cant catch my new horse!!!! please advice??

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maisie1988

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ok, so everything is going well with my new horse.. ive had him 5 weeks and he is pretty much perfect except one problem that is driving me nuts!!

i cant always catch him!

i have had lessons booked and cancelled as not being able to get him, paid for childcare to go ride but cant get him and its annoying me! i have left a field safe head collar on but he just gets it off, so went fora weak old leather one and he knows its on and cant get near him. im calm, paitient, ive tried sitting and waiting for him, softly gentling moving towards and away, wondering around field.. its just not working. if i go at 4:00 which is when i feel him i catch him everytime... bring him up, feed and put back out. but if i go at 1:00pm to ride he knows it and cant get near him, go back at 4:00 and get him straight away. i dont know what to do... its ruining having a horse. he clearly doesnt trust me and doesnt want to be with me, or maybe just cheeky?

any advice? please its driving me nuts??! once i got him i couldnt ask for a sweeter boy!

hes a 15'1 connie, cheeky maybe??

please help!!!! :)
ive rushed this at work, hope it makes sense!
 
The trouble is now he is in a strict bring in routine, he will now not want to come in any other time as he knows he will be ridden.

I would be tempted too alter the bringing in time. I would bring in a little later then usual, then get in at 4 again, then bring in at 5 etc. just to mix it up. So he isn't expecting anything. When you do catch him, give him a treat and release him again. This will also alter his routine, as he will be expecting to come in.

Once he isn't in a strict routine anymore, he will probably let you get him as he won't know whats in store for him.

I really honestly believe that such strict routines cause so many problems. He sounds like a clever boy!
 
I think the word Connemara gives this one away — they are very clever little creatures, but he will have a weakness and it could be food.
Have you tried bribes? Polos in the pocket or a handful of nuts in a bucket?
But do keep it calm and gentle — they are not easily bullied
 
LaurenBay said:
The trouble is now he is in a strict bring in routine, he will now not want to come in any other time as he knows he will be ridden.

I would be tempted too alter the bringing in time. I would bring in a little later then usual, then get in at 4 again, then bring in at 5 etc. just to mix it up. So he isn't expecting anything. When you do catch him, give him a treat and release him again. This will also alter his routine, as he will be expecting to come in.

Once he isn't in a strict routine anymore, he will probably let you get him as he won't know whats in store for him.

I really honestly believe that such strict routines cause so many problems. He sounds like a clever boy!
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Excellent advice.
 
Phone posted too soon.

I do this and do different things each time. do nothing, sometimes pop headcollar on and off, bring in for a treat, bring in for groom, pop rug on and off. Not everything leads to work.
I spend time ignoring first, then lots of attention when they walk to you, not you walking to them.
One all come to whistle as a group and name individually. It was two of one things I never wanted, so I put time into ensuring they are easy caught even after turned ttraight out.
 
Is he out with other horses? My friend has a connie who can't always catch and to get him I take out treats with me, I give some to the other horses then walk over to him give him a treat, then walk away give another treat to rest of the horses then go back to him and he normally allows me to put the head collar on. Plus probably a good idea to occasionally bring him in fust for a feed then put him back out so he doesn't always think he's going to be ridden lol works with my mare.
 
Is he out on his own?
If so could you take a bucket with a handful of nuts in it?
Or try to catch him and if he's difficult leave him out - all night (if yard rules allow) he'll really miss his tea and the next day try to catch him again at 1pm, I'd bet he'll be caught then having missed out the day before !
 
Hutchie said:
Is he out with other horses? My friend has a connie who can't always catch and to get him I take out treats with me, I give some to the other horses then walk over to him give him a treat, then walk away give another treat to rest of the horses then go back to him and he normally allows me to put the head collar on. Plus probably a good idea to occasionally bring him in fust for a feed then put him back out so he doesn't always think he's going to be ridden lol works with my mare.
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I 2nd this my last filly could be a crafty devil when ever i was doing field work id make a point of going over giving her a scratch and wandering off so she didn't associate that everytime i went in to her (outside of bringing in time) with me coming to do work with her. Also ignoring her and making a direct route for her field companion who was always up for a cuddle usually worked as shed get jealous come bombing over to amke sure she wasn't missing out on anything at which point i'd slyly slip a rope round her neck. dont have the rope or headcollar in your hand as if they see you coming towards them wiht it they know exactly what your up to keep your hands empty and make sure they can see there empty as you head towards them give them a fuss 1st dont jsut hsove headcollar straight on
 
Our Connie boy likes to play this game too. His weakness is polos, he may run away to begin with but is normally caught within a few mins once he's seen that pack!!!
 
Reverse psychology worked for me, he won't be caught then that's fine so get schooling him in the field, take a lunge line everytime he runs make him run. Friends are great to help with this if it's a big field. Everytime he stops to eat get him moving again. I did this with my lad and it took a few goes but he comes straight in now. It's like join up they actually decide for themselves which the easier option is.
 
Or go out with a wheel barrow (pretend you're picking poo or something) then he might come over to you to investigate lol that's what ours do and have a treat handy and give him a treat but don't try to catch him straight away, act non-chalant lol.
 
Kayristmas said:
Reverse psychology worked for me, he won't be caught then that's fine so get schooling him in the field, take a lunge line everytime he runs make him run. Friends are great to help with this if it's a big field. Everytime he stops to eat get him moving again. I did this with my lad and it took a few goes but he comes straight in now. It's like join up they actually decide for themselves which the easier option is.
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My friends horse won't be caught in the afternoon either as he seems to be switched on too, ie. knows its time for riding. I did the above and after a couple of days he was easy to catch.
 
