Help, can’t catch horse in stable

[bounce]

I bought a fairly nervous horse about a month ago and up until now all was fairly good although you had to be careful and use lots of bribery to get a headcollar on.
The other day I attempted to worm him with a syringe and that did not go to plan and I had to give up. He then became more nervy about having a headcollar on. Once caught he’s fine and you can tack up no problem but he has now decided there is no way I’m getting a headcollar back on him. I’ve tried sitting there with his food and an hour later I’ve got nowhere other than made him more suspicious. Any tips as he is my competition horse and I need to be able to get a headcollar on ?
He spins and turns his bum on you and although hasn’t kicked yet I wouldn’t trust him enough not to try it when panicked.

 

[fredflop]

I’d suggest looking up a natural horsemanship solution to the problem

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Try a very simple rope halter, with nothing that rattles, or even a rope around his neck, as a first step. I think you will have to break it down into tiny steps to build his confidence in you back up. Reward each tiny step with food, in fact I would clicker train him but you do have to get your timing right

 

[paddy555]

forget the headcollar and forget going to his head. Go to his shoulder, stroke/rub your way along his side back and forwards and gradually move up his neck a bit. Instead of a headcollar use a head collar rope. When he is confident with you at his shoulder just put it over his neck. Don't get into a pulling match just wait till he is happy and then gradually work the rope and the scratching up his neck. Move onto catching him in the stable with just the rope and leading him around the box in his rope.
Then teach him to lower his head on command to the word "down" having done that you can continue massage his neck and gradually moving towards his head until you can work his ears and down over his face.

Forget the wormer, if he has a high count put it in his feed this time.

A 2nd way of getting the headcollar on is how it is done with semi feral foals. Basically you sit on a bucket with a bucket of feed in your lap, do it a few times to get him used to eating out of it. Unbuckle all of the headcollar and lay it over the bucket, he puts his head in to eat, you massage the sides of his face and gradually pull the headcollar over his head and buckle it up.

If you try that just make sure you are in a safe position.

 

[Illusion100]

Another one who would try clicker training.

Is he in 24/7 atm or getting turnout? Is he easier to catch in field if he being turned out?

 

[bounce]

Thanks for all your replies. I’ve managed to get a field safe headcollar on after managing to hold onto him by his rug and sliding a rope over his neck and working it up his neck slowly. I’ve done a bit of clicker training before with a feral pony so will work on this. Even the feral pony was easier than this one.
Previously he had been good to catch in the field as he was food obsessed and would come running over for food but now the grass has come through he no longer comes over but luckily comes into his stable for food quite easily still.

 

[Lois Lame]

Be very careful about how you hold onto him by using (holding on to?) his rug. Your hand could easily become caught if you place it in any way under part of the rug and if the horse takes off, you could be dragged.

 

[pistolpete]

Poll pain tooth pain sore back? Why aversive now if he was ok before? I’d be going back to basics and taking things really slow. He is only ok once the head collar is on because he gives up. It’s called learned helplessness. I wouldn’t want to be getting on a horse that isn’t even comfortable having its head collar on. Just my view. I’m sure lots will disagree.

 

[Kaylum]

Are his ears bothering him at all for him to not want you to put the headcollar on?