Can’t catch pony in Winter!

[Ali27]

So we took on a little companion pony 18 months ago. Old owners struggled with catching her. I had no problem catching her when we got her in Summer but then started having issues last November. I would have to bring my other in, take feed and literally kneel on ground to put rope round her neck while eating. She is quite a nervous pony so obviously been mistreated in past. Last Spring and Summer, she was perfect to catch again and just brought in for a few hours while I rode other pony. Put them both out in my big field mid October 24/7 and fine to catch until a week ago. Back to having to catch her with a feed and slide rope round her neck. They are still out 24/7 and she only comes in for a couple of hours in the eve/ weekend while I ride other. Aghhh! I can’t understand why she is so difficult to catch in Winter? She will never be ridden so it’s not like that’s the issue! Any ideas?

 

[Arzada]

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[Arzada]

Any ideas?

Leave her out?

 

[Gloi]

Feed her in the stable

 

[Antw23uk]

Why do you need to catch her? I'd leave her out. The lower maintenance a companion is the better surely?

 

[Ali27]

My other stresses if brought in on her own! So they are out 24/7 bar the odd few hours in stable while I ride other. I also don’t want to leave her out all Winter and not handle her as that will make her more feral! I also feed and give her hay when she comes in stable. I just don’t understand why she is easy to catch in Spring - Autumn but a pain in Winter?

 

[Gingerwitch]

What are her eyes like, do you wear some thing that may remind her if something bad in her past, or do your arms make a noise on the body of your coat ? Has she been scared of the fireworks and is she just a lot more skitty at the mo.

 

[Winters100]

A friend had this with a rescue pony - turned out that he was afraid of people wearing hats. As soon as she cottoned on to this and took her hat off to catch him problem was gone

 

[Winters100]

Also would she follow your other horse to the stables and you could just guide her into her box?

 

[Ali27]

A friend had this with a rescue pony - turned out that he was afraid of people wearing hats. As soon as she cottoned on to this and took her hat off to catch him problem was gone

That’s interesting! I’ve been wearing a hat, hood this last week so will try without. I fed them in field tonight and kept popping headcollar on and off. She whizzed off at first attempt but then was ok.

 

[Ali27]

Also would she follow your other horse to the stables and you could just guide her into her box?

Unfortunately, I have to take them along a short piece of track and then down my drive when they are in their 5 acre field. Although she does follow us down grassy track to gate but then I have to go back to retrieve her. I might pop a field safe headcollar on her but she kept losing it last Winter.

 

[Ali27]

What are her eyes like, do you wear some thing that may remind her if something bad in her past, or do your arms make a noise on the body of your coat ? Has she been scared of the fireworks and is she just a lot more skitty at the mo.

They were out on firework night but field is in middle of loads of other fields and no other houses within a few miles. It’s a possibility though as there were some set off in local villages. It’s just odd as she is fine most of the year and literally gallops over to me when I call them. It was last Saturday in am that she started to be tricky so daylight too! I will get vet to check her eyes when she has vaccinations but it doesn’t explain why she is hard to catch in the Winter but fine the rest of the year.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

Is she on restricted grazing in the summer, but in a lovely field of long grass in the winter?

Also, I had one who hated coats, and especially coats with the hood up!

 

[Ali27]

Is she on restricted grazing in the summer, but in a lovely field of long grass in the winter?

Also, I had one who hated coats, and especially coats with the hood up!

Yep, on restricted grazing from Spring to Autumn? Although she was fine to catch in new field with grass for first three weeks.
I will try not wearing a coat tomorrow when I go to bring them in? The things that I will do! She really is the sweetest pony and so affectionate too! And an absolutely brilliant companion!