Got Him!!!

[MoonRiver]

Finally, finally managed to catch the pony. Have to say though it took most of a tube of sedalin, plus all the tactics offered by forumers and the help of a capable neighbour, he was still trying to fight and I had to do the figure of eight style halter with a bit of rope, whilst we wedged him up a corner to do so.

We will be undergoing lots remedial work to overcome his fear of having headcollars on, whilst remembering NOT to take his headcollar off in the field (will I be brave enough to ever turn him out again )

 

[Billabongchick]

Oh am so glad to hear this! Sounds like a bit of a palava; hopefully now you have him in you can get to the bottom of why he was acting up! Keep us updated!

 

[Polos Mum]

Well done calm time over rules in the end. You could even look at a foal slip type arrangement that has a small piece of leather dangling down to let you easily get hold of - then you haven't even got to clip on a leadrope?

 

[MoonRiver]

Thanks both, the relief is overwhelming.

 

[Fools Motto]

Well done!
Put two leather halters on him, leave one on with a 'dangley' and a larger one you can practice catching him with, putting it on over the other one. Just keep catching him, pats and letting him go again.

Sure sounds like the grass is growing though - which is good at least!!

 

[Tash88]

I didn't see your original post otherwise I would have replied and offered some support, having 'rehabilitated' my previous horse's (rip) fear of headcollars. He was fine for the first year of owning him apart from a handful of times when I couldn't catch him. After a particularly stressful evening I turned him out in a fieldsafe headcollar. This worked for about six months, then he became very difficult indeed, to the point where it would take me up to three hours to catch him on some occasions. I knew he was scared rather than being naughty as he was sometimes headshy when grooming etc - he had been in quite a few homes and I think he'd been treated quite roughly; the behaviourist who I received help from told me that he was trying to protect the relationship that he had with me i.e. he trusted me, and that was why he didn't want to be caught.

To cut a long story short, over a summer I let him live out (scary thought at the time!) and with the help of an excellent behaviourist (full-time equine vet as well, so common sense rather than 'horse whispering') I had to remedy his fear of headcollars by making him touch it then giving him a treat, putting it on the ground and putting pony nuts underneath so he had to move it to get to them, gradually putting it on his neck and giving him a treat, through to putting it on his head. It was a slow and steady process but so rewarding and he was a different, much happier horse at the end of it. It meant a few months of not riding or doing much with him, but it was so valuable and totally necessary for my horse. We had a good bond before, but it cemented everything and I went from having a basically uncatchable but lovely horse, to having a horse who would whinny as I walked over to him in the field and come over to be caught. I think if it worked for him (when literally everything else that I researched and tried failed) then it could work for any horse!

Please PM me if you want any more information/tips and good luck!

 

[MoonRiver]

That does sound very similair to my boy. He loves to come over for a fuss but the minute a headcollar is in view he is gone. Then when he wouldn't be caught still seemed sad to see us go. I think he obviously has a long standing problem, and what you did with yours sounds like what I should do with him also. EEk though does that mean he has to out again headcollar-less

 

[Adopter]

So glad you have caught him, poor pony to be so worried but he is very lucky to have you as an owner who is prepared to work through with him.

 

[Tash88]

That does sound very similair to my boy. He loves to come over for a fuss but the minute a headcollar is in view he is gone. Then when he wouldn't be caught still seemed sad to see us go. I think he obviously has a long standing problem, and what you did with yours sounds like what I should do with him also. EEk though does that mean he has to out again headcollar-less

Yes my horse was like that, it was as if he wanted to come with me and stay with me, but he didn't want me to put the headcollar on so then wouldn't let me get near him. Is your boy able to live out 24/7 yet? If so then you can start re-training him now, but maybe have a few days of turning him out with a headcollar on first so you both get your confidence back. Retraining a horse to like headcollars is a summer job really so see if you can hang on for a little while longer!

Good luck

 

[Brightbay]

I didn't see your original post otherwise I would have replied and offered some support, having 'rehabilitated' my previous horse's (rip) fear of headcollars. He was fine for the first year of owning him apart from a handful of times when I couldn't catch him. After a particularly stressful evening I turned him out in a fieldsafe headcollar. This worked for about six months, then he became very difficult indeed, to the point where it would take me up to three hours to catch him on some occasions. I knew he was scared rather than being naughty as he was sometimes headshy when grooming etc - he had been in quite a few homes and I think he'd been treated quite roughly; the behaviourist who I received help from told me that he was trying to protect the relationship that he had with me i.e. he trusted me, and that was why he didn't want to be caught.

To cut a long story short, over a summer I let him live out (scary thought at the time!) and with the help of an excellent behaviourist (full-time equine vet as well, so common sense rather than 'horse whispering') I had to remedy his fear of headcollars by making him touch it then giving him a treat, putting it on the ground and putting pony nuts underneath so he had to move it to get to them, gradually putting it on his neck and giving him a treat, through to putting it on his head. It was a slow and steady process but so rewarding and he was a different, much happier horse at the end of it. It meant a few months of not riding or doing much with him, but it was so valuable and totally necessary for my horse. We had a good bond before, but it cemented everything and I went from having a basically uncatchable but lovely horse, to having a horse who would whinny as I walked over to him in the field and come over to be caught. I think if it worked for him (when literally everything else that I researched and tried failed) then it could work for any horse!

Please PM me if you want any more information/tips and good luck!

Great story and such a good approach to the problem too, I'm not surprised you fixed the problem and improved his feelings about you at the same time

 

[Tash88]

Aww thank you Brightbay, that's really kind of you . I have to say that retraining him was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and it was as if a weight was lifted off my horse's shoulders as well. I had a wonderful year with him after that, but the following year he developed acute colitis (vets thought it was salmonella poisoning) and died suddenly aged 11. It was absolutely heartbreaking, but I know I did all I could for him in the four years that I had him.