Bl***y horse wouldn't catch today, any tips?

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smokey

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As title, went to get my usually easy to catch mare in, and she just wasn't having it! Very windy today, which spooks her, and she didn't have a particularly good session in the school yesterday. Am hoping this is a one off, as she's never done this before. I walked the field with her, but couldn't get near her to get the head collar on. Resorted to food, she came over and as soon as she saw the rope she was off. On the up-side, she got plenty of exercise, as did I! :D
Totally frustrated, and quite annoyed with her, in fact I gave up as I could feel myself getting angry and didn't want to lose it.
Left her for the day, am going back tomorrow and allowing plenty of time, does anyone have any tips I may not have tried?
Thanks in advance:)
 
Is she in a headcollar? I had to be quite sneaky once, and tuck the entire leadrope up my sleeve and just have the clip in my hand..... bribed her over with food and just quickly clipped it on!

Oh ive just seen that she does.... the only way Ive ever done it is by giving them a treat the first few times you get ckose to them then walk away (before they bugger off again) and repeat a few times, ideally while youre holding the headcollar. Then just slip the headcollar over.
Also, if im several yards away but have a feeling shes about to sod off Ill chuck a bit of carrot at her, although I wouldnt do that to a horse whod probably freak out. But its so shes rewarded for just staying still. I know most people hate using food but you have to start somewhere! Mine used to be an utter pig but nowadays she has a better recall than my dog!
 
Ok she wants to run so make her run, as soon as she stops to eat grass get a long rope and get her running again, it may take a while and a few days. She will give in mine did, was a pain to catch. When he next went out a field safe head older and small bit of string to grab works wonders.

But the secret is she wants to run make her run. It's basically like join up they turn to you in the end.
 
Well glad mine isn't the only idiot today. I caught him but walking down the field he decided to do one- i wasn't even going bother tryin hold him, race horse mode took over.
I then went back up the hill to catch again with his trailing lead rope but no food now- eventually caught him as he gets jealous of me stroking others! then he got an elbow in his shoulder all way down and rope round nose the pig!
Sorry no help try again tomorrow once wind dies down- i was planning to ride but field behaviour put me off.
 
sounds ridiculous but genuinely works! in my experience anyway:o
i loaned a very difficult to catch pony once, and laid out a trail ish thing leading to near me and sat with my backto her in the field near the end of the trail of carrots:o
of course curiosity got the better of her, and she followed the trail that led...right near me:D
1-0 to me;)
of course not convenient to do regularly...
 
Ive seen me have to stick the headcollar and rope into the waistband on the back of my jeans before :D id trick her into eating carrots then quickly whip the road round her neck, then put headcollar on then clip rope to headcollar. A pain but worked most days. Failing that i did as one poster suggested.... she wants to run, make her. It does work but you need the time and patience to do it right.
I did know of one horse who wouldnt be caught full stop. She wouldnt lead either. In the end we roped off the track to the yard and if you wanted her in, you had to bring all 5 and let her follow behind and grab her once cornered in the yard. Was a faf but the only way, she would jump the fence if you took too long to open the gate, or leave her on her own in the field. She was far too clever for her own good lol.
 
Thanks guys! She has only ever once walked away from me before, and I just turned my back to walk away and she came right back! Not today tho! Tried the food, cos she loves a treat, no go. I did follow her about and keep her moving, hence she got a workout anyway, silly mare! Unfortunately I didn't have the time to chase her for ages, but that's the first line of attack tomorrow! I'm hoping it's a combination of windy weather, no desire to work, and being a silly bint! Tomorrow will tell, let you know how I get on :)
 
My old mare was brilliant to catch, would charge up to me wherever she was. But every so often (when I wanted her in soon) she said sod it! On those days I used to let her know I wanted her, but if she wouldn't have the headcollar on I would just walk away and leave her, make a coffee and sit on the yard. She was usually at the gate desperate to come in by the time I had finished.

Our lad, on the other hand has been a bit shy from day one, though he is better just lately. I have a different approach with him, I follow him around, just fast enough to keep him moving, and stop and walk away every so often, and eventually he gets bored and I can put a rope over his neck. He never pulls away then, and I make sure never to get cross, if I do I walk away to calm down.

You may find she is back to her old self tomorrow. Good luck.
 
many many years ago before monty roberts came on the scene, we had a pony who would not be caught so we did the same as kaylum, just kept her moving then stopped and turned away, if she didnt come over then back to chasing again....this worked every time and if she tried it again we did the same and she was then ok. a form of join up which we had worked out for ourselves so i think that could work....good luck and let us know how you get on..
 
