Horse won't come in from the field!

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Livv_xoox

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He has been like it for a while but never this bad, he used to come in for other people but rarely me but now he won't let anyone near him!

I have tried chasing him round and calmly following him to stop him grazing but instead of getting fed us and coming to me he gets fed up and starts trying to kick me :( he keeps backing up and kicking so I keep walking backwards to keep calm and stay looking at him but he just carries on.

Any advise because it's getting impossible x
 
Have you tried the old shaking some feed in a bucket trick to tempt him over? If he has companions and you don't want to attract them all over by shaking feed, can you bring them out and leave him on his own until he gets fed up on his own and wants to come in? Failing that, I know it's not always a popular option but I know a few people who have put a field safe head collar on with a tiny piece of lead rope attached (not long enough to catch on anything) so that they have something to grab if they can get near enough.

That's all I can think of for now I'm afraid, it's a frustrating situation to be in. I hope you find a solution soon x
 
I feel for you...I've just had same thing today...Sasha is not going to come to me come hell or high water! Only wanted take lightweight rug off! We have this performance from her every spring when summer fields are available to us... She is fine at the yard...ah well anyone good with a lasoo?
 
Kicking out at you is not on! Take a lunge whip in with you and use that so you can tickle him with it to keep him moving without getting in range of those hooves. I think you are doing the right thing to keep him moving and not allowing him to graze. Wait until he starts licking and chewing, and/or starts looking round at you before trying to halter him.
 
I used to own the world's worst horse in terms of being caught - I couldn't get near him for love nor money some days.

Strangely, though, I could ALWAYS catch him if I went to pick out his feet instead of trying to get up near his head. I'd slowly back towards him (with my back to him), then bend down at his feet and pick one up. As I was holding it up, I'd get the rope around his neck, and then once it was on, I'd give him a carrot, walk him around a couple of steps and let him go again.

He was really Jekyll and Hyde - some days he'd come marching over and others I'd spend hours trying to get him.

It's really important that you always reward him for letting you catch him though, even if you're super frustrated. And make sure you catch and release more often than not, too. If all else fails, leave a leather head-collar on him (which is what I ended up doing). It made my life ten times easier - I used to dread trying to catch the little sod sometimes!
 
I find (sometimes) appealing to my horse's curiosity is the best way - I go in to the field, make sure he's looking at me and isn't too far away, but not so close he thinks I want to catch him, then I bend down and pretend I've found something really interesting on the ground, at this point I rustle something in my pocket. He will often come and see what I'm doing and if he thinks I have something worth eating he will let me catch him! Can take a while though and isn't foolproof!
 
muckypony said:
What else have you tried and what do you do with him when you do catch him and bring him in?
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Usually I try to let him go over to this other field and let him eat the good grass before riding or putting him to bed.

I will try taking a lunge whip out and using that if he kicks but does anyone know any bonding techniques I could try once I've caught him??
 
Livv_xoox said:
Usually I try to let him go over to this other field and let him eat the good grass before riding or putting him to bed.

I will try taking a lunge whip out and using that if he kicks but does anyone know any bonding techniques I could try once I've caught him??
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if you keep him moving round, trot/canter whatever ,it doesn't matter, not letting him graze, using the schooling whip [try not to actually smack; just wave it ]- when he lowers his head/starts licking and chewing etc, and lets you approach, you will have done a version of 'join up'. keep doing this when he won't be caught and it itself will create a better bond.
 
Try not to approach him head on - I used to have a mare who was hard to catch ( she didn't try to kick me though :() If I approached sideways on and just sauntered not looking her in the eye this usually worked ( sometimes took a while though)
Sometimes direct eye contact and a head on approach can feel intimidating or challenging to some horses

I would always give a handful of feed in a bucket once in the stable as well - if its in a bucket a horse will think its a feed no matter how small it is. If you do this every time it can really be a good reinforcer (said mare who was bad to catch then started coming to call once she thought she would always get a feed !!)
 
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I had one didn't kick out just couldn't catch it so I left it in the field. I would go down the field twice daily walk round it to check it was ok then leave not even attempting to catch it. Within a About a week the horse was totally confused as to why I wasn't playing its game and following it round trying to catch it that it started following me to the gate. Having eventually caught it I did turn it out in a head collar.
 
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