can make him change direction by getting in front of his eye line etc, you are then controlling the situation rather then him.

You may have to do this for hours (it took me 40 minutes of 'shadowing' a pony at work until he eventually gave in) He was in a 4 acre field which didn't help.

He will eventually start to tire, should start lowering his head and you will be able to see that he want's to stop. Allow him to stop but if he goes to move off when you approach him start pushing him forward again.

When he will let you walk to his head without an issue quietly give him a treat, a gentle pat/rub and walk away from him.

You will have to repeat this over and over again, if you can start at the weekend or when you have a day off you could do a few sessions during the day. Gradually it should take less and less time for him to allow himself to be caught.

Once he is not taking so long to catch you can start bringing him in for a groom/feed/or a short ride. He has got to associate being caught with a positive experience though so I wouldn't do to much work with him until you have got the catching under control!

It took me about a two weeks to completely cure the little bugger at work, now he will just walk over to me when I go into the field. He is always given a treat and we still leave his head collar on.

It is hard work shadowing them for so long but I do think it is the best way to try and solve the problems.

ETA - Sorry it's all 'Him,' I know your horse is a mare but I copied this from a reply I made a few months ago.
 
Lol -i think your reply was for me!!
The advice works btw, my total nightmare horse is starting to get better to catch. Can still take 20 mins or so but better than not catching at all. Good luck!
 
I had a couple who could be a pain to catch, both geldings. I found that if I went into the field, ignored my horse completely and went to make a fuss of another horse (give it some treats etc), he'd get jealous and come over. I was amazed it worked time and time again with both of them, the lure of a treat was just too strong!

Obviously make sure that the owners of the other horses are ok with you giving them a treat. Long-term the suggestion from the poster above would be better, but it's worth a go if you just need to get your mare in quickly.
 
agree with Horse_crazy.
if she doesnt wanna be caught, chase her. Keep driving her away until she surrenders. She will start seeing you as leader.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top