Becoming difficult to catch. Help!

J

JoJo_

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 March 2008
Messages
2,266
Visit site
I've had my new mare for a month now and she has always been good to catch. But the past couple days when i've walked up to her she starts walking away. Yesterday I just said oi and she stopped but today she was walking circles around me for 5mins before she finally let me catch her. I dont want this to start being a problem so im not sure how to stop her before she gets a habit of it.

I dont really want her relying on getting a treat everytime I catch her. So far I havent resorted to food. And its not like everytime she comes in she gets tacked up and ridden. Yesterday she had a day off.

Any advice?
 
If it is only walking away a tiny bit, making only a small difference I would ignore it. Allthough possibly reward her for being caught, so catch her and maybe leave a treat outside the gate to give her.
 
Years ago I had a horse that did this. Then I realised I was making it happen by cautious insecure body language.

Just be more positive when you approach the horse, keep fixed in your mind that there is no doubt that you are going to catch him/her.
treats will work too.
 
My sec D could/can be a little tricky to catch but my solution was to carry a small doggy poo bag (empty of course!!
wink.gif
) in my pocket and rattle it, in the pocket, and he is so bloody nosey, he couldn't resist coming over to check out if it was food!
grin.gif
 
I would want her to come to me on my terms not hers. My mare wouldn't come to me one day. (just gone out for the summer in nice lush field). I chased her away and wouldn't let her eat, also telling her what an ungrateful so an so she was etc. Eventually she came to me head low, licking chewing etc and looking really sorry. Don't think she has ever done it again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top