Going to the yard armed with a blanket( to sit on), a flask of coffee, and lots of horse treats. If she won't come in, I will do the chasing thing ( as I say, would have done this today, but time was short) if that doesn't work I'm going to sit in the middle of the field and have a picnic, she can come to me! :D. Will keep you posted.
 
Kaylum said:
Ok she wants to run so make her run, as soon as she stops to eat grass get a long rope and get her running again, it may take a while and a few days. She will give in mine did, was a pain to catch. When he next went out a field safe head older and small bit of string to grab works wonders.

But the secret is she wants to run make her run. It's basically like join up they turn to you in the end.
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This surely depends on A) How fit you are and B) How big the field is!

I have yet to meet a human who can keep a horse moving without it eating in a field that is bigger than an arena!

I agree with your theory but as A) i am not fit B) have never been able to run C) have paddocks larger than an arena I resort to keeping them going with the ATV.
 
My mare is like this every now and again, if she walks away from me I know she won't be caught so don't even try.
Bring my others in and go back for her, again if she walks away I walk away and work the others until she's stood at the gate waiting.
She plays with me and will watch me chase after her so I won't play her game.
It really annoys me though as it upsets the others having her screaming in the field.
 
My mare does this every now and again too, mostly she will stand for me to catch her but on 'one of those days' she turns her bum to me, threatens to kick me and then buggers off, I perservere and refuse to let her stop with her friends, loving them and making her carry on, it took me 40 mins to get her on Weds this week.

I have to wait until she stands mouthing, or I know she will turn her back end to me. If I get close to her when we are still mid not being caught she will immediately turn her back end to me and she knows I wont go near :-(

She's a real bugger when she's this way out.

I refuse to offer her food as she is being nasty with the refusing to be caught. I love her when she does give in rather than tell her off. But its so frustrating as mostly she is a angel to catch.

Bad weather does tend to trigger the naughtiness though! Good luck x
 
I never ever use food as a bribe. If they walk off, I make them run and I don't let them stop until they'll let me catch them. Normally only takes a few mins and they soon learn if they walk away they don't get to eat grass....they have to work!
 
Foxhunter49 said:
This surely depends on A) How fit you are and B) How big the field is!

I have yet to meet a human who can keep a horse moving without it eating in a field that is bigger than an arena!

I agree with your theory but as A) i am not fit B) have never been able to run C) have paddocks larger than an arena I resort to keeping them going with the ATV.
Click to expand...

Then I suggest whilst the horse is a pain to catch to make your paddock smaller with electric fencing until the horse is taught it can't do as it pleases.
 
Well, a wee update- have just spent 2 hrs in the field attempting to catch her. No joy! Came over to me when I went in, saw the rope and took off. Put the rope down, spent some time and energy following her, then tried ignoring her and petting her chums on either side. She came within feet of me several times, then took off again. Realising I was on a loser, I gave up. I'm frustrated with her, and also annoyed with myself, as I think I probably pushed her a bit too hard in the arena the other day, and she's not trusting me. Feel quite upset, as she has been with me from weaning, and the bond we have is very strong. Could I have screwed that up in one 30 min session?
 
I used to own a horse that used to take me sometimes 2 hours to catch and he was very crafty! This is what worked for me and I ended up never having trouble catching him after this although it does depend on the horse, with mine, once caught he was as good as gold and led easily - if yours tends to try to pull away, this may not work. Tie a piece of baling twine around his neck and plait the end into a piece of his mane. Leave this on whenever he is let loose after a ride. There's no danger if it gets hooked as the baling twine easily breaks. However, now this means you can walk up to your horse without the tell-tale head collar, give him his titbit and quietly slide your hand into the string around his neck, leading him over to the post where your head-collar is waiting. I spent a lot of time merely walking up to him to feed him or brush him or just to give him a pat and then walked away without doing anything else so that he doesn't always asume that he's going to be caught and ridden every time you appear or whenever he is caught. In the end there were even times when he would take a few steps toward me. But believe me, for years before that he was such hard work to catch. Hope you find a way that works for you - it is the MOST frustrating thing to deal with!
 
Thanks, I am really hoping that this is just a blip, she's 9 and have never had a problem catching before, she usually trots over to me. I was sure she would do that today, and am really dis heartened that she's refused to come to me 2 days in a row.
 
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