Horse 'joining up' with another to avoid catching...

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Tickles

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OH saw I was on here and asked "so, are you going to ask them about what to do with a naughty horse who pretends to be doing 'join up' with another horse to avoid doing work?"

So, I thought I should!

I know what we did but would be interested in what you would suggest.

Both are confident 'alpha' types, old enough to know better and out with others too.

The one he was trying to catch (who did actually enjoy a gentle hack which was far less strenuous than avoiding being caught!) was hiding behind another and they shadowed each other, trotting/bucking around the field when OH got within about 10 feet.

ETS, in my opinion it wasn't a clear case of one herding the other away.
 
My gelding occasionally does this and to be honest I just see it as him trying to avoid being caught. He'll work his way around the whole herd trying to get someone to trot off with him but they tend to ignore him! If another horse does follow then I separate them using my body language. :)
 
Yes think this is common ... Mine will start herding another if she's feeling rebellious.. and I have seen her pals pull the same trick using her.. It helps to have a sense of humour in these instances.. it is quite comic in a thelwellian / French and Saunders do ponies kind of way..
 
Yeah, my gelding used to 'hide' behind other horses to avoid being caught, hilarious as he was a full 2 hands bigger than any of them
 
My mare is a cow for doing that, she'll take anyone with her that'll go and as soon as someone joins her she parades round like an arab, can't get within 10ft of her, i usually end up chasing her around till she gives in, i'm lucky that i only have my 3 in their own paddock so i'm not causing problems by doing that with anyone else's horses in tow.
 
We have a gelding at the yard where I keep mine who will herd your horse away when he sees you coming to get your horse so that you don't take one of his many playmates away!
 
Stacey6897 said:
Yeah, my gelding used to 'hide' behind other horses to avoid being caught, hilarious as he was a full 2 hands bigger than any of them
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Yep we have one that does this, he hides behind my horse who is the herd leader, so his owner has to put mine in a smaller paddock, he then hides behind the other youngster in with him so out he goes too then she can catch hers.

Mine tired hiding behind the other two once, not only is he at least a full 3 hands larger, which was funny in itself but also the other two are no way brave enough to allow him to hide behind them, he spent a lovely 20 mins lose schooling with the two bug eyed babies standing with me in the middle with a sort of "ohhh you are in big trouble" expression on their faces and since then has reverted to his normal behavior of coming to me when I call him.

Occasionally he will do his "wild stallion of the Steppes" impression and do a couple of circuits of the field which I just ignore and go check out a buttercup or something at which point he gets nosy and comes over.

He is a little special x
 
Feel sorry for those that have to have a workout to catch their horses, mine are like a rash, I can't get rid of them, I stand at the gate ans call them - that is if they are not already there. If they see the car coming they are at the gate before I am.

They get a mint for being there. A large Odd Fellows mint.
 
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