Advice please!

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lauren_mx

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Hii,
I have a new pony on loan and since I got him over a week ago he has been fine to catch, although a little nervous (but this is his general temperament anyway). However, two days ago when I went to catch him and bring him in to ride he would not come in. I spent two hours doing an array of different techniques in order to catch him but was unsuccessful. Last night he allowed me to catch him, and I did not ride because I didn't want him to begin to associate being caught with being ridden (he lives out now, where as he lived in ewith his previous owner).
When I went up today I was unsuccessful once again, and this time he was running at me and planting his hooves around ahlf a metre away whenever I tried to edge closer. I tried moving with him and away from him to gain his trust a little more but he carried on with the charging whenever I got too close. I know he wouldn't come at me harmfully, but I am just wondering if anyone can advise any helpful techniques for me to try with him tomorrow.

Thanks :o
 
First thing I would say is make sure you're wearing a hard hat when you go in to catch him, even if he doesn't mean to hurt you, he can so be safe.

Ok, 20 questions; When you say you tried to catch him, what things did you try? Does he live alone? Do you give him his hay in the field? Is there anyone who can help you? Did his owner mention any of this to you before? Knowing these things maybe we can help you a bit more :)
 
He lives out with my friend's horse who has always been brought in at the same time as him, and I have continued with this the times he has been difficult. The fields were hayed when we had snow but there is enough grass atm not to do so. There are other horses surrounding him but seperated by electric fencing, however this did not effect him being brought in last week.
I am now aware that he has been difficult to catch sometimes in the past, and have been advised to refrain from feeding him that evening. However, this does not help as he missed the farrier today because of it :confused:
 
I'm guessing he's not catching even with feed then?

We had a pony who was very difficult, what we did was bring some hay down, put it out near the gate, then while ponies were munching one of us tied an electric fence tape (not switched on obv!) from one side of the fence to the other to make a triangle in which ponies were 'trapped'. Then went in with feed in pockets. Made sure headcollar was left on the pony until she learned to catch without all the rigmarole. Might be best to make sure his friend is caught first.

It is really annoying when they wont catch!
 
That's a really good idea thanks, yeah he doesn't really enjoy his food enough for it to be an incentive, he even stuck his nose up to a LickIt today!

But I will try that and I am planning to leave his head collar on for a while until he has enough trust in me hopefully!

Thanks for the help :)
 
Hmm, it's one of the worst things, a horse that won't be caught.
There are a number of different techniques you could use, but my favoured option is 'walking them down'. This means that, no matter how long it takes, I walk round the field after them til they finally allow themselves to be caught. I then resist the urge to casserole them, and instead reward them with feed. You do have to have the patience of a saint - and plenty of time. The normal pattern is that the first time it takes hours, the second time less and they learn pretty quickly.

Another method would be the enclosure method - where you make a small (room sized or a bit bigger) electric fence enclosure in the field. Always feed them in the enclosure.
Then they associate it with good things, and you have a fighting chance of catching them when they are contained.

S :D
 
It really is! I spent the morning 'walking him down' but he still falters whenever you near the face or body within half a metre. Frustrated I rang the owners and they have revealed that he was never left out wothout a headcollar on, something I wasnt told, so hopefully once we are able to get that on we will see a change. We think he may have been mistreated as a youngster so perhaps this makes him headshy of the collar. they are coming uop to try and catch him tomorrow morning (weid that he let me catch him with the headcollar for a few days though!)

Finger's crossed I'll have my ridable pony baack soon!

Thnaks for the advice!
 
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