Help I can't catch my pony :(

[RDO]

I have had my pony a week, the first two times he was in the field I walked up to him and grabbed his head collar which i left on cause i heard he was tricky to catch and it was fine. Since then it has not been fine, infact I haven't caught him at all. When I get close to him he jumps and turns his bum to me. I have spent up to two hours trailing around the field with tit bits and all it did was make things worse. The yard manager managed to catch him one day I wasn't there and she needed to worm by doing the same thing I did the first two days but I think this was just cause like with me at the start he didn't expect her to try and catch him.

I think im out of my depth here, i end up in tears every night. I have asked the yard to help and offered to pay but she basically said no and that they would help sometimes when convenient. This really isn't a solution though. I really don't know what to do, if anyone knows someone in northern ireland who could help me that would be awesome. I don't think I can manage it on my own.

 

[M'n'M]

I had this same problem with my horse and I understand your frustration. Mine comes running to me now and I will try to explain it the best I can, but you kind of have to play with it and see what versioon of it works.

You basically have to "hunt them". Horses generally hate pressure and anticipation. When your horse runs, let him run. When he stops, no matter how far he is away from you, walk towards him with a lunge whip or something of that nature and swing it at his rump until he takes off again. But make your movement slow and deliberate, amking him nervous about what's going to happen when you get to him. So you are telling him "Fine, if you don't want to be caught, I don't want to catch you." Everytime he stops, do this. The only time you do not make him run again is if he looks at you. If he's running or he's stopped, as soon as he looks at you, walk away. This is telling him, yes, your comfort is with me. When he stops looking at you and tries to eat grass or something get him to go again. Eventually, and it can take some time, he will start looking at you more and you will keep walking away. Once he's figured out that looking at you is the best option, walk towards him. If he looks away, back up and walk forward again. If he walks away, make him run. Eventually you will get up to him.

Disclaimer - I am NOT saying to run him till he drops. In no way does this help anything. Just keep him moving, even if its at a trot. Do not run him into the ground. If he chooses to gallop all over, its his choice.

Also, don't just catch him to ride. Let something be in it for him. Sometimes catch him and let him go again. Sometimes take him for a graze. Sometimes ride. But mix it up so it doesn't always mean work.

I hope this helps and hopefully it even makes sense And don't worry. If he gets worse it's natural. They get worse before they get better because they do not want to give up their dominance. Just persevere and READ your horse. If he's frightened, don't scare him, etc.

 

[Snowysadude]

My boy was the same when I got him so I feel your pain - he was also an ar****** to turn out (used to get loose in a chiffney and lungline still on!!) and now is the best behaved on the yard (not joking).
To catch him I used to chase him and chase him, took 2 hours the first time, an hour the second, 1/2 hour the next few times and then got shorter till he now comes to call. You just have to watch your body language - make sure when he gives up you dont approach him too agressivley or he will run again! If he gives in so do you and he should let you walk up to him

 

[BSJAlove]

i always seem to have the opposite opinion to everyone else lol

whenever i have a a horse thats tricky to catch. i make sure im in the field as often as possible. just got in for 10 mins and lay down and read a book, leave a carrot behind then leave without touching him. make sure your 'around' without forcing yourself on him. then every now and again, come on with a bucket of feed. and while hes munching wonder around him. keep doing this. at the end of the day, a horse wont be caught unless he wants to be. you can run around after them as much as you like. he has to WANT to come to you. eventually, when you represent something good. clip on a lead rope and lead him to his stable and reward him.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I tried a different way and sat down in the field with a book. Poor pony was so nosey that after a few mins he came over and I was able to catch him.

I also made sure that he regularly came into the yard and was groomed/fed etc... and then turned out again without being ridden.

Good luck, it is so frustrating having a horse that is hard to catch, I hope that he improves soon.

 

[kirstyl]

Is every horse being brought in too? If so, can he be left til last whe he actually wants to come in? Are the fields huge? Is he in a mixed herd? All of these can have a significant effect. I really feel for you. I don't think there are many more frustrating things than a horse you can't catch.But be patient. New pony to you, in a new place? Lots for your pony to acclimatise to. We used to leave a headcollar on with a short length of rope attached - easier for a quick grab!

 

[RDO]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I think I might try the whip idea first even though it sounds the mean ass one. He is in a field with a lot of other ponies of varying temperaments and I don't know them at all and am worried about sitting there incase one of them boots me in the head or something!

 

[RDO]

Is every horse being brought in too? If so, can he be left til last whe he actually wants to come in? Are the fields huge? Is he in a mixed herd? All of these can have a significant effect. I really feel for you. I don't think there are many more frustrating things than a horse you can't catch.But be patient. New pony to you, in a new place? Lots for your pony to acclimatise to. We used to leave a headcollar on with a short length of rope attached - easier for a quick grab!

Unfortunately no the other ponies are the ridding school ones not the liveries and they seem to have their own random scheduals but never all come in. The herd is mixed and most of them hate my pony he only made a friend today as far as I'm aware and they are the outcasts of the group along with the donkey.

Yea new pony, new yard. I'm just worried he's getting used to being bad!

I might put a short length of rope on the head collar if we ever get him in. How long about?

 

[BSJAlove]

cant you section a bit of the field off and keep him on his own? IMO chasing him round a field with a whip with 7 other horses wont achive anything other then a herd of exited and wound up horses.

 

[RDO]

cant you section a bit of the field off and keep him on his own? IMO chasing him round a field with a whip with 7 other horses wont achive anything other then a herd of exited and wound up horses.

