Can't catch my horse

M

mollyjenks98

New User
Joined
13 May 2017
Messages
2
Visit site
I am at a loss, but we will get to that.
Background information- I have 5 horses on my own yard of 28 acres, split into 3 acre fields, 4 out of 5 great to catch. 5th one I have owned for 5 years and for the previous 4 used to run up to my call. January 2016, I sent him away for a week’s loading training with a man certified and had trained with Monty Roberts, so kinder techniques, I thought. He comes home (that problem is still on going so I just wasted my money) and I can’t catch him, I phone the guy in March explaining since I sent him to you I can’t catch him, his reply “it’s the summer grass coming through”, odd I thought (never happened before) but maybe. A year and a half later I still can’t catch him in the field.
He is the herd leader so isn’t really fazed when I bring everyone else in, doesn’t come to food, does not run out of energy when chased, gets off head collars. He is just too clever for me, no head collar or anything to catch me with? Okay ill come straight up to you, anything other than food in your hand? No chance.
I don’t want to confine him on his own to a small area to graze on because that isn’t natural and won’t help him trust me, I don’t know what happened to make him change so drastically, I just want my old horsey back .
I’m making him sound like a horror, other than catching and loading, he is the PERFECT horse, which is what annoys me so much.
Side note, he isn’t afraid of the lorry, just a knob.
 
I think you will find that he's scared of the lorry, otherwise he would do exactly as asked. Did you spend any time with this bloke who was training him or just expect a fixed horse back? All techniques I've seen have relied on the owner continuing in the same manner as the trainer. It sounds like he got a fright.

Others will come along with their catching techniques, I only have an occasional problem with one who would prefer to stay out a little longer as her friends are still out. She gives in after the initial resistance so not hard to catch.
 
He is not scared of the lorry, I know when my horse is scared, he is not. He doesn't like trailers because they are too small so I bought a 7.5 tonne lorry just for him and one Shetland. He just knows if he wants to go I can’t hold him, he’s too strong, but he is also sensitive, so I will not be using a chiffony or any other sort of bit for strength as the negative experience will just make it worse.
Of course I spent time with the man, he is highly respected (obviously not by me anymore) and over the 7 days I visited him 5 times to work on what he was teaching us, I’m not sure if him living in over them 7 days contributed in anyway as he lives out all year round at home.
 
I would go back to the man and see if he can help you any more, its not very useful to just say about the summer grass. I would see him face to face, its not as easy to fob you off then. See if he remembers a particular incident or something which unsettled your horse so at least you know where to start working.

Have you tried ignoring him for a period of time, I did this with a rescue pony who wouldn't go near me or anyone else and he soon began to feel left out and ended up coming to us, too a good few months though.
 
We owned a mare who was very very difficult to catch .
We cured her ourselves but it was hard work first I fenced so I could close off the water trough .
I caught all the other horses and closed off the water .
And then I followed her I followed and followed and followed I never let her rest I never let her graze when I needed a break I got MrGS to take over the first time after six and hours she walked up to me and stood .
Each day she got easier until we really had no issue although I always had to remove the others first .
if you have time you might give this a whirl .
 
Goldenstar said:
We owned a mare who was very very difficult to catch .
We cured her ourselves but it was hard work first I fenced so I could close off the water trough .
I caught all the other horses and closed off the water .
And then I followed her I followed and followed and followed I never let her rest I never let her graze when I needed a break I got MrGS to take over the first time after six and hours she walked up to me and stood .
Each day she got easier until we really had no issue although I always had to remove the others first .
if you have time you might give this a whirl .
Click to expand...

This is exactly the approach I used with my old TB who was a complete b.......r to catch when I bought him. it worked for him although he very occasionally didn't want to be caught but as soon as he was sent away and made to do some work rather than graze, he just gave in! Well worth trying.
 
When I first got my mare she was really hard to catch and I did as Goldenstar did, I walked up to her and if she walked away from me I kept walking towards her, not letting her graze the walking would be purposeful. Periodically I would stop and stand if she continued to walk away I would walk purposefully at her if she took a step towards me I would change my body language to really relaxed and take a step back then slowly take a step forward, again if she walked away I would walk at her if she took another step forward then I would chill, step back and creep forwards. The first time I had to REALLY commit and it was tiring but every day after that it took less and less time. Now she comes to call, I get a few cheeky days when the spring grass comes through but I do our dance and she'll come and join me after only a few minutes. I do always treat when she comes.
If you don't mind people thinking you are mad the first time!
 
mollyjenks98 said:
I am at a loss, but we will get to that.
Background information- I have 5 horses on my own yard of 28 acres, split into 3 acre fields, 4 out of 5 great to catch. 5th one I have owned for 5 years and for the previous 4 used to run up to my call. January 2016, I sent him away for a week’s loading training with a man certified and had trained with Monty Roberts, so kinder techniques, I thought. He comes home (that problem is still on going so I just wasted my money) and I can’t catch him, I phone the guy in March explaining since I sent him to you I can’t catch him, his reply “it’s the summer grass coming through”, odd I thought (never happened before) but maybe. A year and a half later I still can’t catch him in the field.
He is the herd leader so isn’t really fazed when I bring everyone else in, doesn’t come to food, does not run out of energy when chased, gets off head collars. He is just too clever for me, no head collar or anything to catch me with? Okay ill come straight up to you, anything other than food in your hand? No chance.
I don’t want to confine him on his own to a small area to graze on because that isn’t natural and won’t help him trust me, I don’t know what happened to make him change so drastically, I just want my old horsey back .
I’m making him sound like a horror, other than catching and loading, he is the PERFECT horse, which is what annoys me so much.
Side note, he isn’t afraid of the lorry, just a knob.
Click to expand...
A livery here has same problem, she either gets the long rope and ties to fence and gradually corals her onto the back yard where sh catches her or she puts muzzle on and the mare keeps coming up to her.
 
