help !!!

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PaintboxEDT

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my boy doesnt want to be caught !!!

so for the last week my good as gold horse is being a pain to catch,when i go to get him he looks at me walks off then starts cantering around me in a circle then comes at me with his ears back !! its making me loose my confidance in the field,ive never been that great in the field anyway !!! other people have tried and have also had the same probs !! i have managed to get him once then left the headcollar on,i dont like leaving him out with it on but atm its the only way !!
he will stop running at you if you shout at him but i just dont know if he will go that bit further and kick out etc !!! taking food in to get him isnt an option either
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he was on box rest for 3 weeks plus the nice grass is coming out as well hes just not having any of it !! he has never done this before,so i need advice/tips on what to do and how to handle him running at me and how to be brave !!!!!
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sounds like he is being a git
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have you tried chasing him away? i mean don't let up on him, really send him off with a flea in his ear, he stops to graze, chase him on.

was the only thing that worked for a mare i had, after a few days of this she was happy to be caught
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he is being a git,hes nearly 22 as well,he will stop,look at me with ears pricked then graze,as you walk towards him hes off again then coming at me,i thought if he didnt want to be caught at all he would run to the other side of the field but no just round me !!! you can see the look on his face !!!
 
I have had this trouble but without the ears back..... it happens when merlin thinks he would rather stay out, and if he thinks he has worked too hard.

I take a really rustley packet out with me, and he is sooo daft that he will then come up to me and be caught. I always give him a treat too,. so he hopefully looks forward to seein me
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I cant take food out either as the other two horses are really food orientated and will then chase poor merlin off, so that defeats the object !!!
 
ive tried the bag thing and with the treats he will stretch his head out to your hand to sniff and i try to get him to walk to me then he will clear off again im stuffed atm and its not doing my confidance any good either !!!
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I agree with Asbo, the chasing away techinque works, swing a lead rope around to keep them mnoving. You must keep them moving, don't let up or give them any respite. After a short time they'll decide it's easier to come to you than to keep running.
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i will try that tomorrow and see if it works,i worry that he will come at me though and not stop and boot me !!
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deep down i know he wont but can never be to sure
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yes there are other horses in the field plus they are now out all nite if they want so i cant even wait untill they are all in as i know he wouldnt be out alone
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Here's what I would do;
1. Make the field a reasonable size (i.e. small enough to walk round easily) with electric tape, if you can.
2. Go to catch horse, give treat if caught.
3. If horse b*ggers off, walk round after horse, so he is unable to graze as you make him keep walking.
4. If you think he is likely to kick out at you, take some defensive equipment - rope/lunge line to swipe at him, or a whip if you feel that's better. When he does threaten, run at him shouting and sounding angry, til he moves away from you.
5. Continue to walk him down, until he gives up and gets caught.
6. Make a huge fuss of him - feed him (apples/carrots/chaff in a feed bowl as a 'token feed' if you want to ride him straight away.
It will take time the first day, but they do learn, and give up more quickly each day until eventually they desist.
Good luck
S
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thank you s,shrinking field isnt possible thankfully he doesnt wonder far from me he just likes cantering around me and at me !!!!! hes been fine up untill now and previous owner has said he never did it with them either so i think its because hes fealing rather good in himself and not wanting to come in,ive had him almost a year,he has walked away a couple of times over that period but gave up and was caught but this takes the pee !!!!!!!!
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My usually brilliant to catch mare became a pain to catch when her neck was out, after we had that sorted out she returned to being as good as gold, might be worth a thought.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Here's what I would do;
1. Make the field a reasonable size (i.e. small enough to walk round easily) with electric tape, if you can.
2. Go to catch horse, give treat if caught.
3. If horse b*ggers off, walk round after horse, so he is unable to graze as you make him keep walking.
4. If you think he is likely to kick out at you, take some defensive equipment - rope/lunge line to swipe at him, or a whip if you feel that's better. When he does threaten, run at him shouting and sounding angry, til he moves away from you.
5. Continue to walk him down, until he gives up and gets caught.
6. Make a huge fuss of him - feed him (apples/carrots/chaff in a feed bowl as a 'token feed' if you want to ride him straight away.
It will take time the first day, but they do learn, and give up more quickly each day until eventually they desist.
Good luck
S
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[/ QUOTE ]
We use much the same way. We also make out they are doing what we want. If they about to trot - you do have to be quick at it - we say -trot on -same for canter etc and downward transitions almost like loose schooling. Keep them going even when they wish to stop that way it is you that asked for them to go forwards [run off]. When you think the time is right - not the horse -ask it to stand, it will be more than happy to.
We use the same technique for agression and threatening behaviour. Shows you are the head of the hird. It realy does work remarkebly well but you do need to get your timeing right.
Goog luck.
 
thanks for all your help everyone,i shall be trying all of this later when im going to try and catch him !! and i shall report back and let you know how it went,thank you
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Mine is a total nightmare in the spring - her record for not being caught is 3 months! And that was with me attempting everything to catch her, every day, for at least 2 hours a day. Fortunately she's marginally better now (it's still "winter" to her and she wants her tea!).

The advice above is sound and I would do exactly the same. One little tip though...

If he'll approach for treats, but not let you close enough to grab the headcollar, hold out the treat in your hand, let him sniff it, keep holding it out while you move closer, but don't let him take it until you've caught him.

Worked on mine a couple of weeks ago when she decided she didn't want to come in. You'll need something to rustle to get his attention though.
 
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