Horse wont catch and is threatening to kick

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saddlesore

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As above really, my new horse has never been good to good to catch, but was a total b**ger today (didnt get him in the end) and was swinging his quarters towards me when i got near to him. If i switched sides he would just keep turning his bum on me untill he got bored, when he would gallop off and we would start the whole performance elsewhere. Obviously this is not on and strikes me as very dominant behaviour, dont know what to do about it though
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Help please!!
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My mare used to be a bugger to catch and to be honest i think alot of it was a respect issue as she used to turn her bum and threaten me when i went to catch.

I decided that the next time she did it to me i would throw the headcollar at her bum, which gave her quite a surprise!

But it worked. She was quite cautious of me the next time when i came to catch her but knew turning her bum towards me wasn't on. I now catch her with a couple of polos and she has never been bad since.
 
I think this is a respect issue too but he is also quite a worrier to didnt want to scare him either (thats a lie, i TOTALY wanted to scare him but restrianed myself
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). Did you do any groundwork excercises that helped at all?
Thanks
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Ha ha masterbronze, I did exactly the same with Barney, who is delightful to catch when there is no grass, but a total git when there is. He also would turn his bum on me, but NEVER does it after the headcollar event. Sorry Saddlesore, it doesnt necessarily solve your catching problem, but bet it sorts the turning the bum issue!

(I have also thrown the scoop at him after trailing round and round the paddock in the pitch dark cooing 'Barney, Barney, good boy Barney' for around an hour). Little sod then let me catch him, although I wouldnt recommend this approach in general!!
 
Oldmare- It might sound cruel but i think if you've been there you understand!!!
Saddlesore - If he is still a relatively new horse to you then maybe he will just take a while to trust you. If you don't want to throw a headcollar at his bum when he turns on you throw something smaller like a carrot or something but you have to stop him doing it now otherwise he will think this behaviour is acceptable.
Groundwork on the lunge should help, so he understands the tones in your voice etc You have to be assertive with him at first and everytime he does something well reward him. My girl knows when she has done good on the lunge now because i always stop her reward her with a polo (shes very food orientated) she stops and winnies when i say 'good girl' because she anticipates a polo, makes for a happy bond anyway!!!!
 
Lol, thanks everyone! will adopt the 'turn your bum on me and i'll throw things at you' approach
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I in no way think this is cruel and if it works i'm all for it!! I always take a treat out to the field for him, but am reluctant to start traipsing about with buckets however
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Don't want to inadvertantly reward the wee gits behaviour!!
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Thanks Weezy, i was trying to do this today but the snow had come on really heavily and was lying (stables in the middle of nowhere and i drive a corsa lol) so had to abandon it and leave him to yo to drag in later. Just so angry, i specifically aksed what he was like ot catch when i bought him and dealer said he was fine grr. Same old story i guess, he's not really as described but have grown quite fond of him and dont really have finances to swap him
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i agree with the chase him. He will soon get bored if he cant rest or eat!! Tiresome but works. Also I would smack him with the lead rope on his bum, not acceptable and he will soon think twice after a couple of smacks on his bottom!!!
 
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Chase him - if he won't be caught do NOT let him stand still, just keep moving him around you and around you and around you...they soon tire of the game!

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Exactly what I was going to say. Then whenever he turns to you, looks at you or locks his ears on to you for even a nano second instantly soften. Drop your head, don't look him straight in the eye etc.

If he turns to go again glare at him and chase him away. So you are always dictating the speed, not him.

As Weezy said they soon get bored with it. Pain to begin with but doesn't take many times before they change their views on being caught.
 
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Chase him - if he won't be caught do NOT let him stand still, just keep moving him around you and around you and around you...they soon tire of the game!

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I was just about to reply when I luckilly read yours weezy...This is the way ahead keep them going till they want to be caught then a wee bit more so you are telling them when they can stop
 
I have a horse i've owned for about 13 yrs and hitting his butt with a headcollar would no-way work and chasing him is not always possible either,

Ok when I got Sam I knew from previous owners he was not good to catch hence i got him for silly money if i could catch him from field!! they had owned him for 4wks and had not been able to touch him, obviously this worked!!

Firstly when I got him home, i kept him in for about 4 wks, where i would have my lunch and read book in stable and ignoring him, we would go for walks, then by about wk 2 i would let him have a buck and fart in sand school, and I never approached him i would call him to gate with his dinner, then by wk 3 I would call him and give him carrot ect, then by wk 4 he would just come sometimes i would treat him via his mouth sometimesjust by fuss! this didnt solve our problems with catching but certainly helped them.

I find if he is playing a game he will run about around me, with this i persevere, he will run in circles i will keep walking and talking to him, if he stops and does not let me approach but either turning his butt to me (never ever kicks but looks like he is serious) then i send him away, and we carry on like this in as calm a manner as is possible till he submits,

If he is running away from me as in other side of field, there really is no point as no human will ever out run a horse to keep chasing him about monty style, I have found on quite a few occasions what does work here is coming away doing whatever and trying again if that doesnt work then sod him, and when bring in time happens he waits till last and waits till im ready, what has also worked is sending someone else to catch him he is so anxious that someone apart from mum dare try to catch him that he is gratefull for me to fetch him in,

try not to always catch him to work, or he will refuse to be caught, just go to him sometimes and give him a hug and a treat. Other times catch and bring him in for a groom then re turn out so he doesnt associate being caught with working all the time, and accept that sometimes you will just have to go to the field without your horse going for a ride, I hope this all makes sence and has'nt just came out as a waffle
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good
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luck
 
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