HELP! Mare suddenly won't be caught?!

H

Horsemad 123

Active Member
Joined
14 September 2013
Messages
41
Visit site
Really hoping someone can help me with this. I've had my mare over three years. Very good on the ground and simple and straightforward. But the last two weeks she's been very difficult to catch. It's usually the yard owners that do this as they come in at 3 when I'm still at work. Any ideas why she's doing this?! Concerned either she or the owners are going to get hurt by falling in the mud.
 
Could it be the gateway is particularly poached and she dislikes going through the mud? Could you get a field safe headcollar for her to make it easier to catch her once she's close by? My only other suggestion would be using clicker training and a treat to catch her, you would need to do this at random. Times during the day so she catches onto what you are doing in a positive way.
 
It started on New Year's Eve after the vet had given her her annual vaccs. The field is poached but some of that is due to her bombing up and down when they're trying to get her. She's out in a headcollar now but she's caught on to this (no pun intended!) and they can't get near her now. They are managing to get her but it's taking a while and I'm worried their good will is going to run out ��

I'm not even sure there is an answer to this but just posting in the vain hope someone else had experienced this and it resolved itself and/or they may be a possible reason?
 
I've ibly had this happen when one pony was coming in to be ridden. I spent a week catching her, food and back out at odd times, this worked bit doesn't seem to be that reason? Is she fed when she comes in? This time of year their usually keen. Oh and with my pony it also was after vets visit for jabs
 
I can get out of work at 12.30 on Monday for an hour so am going to go down there see what the craic is. She's coming in to a net. I feed her when I get down. She is a very greedy pony and there's not a lot of grass in the field so really can't understand why she'd want to stay out?! My instructor said time of year too but this has never happened before. I wonder why after jabs then? I'm going to buy a clicker tomorrow.
 
I just presumed with pony that every time we had caught her she had either been worked (on her own) or had jabs so she decided the field was a better option. It was summer though. She follows me round like a lost puppy now as my appearance means food!
I hope you manage to see what the issue is when you go down. Is she coming in fine at the weekends?
Another thought, are they bringing 3 in at once? Is she bottom of the pecking order and doesn't want to be led with another horse?
 
They're trying to bring her in with her field partner who is dominant but now they can't get her she's coming in separate. Weekend I go down in the morning but they bring her in in the afternoon. Sundays it's my loaner who's been getting her okay. Summer I can get my head round her now wanting to come in but winter?! Thanks for everyone's advice - fingers crossed is can sort it!
 
Have they changed her neighbors recently? I had this happen and my pony's neighbor had become a bit crazy and he was scared to go back into his box so he just refused to come in!
 
One of my ponies wouldn't let me touch or groom his neck or shoulders for a couple of months after his vacs every year. I could get on his halter and groom his legs and bum but as soon as he saw my hand coming anywhere near his front end he'd react. I think some of them lose trust in us when they have injections and it can take time to get it back. I would keep practising and rewarding her with something she loves, it will probably take a few sessions though.
 
Two thoughts, has she been watching the horsey Adele video that is going round on facebook? Or is there any posibility she could be receiving an electric bite from a leaky underground source?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top