How would you go about catching shy yearlings?

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ladybones

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SO we have two yearlings who are extreamly shy.. they have had head collars on and are pretty good to lead but for the past couple of months they have pretty much just been left in a massive field! We feed them everyday and are happy to come over and be close to us BUT is we move towards them or try and touch them they are off!! They need to come in to be wormed and genrally fussed over so how would you do it? do you have any experience of this situation and how did you deal with it? I guess one of out main problems is that they are in such a big field, but we dont have any means of creating a smaller paddock
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Many thanks in advance!
 
Set a day aside, go and sit in the field with treats/apples/whatever, dont rush! Touch the headcollar, let go again, etc etc etc. Until you've got hold of them - trick is not to rush, I'm CONVINCED my OHs horse knows when I'm in a rush cos thats the one day he buggers off with me in his field! xxxx
 
Walk up to them, dont look them in the eye, soon as you sense they are going to run, turn away walk a few steps and crouch down. . . . worked a treat with all mine they r such curious animals. . . when they come to investigate, talk gently, dont look them in the eyes give them gentle rub and walk away a few steps and repeat. . . . do this for a few days or as long as it takes to build thier trust, gradually move from stroking the neck to the back and head then slowly introduce the headcollar ( on you first) . . . . will pay dividends in the end. :-D

I know natural horsemanship isnt everyones thing but has helped me understand horses so much better and therefore have a better relationship!!!

Hope it helps. . .
 
If you can borrow a quiet mare they will probably follow her into a stable or at least into an enclosed yard, if they start to wonder off then trot the mare along and they should stay close by. Take your time and try not to let them get suspicious of your intentions.
 
I agree time and patients. Now somebody has had the wise idea of taking the headcollars off set aside 2 days. However if they're in a massive field you are better off restricting the area they run around in making it a tad easier to catch them.
 
If you do need them more quickly for some emergency reason, you can cunningly conceal the headcollars in a bucket of feed you when they dip their noses in they also put their noses into the headcollars, then you can gently put the bucket down and draw the headcollars on properly. Slow and steady is better if it's not an emergency though.

Maybe when they go back out, leave their headcollars on with a short stubby bit of leadrope attached to make life easier next time - you'll have to be very careful that there's nothing in the field they might get caught on though.
 
Ok so it's looking like a long weekend job then! Thanks for all that helpful advice, i will start work tomorrow and continue over the weekend. They had their headcollars on with a little leadrope type thing attached but the blighters decided to deposit them in the field
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They need to have moved fields by the 15th so we shall see!!
Also they do actually live with a very friendly and calm 2yo but im not sure they would follow her very well, they like to stick together.. we call them tweedle dee and tweele dum!
 
I wouldnt ever leave headcollars on in the field - better that you spend a long while teaching them to be alright with the headcollars.

xxxx
 
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