Catching my errant horse....

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HilaryKnott

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Can someone help me. I have a 17 year old grey gelding. He has taken to running away when I go to bring him in. I take apples or buckets (bit dangerous as the other boys in the field all want to share) but Noah just will not come to me. this is a 27 acre field and he is invariably standing on acre number 27. If I can get him in there is a smaller field I can use for a while but how to get him in? I spent 2 hours running around yesterday and ended up in tears and threatening to sell!!! Please can you help me, the girls on the yard all tried yesterday and he was having none of it. Worse he has a bit of a sore foot we think from throwing a shoe last week (farrier has been though). I am at my wits end!
Hils.
 
We also have one HUGE field at our yard, we have had one or two horses that have suddenly decided they do not want to be caught. We found taking the other horses all out of the field helped. Or you could always see where he is and basically get a small amount of fencing just to slightly lower the area he has
 
Try to get the people on the yard to help you and take out some posts and electric fencing, get him into a corner of the field and build the fencing round him. Then go in and coax him with some food to catch him. At least this way neither you or your horse will be worried by the other horses in the field. Good Luck.
 
good god!! where do you start?

I would have to agree that your best bet is to get all the other horses out.
i have a mare who does just the same but she also thinks nothing of jumping into other paddocks to get away from me.
Alternatively, if you can't get the other horses out of the field then see if you can section off an area of the field with electric fencing to separate him that way. if he's got less space to get away from you you should start to get some sense.

then what i'd do is stop trying to bribe him to come in. just go straight to him. if he turns away from you wait till he stops then use a lunge whip and send him on.

i have had two that behaved like this it worked with both of them and others. every so often he will stop and you will walk up to him. if he doesn't stand send him forward again and again. it is a battle of the wills but you will win.

only give him an apple or feed once he is caught. i would also have a field safe headcollar to hand so you can leave it on once he is caught. and if poss don't do anything other than catch feed and turn out in new field.

i really feel for you it is the most frustrating thing in the world to have something you love so much give you so much hassle!!
 
oh god, what a nightmare, how frustrating.
first, i'd make sure all the other horses are brought in first... he may just follow them in, which would be ideal. bring them in one at a time yourself if absolutely necessary, but leave him on his own, definitely. herd instinct may kick in.
if he's still uncatchable, get someone to take a mare in (maybe ridden... i've done this after a friend couldn't catch her gelding for 7 days in a 20 acre field!) and get him to follow it back in to the yard. make sure the rider's quick enough to swing the mare's bum round in case he gets too close though, so he doesn't get kicked.
if you really don't want to do that, i would make a pen near the gate with the water in, and shut the pen off as soon as he comes to get a drink. got to be easier than running around, totally infuriated!
very best of luck!
 
This is all really helpful thanks... it's gun fight at the Whitmore Corral tonight! There will be five of us at least plus one lunging whip! Keep everything crossed!!!! I will let you know how it goes.....you watch he will be standing by the gate with a "what's wrong?" expression on his face.....grrrr.... I am convinced only the slightly mad keep horses!
 
The "keep sending him on" advice is spot on but I'd add that, as insane as it may seem, what will turn your horse's brain around is if - when you catch him - you give him a cuddle, an apple and LET HIM GO AGAIN! Go for a cuppa then do the same thing again. Then again. Then make sure you sometimes catch him for ONLY nice things (apple and a groom) and somethimes catch him for work AND nice things. He mustn't know when it will be one and when the other. This really works but you need patience, commitment and belief! Bet you have shapely calves to DIE for!!!! x
 
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- when you catch him - you give him a cuddle, an apple and LET HIM GO AGAIN! Go for a cuppa then do the same thing again. Then again.

Totally agree with that. (my poor mare has been so good being caught recently even though she keeps getting given internal scans and she used to be a nightmare!!!!)
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do keep us posted.
 
When I arrived at the yard last night, husband had walked down the field to my friend's horse, Toby, and just stood there and said "come on Tobe" and he did, followed him all the way to the gate and came in. So, he said, let us try with Noah (the errant one), we walked over to him, he just stood there! we stroked and petted him, he just stood there!!! Husband said I will go back and fetch the headcollar, no, I will bring only the lead rope, still Noah just stood there, munching grass and being stroked and sung to (yes I know but I was desparate!), husband came back with the rope, we clipped it loosely around his neck and he walked into the yard as good as gold!!!! (the little *@~#x*!!!!!). So now I have a horse in a stable acting as though he has no clue what all the fuss is about and a husband walking round with a smug grin on his face muttering things about being "Whisperer Bob"..... Thanks to you all who offered help and suggestions, let's hope he does the same tonight! (the horse that is, not the husband). I have filed all of your suggestions for future use!
Hils.
 
A few catching tips for once you get close to your horse. These are my findings anyway.

Adopt a passive stance - don't fully face your horse and look at the ground as you approach

Head for the horse's withers / shoulders

Once there, rub the shoulders and neck on both sides. If he wanders away, repeat the approach

Then loop the leadrope around the neck so if he goes forward you can then stop him

From there you can put the main part of the headcollar around the neck and finally the noseband.

Then give him a treat
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