There is absolutely nothing more fustrating than a horse that won't be caught.

As a thought, is he ok once you are beside him? Is it the headcollar being put on or when he see's the leadrope etc? What if you left him out with a fieldsafe headcollar on and caught him with a leadrope in a bucket?

The only real failsafe method I used was walking after them, calmly and purposefully. Set aside an afternoon for the first time - don't let them stop to eat or drink. Maybe put him into a smaller paddock with a friend initially so he isn't alone. Usually after a couple of successfull attempts they give in but you have to "win" and catch him if that makes sense.
 
Could you get a headcollar (field safe one) and leave it on him? Not ideal, but at least then you can walk to him with nothing in your hands and give him some food while taking hold of his headcollar then lead him back to where you left the lead rope? Ive got two who are silly to be caught - both mares! Its almost a game to them, they'll come over to me/follow me around no problem if I have nothing in my hands or if Im going to another horse but as soon as they know Im heading their way they will instantly put their ears back and walk away. I usually just stop dead and turn round for a minute - they usually turn round to look at me confused then they let me catch them. Bizarre but thankfully thats it. Ive had one bad catcher before who I did join-up with (in a smaller paddock Id herded him into), took a good hour but eventually he gave up and figured it was easier to come and be with me. Very occassionally he'd try it on again so I instantly started join up again and he was fine. Im not into the whole NH thing by the way, join up is as far as I go ;)
 
Hi As you can appreciate it can be a little tricky to advise especially as we cannot see what you do, what your horse does in response.

Goldenstar has made a valid suggestion.

Something has changed in his mind and the best thing to do now is not to focus on what did or did happen you have to work with the horse you have now.

You see what can happen when a horse is sent away to be trained is the horse gets used to the trainer's way of doing things and body language, so I suggest your horse is not reading you in the same way. This is why it is better for a traner to also train the owner to use similar techniques what ever they happen to be.

What is your routine ? what do you do when you try to catch him ? do you have a video?

1. do you go into the field with a headcollar and rope ?
2. can you approach him or does he trot off as soon as he sees you ?
3. Is he still difficult to catch if he is the only one left in the field ?

Happy to help and I can suggest a few things but need to see/understand what you are doing and how your horse is responding :-)

Rest assured the issue can be resolved but will require time and patience.
 
Last edited:
When you do catch him what do you do with him?

I have been fortunate that I have never had a horse thats hard to catch because when I bring them in, sometimes I ride them, sometimes I groom them, sometimes I just pop out to the field to say hello, put a fly rug on, take a mask off ... I have always varied every trip to the field because thats just our set up and all the horses I have ever owned will stand stock still to have fly rugs or any other rugs on or off or be caught or just wander over to say hello.

But its always worked for me. A friend of mine only used to catch her horse from the field to ride - therefore the horse thought it was better not to be caught and who could blame her?

Personally I think if you always only catch your horse to work it then it is very possible it would prefer to be out alone rather than be caught.

If it were me and I had a tricky to catch horse I would perhaps approach another horse in the field who is happy to be caught and give it a carrot. I am never keen on giving horses treats in the field, but I think sometimes its necessary.

Once the hard to catch horse sees it is missing out, it will eventually come over as well. Its key then to just give it a treat and walk away. Once the horse actually sees you as a source of interest rather than hardwork, its just in their natures to come over.

I have had racehorses with the same issue who have come to me on R&R who think they don't want to be caught - and really I don't blame them. It doesn't take long before they decide being with you is MUCH better than running off. I personally have never done the whole chasing thing - its generally very hard work in a field. Far better that they think coming to you results in something nice and I think that is the key. If it is nice to come to a human they will come - if it is painful, hard work or uncomfortable then they won't and it is really very black and white for horses.
 
I have trouble with my sister's gelding, who is an absolute sod to catch. I've got quite a good technique at the moment though - I make a little paddock by the gate, but leave one side open. I then lead my other horse (his field companion and best friend) through it and tie her up outside the field. He will invariably follow her into the little paddock. I then sneak round and close off the exit (would be much easier if I had another person to help!). Sometimes I have to use a bucket of feed to keep him in the paddock while I close it up! Then I make it smaller round him until he lets me catch him. I have to do it incredibly slowly or he will jump out, but it's proving very effective so far, and only takes 5 minutes now I've got the technique. Might be worth trying if you can get your boy into a paddock like this - would he follow the other horses/ stay for a bucket of feed?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top