Catching horses

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woofwoof

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Has anybody got any ideas as to how I can catch my horse?
I have tried everything from sitting in the field with a bucket of food, to trying to come up beside her making no eye contact, to almost chasing her through the gate! Normally I can catch her by getting a friend to lead in her pony companion, and grabbing her headcollar as she follows him through the gate, but she is inconsistent and doesn't always decide she loves him enough to care where he goes! As a result, I miss out on hacking with friends/Pony Club/events on an increasingly regular basis, and it is incredibly frustrating. I have asked almost everyone I know for advice, and am now desperate. Pleas help me!
 
the only tip i have for you but it does take some time . Go up to the field on days when you are not riding her and maybe just say hi even read a book and a treat but don't catch her it does work but i am sure other people have better ideas. It worked with some at my yard.
good luck
 
I was just asking as one of mine doesn't like been caught by some people (especially me) but is fine with others.
Do you ride her every time she is caught?
I think ibot's suggestion is a good one. If you get near her in the field just pet her and fuss over her, groom her in the field, etc and hopefully she will get better.
Good luck keep us updated
smile.gif
 
Is she kept on her own??

A friend of mine had a pony she couldnt catch, but he was a laminitic, so it was crucial that she could get him when needed. She went out with a lunge whip, and when he refused to be caught, she 'loose lunged' him all around the field.....not letting him stop to eat at all. After about 10 mins, he realised there was no benefit to staying in the field and allowed her to catch him.

This was 3 yrs ago, and to my knowledge, it has never been an issue again!
 
Yeah, I will definately try ibots idea - it sounds quite calm and might very well work (the moment she gets wound up is the moment you realise that you definately won't catch her!)
The trouble is, I reckon a lot of the time she is just jhaving a laugh at me!
Oh dear...!
 
My horse was like this, so i understand your frustration.

The only thing that worked for me [and still works he's an angel to catch now] is to just randomly catch her all the time. Not only to ride just bring her in and groom her and then feed her, put her back out. she might associate work with being caught..
 
Nightmare, poor you. I know a horse who is a pig to catch. But will oblige if it's a child (why?) or if there are two of you and you corral him into a corner, then he gives up. Do you keep a head-collar on in field?
 
My horse was like this. I have found 1 method that worked, she now comes in everytime. What I did was start taking a lunge whip in. Everytime she turned on me, or turned her back on me (she could be quite nasty) I would chase her with the lunge whip. Whenever she put her head down to eat, I would run at her, or smack her (not hard) with the whip. I made her keep trotting round and round until she was knackered and couldn't do anything but stand still for me to catch her. If I walked up to her when she was standing and she walked away, I would growl at her and she would be forced to trot for a little while longer. I worked on the basis that she would get bored/tired before I did.

This is the only this that worked for my girl, but she now comes in every single time for a treat, I still take the lunge whip in with me, but never have to use it and i give her a treat when I catch her.
 
I would def agree with the sending her away keeping her moving and not letting her eat, kind of join up really. Once she starts flicking her inner ear to you and licking and chewing, and doing smaller circles, make your body less straight on , turning away from her, make your hands closed fists not all fingers out (as thats aggressive) and cast your eyes down. She will come to you. You dont need to watch her or face her, she will come anyway. When she comes up to you, rub her head and then slowly walk off - she will come walking with you.

My little devil can periodically decide to play instead of coming and this works a treat.
 
Chortle. My pony shares grazing with a 3 yo bolshy cob gelding. He wouldn't let his owner get near him so having had my pony put her head into her headcollar as usual, offered to catch him if she would hold my pony. After 3 attempts of him walking away from me tossing his head, even though I was in passive stance and not looking him in the eye ...I said fine and walked away from him instead. The consternation! How dare I walk away from him, this was not the game at all...he came right up a long side stuck his head round me, and viola...one headcollar on in 2 seconds flat. His new game is to now try and stop anyone catching my pony....grrr,
 
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