advice on how to catch a naughty horse?

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wench

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already has a headcoller on, and is turned out in a large field, no chance of putting him in a smaller one, or bringing all other horses in out of field either.

What happens is go in the field, take some food (which he gets when i catch him). He might look and have a sniff then walk off, I normally saunter after him. However, he will then quite often take one look at me and run off. Hes not scared of me, he is just being a g*t. He has done this every day this week, and is rather annoyoing, especially when he is running around when it is sleeting!

I have eventually managed to get him, but just wondering if anyone has any suggestions of how to walk up to him in the field and how to respond when he gallops off.
 
my mare used to be a monster to catch. She now comes straight to me. Sometimes she will get a treat when she's caught, sometimes not. When she used to walk away I'd either walk the other way or I did resort to shooing her away when she went to walk off and keep doing it for about 5 mins. I didn't scare her but almost made her lunge on an imaginary lunge and when she went to stop, make her walk on again. She learnt very quickly
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i assume you are taking a lead rope with you to catch him? try tucking it in to the back of your trousers then hold one hand out with the food and hold the other one out to so he doesnt think you have anything then when he takes a sniff grab a handfull of mane an flick the leadrope over. dont know if thats possible but we used to have a mare that was a little [****] like this and it was the only way to catch her
 
thanks for the replys! I try "shooing" him away most days actually (didnt dare mention it at first oin case its "wrong"), shes a determined brute and can go for up to three hours doing that. And unfortunatly if i try and grab mane he just rears and runs off.
 
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my mare used to be a monster to catch. She now comes straight to me. Sometimes she will get a treat when she's caught, sometimes not. When she used to walk away I'd either walk the other way or I did resort to shooing her away when she went to walk off and keep doing it for about 5 mins. I didn't scare her but almost made her lunge on an imaginary lunge and when she went to stop, make her walk on again. She learnt very quickly
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This is pretty much what I would suggest. A spot of "free schooling" in the field when they won't come in usually ends up having the desired effect.

We've just bought a new mare who we were warned can be difficult to catch. We've actually had no trouble at all in the 2 months we've had her on loan, she's been an angel, but free schooling is what her previous owner did with her when she decided not to be caught and is what she recommended to us. Hopefully we're not going to need to do it with her, but you never know...
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I do just what Tricksy does. If he decides he's not coming in I just free school him - around the whole field if necessary. He very quickly decides its not worth the bother and goes and stands at the gate or by the fence.

In the early days when he was really stubborn he just got to spend the odd night out in the cold - he was ALWAYS keen to come in the next day.
 
I tihnk my mare sounds just ikle yours, wehave her just in a field with myother pony, but its pretty big, and she can be a right pain
She knows exactly what shes doing when she doesnt want to be caught and trots a perfect circle around memoving just out of any reach
Have you tried taking someone else up with you? I tihnk my mare associateds me with work(which she enjoys once shes in from the field) and so someone else walks into the field and she trots over the nuzzle them, id be temped to say she taunts me
Shes been really good last cople weeks tho
But yes, hide lead rope, take some food, i dont like resorting to this, but initially it should help, spend quality time when your not working her, sometimes go in and just pat her and stuff dont catch her...takes its time
My mare would also spin round as soon as i took hold of her too, she didnt rear,shes very careful never to hurt anyone, but makes herself all big and scary enough to make you let go!
 
Other than above i find there are three things I try 1) try going up to another horse that you know is good to catch make a fuss of it give it some food etc 2) walk backwards towards your horse 3) crouch down as you walk towards your horse. 2 and 3 make your horse curious so they come over. Also I would suggest that once you manage to catch him you sometimes just go into the field, catch him then give him some food in your hand say hello etc then let him go again.
 
How close can u get? Ponio decided to be a cow today but I was able to pick up a back leg then hold it on one hand and stretch to the front leg and pick it up as soon as I dropped the back one then get the lead rope over her neck
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How close can u get? Ponio decided to be a cow today but I was able to pick up a back leg then hold it on one hand and stretch to the front leg and pick it up as soon as I dropped the back one then get the lead rope over her neck
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Wow I think you must be a contorsionist? lol

I've often (not always) find that horses are nosey. So I turn my back on them and rattle a small plastic or paper bag they come up and try to put their head over your shoulder to see what you've got. Hand quickly over nose. Got ya. Give treat sometimes not always as makes them nippers. Or take one or two peeps with you couple of lung lines herd into a corner with lines between you close in (small area) tell to stand normally do as they're not sure what's happening. Better that 2 - 3 hours chasing around in rain and snow me thinks.
 
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How close can u get? Ponio decided to be a cow today but I was able to pick up a back leg then hold it on one hand and stretch to the front leg and pick it up as soon as I dropped the back one then get the lead rope over her neck
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not going to be trying that one!
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Ok, as long as there is no chance shes nervous, this is what i call the 'catching the clever pony' technique that ive adapted through practice from mark rashid's technique. Basically, you have to make it more hard work for her to not be caught. So have a treat, but dont let her know, she gets it when shes good, take a lead rope out with you in your hand, walk upto her, as soon as she goes to walk away be loud with your body language and shoo her (use lead rope if necessary) if she starts to drop in pace but is looking away from you dont let her stop (this can be knackaring in a big field, use the minimun amount of effort to keep her moving). When she begins to drop her pace and is showing signs of acknowledging you, stop shooing and immediatly take submissive body language, and approach sideways talking quitely and sweetly, with your hand out, lead rope hidden. If she still runs away repeat this, when you eventually have her, have the lead rope clipped on, then she can have a treat and a good girl/boy before you walk away.
 
I seem to be jinxed with naughty horses to catch. All of mine bar 1 have been a nightmare.

We're coming up to ''silly season'' as we call it. So we have now erected a small paddock out of electric. We put a scoop of nuts in there and then walk out and herd him in. He then strolls in and starts eating. We then rope him in!!!! He realises game over and just stands there!!!!! Have been known to spend 6 hours trying to get him!!!!!
 
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