Polos Mum said:
Is he out on his own?
If so could you take a bucket with a handful of nuts in it?
Or try to catch him and if he's difficult leave him out - all night (if yard rules allow) he'll really miss his tea and the next day try to catch him again at 1pm, I'd bet he'll be caught then having missed out the day before !
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Funnily enough I did someone's horses for her two afternoons this week. They're hunters and get turned out every day after exercise then in at night. The one is always awkward even if left until last (3 altogether) so you have to take apples in with you. This week he wouldn't come near me, soon as I opened the gate he legged it to the other end, even fetched his tea out, left gate open onto the yard; he wouldn't come near so I left him out (with his tea) and it poured all night. Next day he was exactly the same so I left him there; the others warmly tucked up for the night. Owner was home the next day so she did them; haven't heard yet whether she's caught him or not!

Kayristmas said:
Reverse psychology worked for me, he won't be caught then that's fine so get schooling him in the field, take a lunge line everytime he runs make him run. Friends are great to help with this if it's a big field. Everytime he stops to eat get him moving again. I did this with my lad and it took a few goes but he comes straight in now. It's like join up they actually decide for themselves which the easier option is.
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This is what I do and it usually works quite quickly.

I honestly hate non catchers with a passion, it's grounds enough for me to sell them, they are the biggest waste of time and space there is.
I feel your pain completely OP, do hope you can find a solution but one of mine you probably won't agree with if he's clipped and that's to turn him out without a rug so that he's glad to come in for a warm if nothing else; that's worked in the past for me after all they're exercised without rugs, not a lot of difference especially if it's dry.
 
Had this problem when I first got my big lad, he thought it was wonderful to be out in a field with friends! Struggled for several weeks, then one day when as normal he walked away from me, I just turned and got one of the other horses instead (had permission from owner :D), walked out through the gate and down the track, looked back and there was D at the gate looking most put out! Never had a problem with him since.
 
Not being sarcastic, suprisingly enough, lol.

Don't be sneaky.
Don't try to hide the head collar, they're not stupid.
Don't drive them.
Only walk when the head is down, stop when they lift it up.
When they walk towards you back up a bit.
When you've got the head collar on, let them go again.
Don't always do things to them once they've been caught.
Don't expect to cure this overnight.
If you do it right, they are never hard to catch again, ever.
 
NikkiF said:
Had this problem when I first got my big lad, he thought it was wonderful to be out in a field with friends! Struggled for several weeks, then one day when as normal he walked away from me, I just turned and got one of the other horses instead (had permission from owner :D), walked out through the gate and down the track, looked back and there was D at the gate looking most put out! Never had a problem with him since.
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haha thats funny, maybe a should try that... ive only had him 5 weeks... so he might end up thinking 'oh phew she picked that unlucky horse instead' lol rather then being put out... but worth a try!!!
 
Pale Rider said:
Not being sarcastic, suprisingly enough, lol.

Don't be sneaky.
Don't try to hide the head collar, they're not stupid.
Don't drive them.
Only walk when the head is down, stop when they lift it up.
When they walk towards you back up a bit.
When you've got the head collar on, let them go again.
Don't always do things to them once they've been caught.
Don't expect to cure this overnight.
If you do it right, they are never hard to catch again, ever.
Click to expand...

i agree hiding the headcollar and being sneaky really doesnt work. my aunty always says to me put the head collar behind you back... i think well he really isnt stupid lol. i read somewhere about the walking back a step when they approach... i was going to try this today but he just kept turning away so didnt ge chance. ill have more time tomo so will spent some time mirroring him in the field... catch him let him go etc. same on sunday and monday and well everyday lol. i also thought catch him take him for a walk to long fresh grass then put him back. catch him to groom... catch give carrot and let go etc. try to make coming enjoyable. not just grab, ride chuck bck out. which to be honest has happened a few times due to time. but ill really try a little harder!!
 
some really fab adive that im going to try, thanks you very much everyone!!!!! polo's i havent tried!! infact there is loads here i can try and see how it goes!!

thank you :)
 
I might be past riding young horse these days (though I do have a just backed 5 year old - don't ask why - he is exceptional)
But the one thing I can do, and always have been able to do is catch any difficult horse in from the field. I am an expert! And I tade on this - as expert in absolutely nothing else....

My secret is to go out to the field and pretend that the horse I want to catch, is the last horse on planet eath I would want to catch (and whilst most horses have field companions - that make this slightly simpler) you can do it with it the only horse in the field) I make much of the horse I want to catch (with tit bits, from my pocket) - never a bucket) If it is the only horse in the feild, I bond with a clump of thistles.........And then evetually said horse is so interested it comes over to be caught - there is a lot going on here about body language as well - which is a bit intuitive - but I have never failed......they always want to come over and see why I am communing with another horse / bunch of thistles.....
As the horse becomes accoustomed to routine etc, it becomes easier, but the initial curiousiness as whay I am more interesting than a gateway / clump of thistles et al is always the initial lure.
 
Having spent far too much time trying to catch a very wiley old ****** of a horse, I offer sympathy. It's the most frustrating thing. All of the above don't work with him. Only thing that works if he's being a pig is to turn up, if you can find them, with several people, then he gives in.
Other times, though, he will whinny and trot to you. Very irritating. I know when I'm two fields away whether he's going to be good pony or devil. He knows, too...
 
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