Help please- New horse on yard very aggressive to catch!

J

JLB

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I'm posting this for a friend who doesn't come on here, but she is extremely worried about her new purchase. The first time she went out to catch him he turned on her, ears flat to head, whizzed around and kicked out with both heels, missing her chin by inches. This shocked and stunned her and her confidence is at zero when in the field with him. This has been happening each day for the fortnight she has had him, although luckily with not as much aggression as the first time. He will still run at anyone near him ears flat, head out, teeth beared. Has any one any suggestions? We have coped with many horses in the past who have been tricky to catch, but never with one so fierce. Any tidbits seem to make him worse not better. When caught he calms instantly and behaves perfectly....butter wouldn't melt. His history is of being a hack and previous to that at a Riding School where they couldn't trust him with the children so sold him on. My friend clearly stated that she wanted a well behaved hack, which he is... but didn't ask specifically about catching him when she tried him.
Any thoughts?!!! Thanks, J
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Do you mind me asking who you bought him from? You're in/near my area so wondered if I might know of the horse?

PM if you prefer
 
i have experience with my horse, but not aggresive, she just doesnt like to be caught, but she does swing her buma round as if to prepare to kick!
What do you do with him when you catch him? is he ridden, or do you pamper him, feed him and welcome him in his stable with a big hay net? Reason I am asking is I have made alot of progress with my horse by doing just this. For her being caught now means a big feed and hay net followed by a lovely groom and scratch and it has helped. We obviously cant do this every time we catch them but this horse has probably related humans with trotting round in circles being kicked and pulled around at the riding school by a novice rider and he much prefers to be outside.. I would also try join up and and get someone to show you if you arent sure. Good luck, and WEAR A HAT when catching him just to be on the safe side.xx
 
I had the same problem, but was a 12h pony, and he didn't really try it on when an adult went to catch him!

I know a lady in West Yorks who is very good with horses that are bad to catch, natural horsemanship stuff, and horses can stay with her if needed. PM me if you want her details, sounds like something your friend would like some help sorting.
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Panics!! To be honest she backs off. She has been encouraging down to the end of the field with food and catching him from over a wall,by luck not judgement. She is small and is not dominant by nature and he has scared her to bits.
 
Sounds like the horse is very confused about what is expected of him and needs somebody who is quiet, firm and assertive (not aggressive) to handle him for a while. Routine will help, treats and hiding behind the gate will not.
 
Tuttlebum, she has only ridden him three times, all other times she has fussed over him, fed him and groomed him. Having seen him in action I would question going in a round pen with this horse, an escape route would be needed!! Though I take your point with join up I don't know how it could be achieved.
 
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Tuttlebum, she has only ridden him three times, all other times she has fussed over him, fed him and groomed him. Having seen him in action I would question going in a round pen with this horse, an escape route would be needed!! Though I take your point with join up I don't know how it could be achieved.

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Ahh gotcha. I would deffinately get help from a proffesional if he is that bad!! good luck
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I know it's hard but I think she really needs to try and stand her ground. If the horse runs at her she needs to make her self look as big as possible and if necessary play him at his own game and chase him away (she may need a schooling whip to use as an extension of her arm - not to hit him with!). He is probably just testing her out as he is new and if she stands her ground / chases him of he should realise that she is the dominant one not him.

I help look after a 12hh pony that can be a pain to catch, he will charge at you and on occasions has kicked. He only charged at me a couple of times before he realised I wasn't going to back away, however he still continued to charge at his 10 year old owner who would run away from him until I showed/told her how to deal with it.
 
I am not an expert but once had a livery horse similar to your friends. If the nicey nicey method hasn't worked then I would try an alternative. You do not say whether it is out on its own or with others but my tactic would be turn it out on its own or bring the others in and then go to catch it, if plays up I would wallop it hard and keep pushing it away not particularly violently but keep it moving even if only at walk this could take about 10mins or so but just keep it moving away with positive body language when the horses' frame of mind changes and it will eventually, then stand with soft body language and the horse will probably turn to face you, if it is still aggressive keep repeating but if it stays in a passive position walk calmly and quietly up to the horse keeping the soft body language and catch it. If the owner is not confident then get someone to help who is..
 
Does the horse only do this when in a heard..with other horses? is the horse aggressive to catch when the horse is in field on its own, or say loose in small paddock/outdoor school?
Is the horse top dog in the field?
If the horse only reacts like this when being caught in the field but totally happy and at ease once handled/groomed/ridden etc then I'd say the horse knows he's got the upper hand, his aggression is his form of control. I think it would be beneficial for the owner and horse to re-establish who is leader (boss hog as I like to call it) firstly in an arena away from the other horses, no distractions etc.

The horse needs to be submissive and the only way to do this is to put some fear into him and show him the person/owner is not fearful and is in complete control, the horse needs to learn that its easier being a friend (being caught) but has to be given the choice. I'd work with him in school sending him on and out, stern voice correct body language, a whip at you side (for safety) and my favourite, the shock tactic, the balloon...which you pop at them should they come at you (showing agrees ion) but you must run at them with it too, the horse will then back the hell off and think twice about throwing his weight around, then give them 10 minutes running it off (while you keep them moving away from you (using lung whip) not to beat them with, just to run them off , then in time just back off slightly but keep the pressure on so they slow up, hopefully they will drop their head, blow a bit eventually stop, stand with their quarters in, approach him but not too close but close enough to the point when he usually attacks, then just wait until he moves away (which is what you want at this point) that is the first step, if he doesn't move away but doesn't come at you, again that is good, but soon as he even curls a nostril, swishes a tail, shows any sign of attitude you send him away again, if he doesn't just walk around him, give him some praise in quiet voice (your giving him a choice) he must realise that the person is in control not him, once you take that away from him, he will then stop being aggressive and want to be accepted by you.

Meanwhile while he's in the field, I'd not try to catch the horse, the horse is associating the being caught with work...even if the horse enjoys the work, he's being take away from his field and that is the problem, you need to be able to be in his field without this attitude and aggressive behaviour. So I'd spend some time hanging around in the field, being part of the heard, observing his behaviour from a distance and then moving closer again without catching him, you may have to show your authority with the other horses too because your showing that you also have the upper hand with the other horses too. Specially when drinking, that is a very social time for horses so if he comes up to drink from the trough with no bother, your half way there.

One thing I would not be doing is giving him any tit bits once you have caught him, a quiet scratch on his neck is sufficient, bribing them with tit bits doesn't change their attitude, just makes it easier for us to catch them and they will not connect the two, it's rewarding bad behaviour, save the tit bits once the horse has done some work.

The longer the horse has got away with this, the longer it will take to sort out, but I think the more work you put in, eventually you will see a change. It is improtant to stand your ground but at the same time you need to be quick to move and know what his next move will be so you dont get caught out.
 
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