I might ask the yard manager about it but unfortunately they seem reluctant to help or give any special treatment so I'm not sure how that would go down.

 

[kirstyl]

cant you section a bit of the field off and keep him on his own? IMO chasing him round a field with a whip with 7 other horses wont achive anything other then a herd of exited and wound up horses.

I agree! And you won't be popular if you go into a field of ponies chasing one round with a whip. Just not do-able. And you may be flattened. Smaller field would be great option if you can

 

[Spudlet]

Doesn't sound like a great yard tbh.

I would be a bit wary about marching around a herd carrying a whip, especially if I didn't know all the horses well. Trying to get an area sectioned off might be best if possible.

Or if all else fails - there is always another yard...

Also, I would not be happy about a new pony being mixed in with a herd in under a week (which I am guessing was the rules of the yard from what you have said). Way to introduce strangles...

 

[Paint Me Proud]

my mare suddenly decided last summer the grass was too tasty to come in.

My method was....

enter field
dont look at horse
turn around
approach horse slowly with back facing them
dont say anything
when you get to by the horses head just slowly clip onto the headcollar

No idea if it will work for your horse but worked a treat with my mare.

Godo luck xx

 

[kirstyl]

Doesn't sound like a great yard tbh.

I would be a bit wary about marching around a herd carrying a whip, especially if I didn't know all the horses well. Trying to get an area sectioned off might be best if possible.

Or if all else fails - there is always another yard...

Also, I would not be happy about a new pony being mixed in with a herd in under a week (which I am guessing was the rules of the yard from what you have said). Way to introduce strangles...

The thought of a 'herd' is terrifying. Fair enough if they have grown up, been togther a long time but there is absolutely no way I would put my horse out in that situation. He is out with two geldings who were slowly and sensibly introduced each other. I'm not keen on vet's bills and unnecessary injuries

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

You don't need a whip to chase him into the ground with hun. He runs away because he doesn't like being with you. The following programme will make him LOVE being with you, it works every time and will permanently solve the problem:

Day 1 - walk him down. Allow 23 hours! Go into the field and walk calmly up to him. He'll bugger off. Follow him at walk wherever he goes. Do not give up or it won't work. Keep walking after him, walking, walking, walking. Don't let him settle to graze anywhere. Eventually, he'll be totally fed up, hungry, and will stop. Scratch him on the withers, give him a polo, turn round, leave the field and go home.

Day 2 - walk him down again - should only take 10 hours. Walk, walk, walk. When he stands still for you, scratch his shoulder again, give polo and leave.

Day 3 - he should stand for you almost straight away. Scratch, polo, leave.

Day 4 - He should stand for you. Scratch, polo, head collar on, take it off again and leave.

Day 5 - as Day 4 but walk 10 paces with him in his headcollar before you let him go and leave (NO MORE POLOS!).

Day 6 - as Day 5 but walk him to the gate in his headcollar before leaving.

Day 7 - as Day 6 but this time have a tiny feed waiting OUTSIDE the gate. Walk him outside the gate. Let him eat, put him back in again and leave. I absolutely guarantee he will stand his side of the gate staring after you.

Day 8 - as Day 7 but this time walk him to outside his stable, feed him, groom him and immediately take him back and let him go.

From then on - SOMETIMES bring him in for tlc, to get out of the rain or sun, to graze in hand etc etc etc, ie all NICE things from his point of view. SOMETIMES he will be brought in to work but he'll never know which one it will be and anyway, which ever it is he ALWAYS gets a feed (1 handful Hi Fi Lite if he's a porker, or carrot chopped up in a bowl).

Never cheat, never lose your patience, never scream and yell at him or hit him or he'll stop trusting you and you'll be back to square 1. I've put it Day 1 - Day 8 but some days you can get 2 sessions in during the 1 day, sometimes you may not be able to visit him every day - just stretch the time frame out.

 

[Dolcé]

We used the same method as BoF but we condensed it over a couple of days. My favourite treat is the herbal one from badminton, just because the horses seem to love them and the chunky size makes them easy to handle without getting sticky hands! When we caught the pony we did a bit of leading around with treats every now and then, stand and treat, headcollar off and treat, headcollar on and treat and on and on for about 10 minutes. We did this in several sessions over 2 days, moving away on the 2nd day after removing headcollar and then re-approaching, he has never been difficult to catch since.

Having said that we also have a dartmoor hill pony that is impossible to catch, he isn't frightened, will take treats from you happily but will not allow you to touch him other than occasionally sneak a stroke of his muzzle. He just doesn't want to be caught! He was kept in for 3 weeks after we got him and handled/groomed every day (reluctantly for him) and just wouldn't come around so I turned him out thinking the friendly herd would bring him around, they haven't. We are going to have to resort to herding him into a stable so he can be sedated, gelded and have his feet sorted out before trying to change his point of view regarding humans. I have had several untouched wildies and always sorted them within a couple of days but this boy is totally different!

 

[RDO]

Just wanted to give an update, I can now catch my pony! Hopefully long term but don't want to jinx it yet!

I decided that the stalking method just wasn't working, we were both really stressed by it and the sitting method didn't work either, he just ignored me. So I tried keeping him in for a week, making the stable really nice, best friend pony mare in the next door stable, nice grub, happy pony. Then once we turned him out at first he let us catch him straight away like the first times then he went back to turning his bum at me. So I tried just giving wee scratches on the bum and moving slowly up to the head, by the time I got up there he would stand and let me catch him. Seems to be doing the trick so far, so just going to keep at this method plus daily routine and nice welcoming stable and long may the happy times last!