I can’t catch my horse

[TheChestnutThing]

I moved to my grass livery yard this weekend (thanks for the push everyone).
I borrowed a retired horse from a friend as a companion. They are thick as thieves already.
BUT I have not been able to catch Zulu since Saturday.

Literally cannot even get near him.

Tried…feed, carrots, following him and his buddy around to make them tired, cornering, swearing, screaming, shouting, sitting in the field, more swearing than you can imagine.

I have obviously tried to catch the friend aswell in order to get Zulu to come, but can’t do that either.

Today we got fencing and cornered off an area…THEY JUMPED IT!

I am at my wits end.

Especially since i noticed he had a swollen cheek at breakfast time so it’s become a welfare issue now as I need to check if I need the vet.

(I have VERY comical videos of hubby running around waving a carrot about aswell)

I am out of ideas and patience now…

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Dart gun?
For horse, not hubby.

I'm pretty sure you have more experience than me so rather than try advice, I thought I'd try to cheer you up instead.

Best of luck.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Dart gun?
For horse, not hubby.

I'm pretty sure you have more experience than me so rather than try advice, I thought I'd try to cheer you up instead.

Best of luck.

honestly, a nice leg of thoroughbred for sunday lunch may be the answer…

 

[nagblagger]

Could someone else try? A stranger may insight curiosity?
Borrow another horse to lead pass the field?
Realistically a smaller ares is the ideal, or can you herd them into a stable?
Are you feeding them hard feed for breakfast - if so i wouldn't feed for a day, if they don't come for food and you leave it for them, just take it away.

I have sat in a field with a book and bucket !

 

[SilverLinings]

Is there a smaller permanently fenced off yard, field or other area you could herd them into? When you fenced them into a pen in the field did you use standard electric fence posts or the tall ones? If it was the standard ones then I would suggest buying the taller ones as IME most (except one of mine apparently!) horses won't try to jump them, especially with only a short run-up.

The final option that I was forced to use on a previous horse (and have used with other horses new to yards who refused to be caught) will take determination and time, possibly several hours. You need to quietly go into the field with headcollars and an apple/treat and walk up to Zulu as if to catch him. When he won't let you, you need to calmly walk after him, and keep him walking. Only stop walking if he stops or turns towards you (and say 'good boy' etc and show him the apple/treat). Don't let him stop to graze, and don't push him into anything faster than a walk (the more wound up they get the longer this will take). Eventually he will decide he is bored (and possibly hungry by that point) and let you catch him. Put his headcollar on quietly and give him an apple/treat.

However (understandably) frustrated you are when you finally catch him it is important not to get angry as he won't want to come to you next time. At no point during the process shout or wave your arms/throw things, the process needs to be calm and controlled so that the horse doesn't think you are playing a fun and exciting game of running about.

With some horses you only need to do this once, but others require it several days in a row, with the time it takes getting shorter with each go. Yes, it is boring and frustrating (and tiring if they keep going for a long time), but it will work.

 

[SDMabel]

We had a welsh mare like that , i wanted to strangle her but ironically couldnt get close enough to do so ( she was lovely really ).

I went in with a book, sat and read my book. Totally blanked her.

She eventually got closer and closer over a few hours - i mean it's not ideal in this weather.... and started nudging the book.

I would give her a treat once she was nudging me , wouldn't try to touch her.

Eventually touched her leg, worked my way up , lead rope up my sleeve like some weird magician. Slowly unfolded and once the ladrope was round her neck she froze and accepted that was that.

Even in her later years we couldnt go into the field with a headcollar on display , it was firmly stuffed up my top till I had a rope round her neck ( to catch not strangle )

It's so frustrating, but the more frustrated you get the more they seem to thrive on it and be naughtier !!

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Could someone else try? A stranger may insight curiosity?
Borrow another horse to lead pass the field?
Realistically a smaller ares is the ideal, or can you herd them into a stable?
Are you feeding them hard feed for breakfast - if so i wouldn't feed for a day, if they don't come for food and you leave it for them, just take it away.

I have sat in a field with a book and bucket !

Friends hubby went in…they were like absolutely not.

We managed to corner them and fenced off a bit and the a-holes jumped it (was up at about 1.10. So i’ve had to order 1.45 posts.

and yes, they get hard feed and a haynet each twice a day…

no stable.

 

[Clodagh]

And when you do catch him, turn him out with a muzzle on.

 

[Clodagh]

Friends hubby went in…they were like absolutely not.

We managed to corner them and fenced off a bit and the a-holes jumped it (was up at about 1.10. So i’ve had to order 1.45 posts.

and yes, they get hard feed and a haynet each twice a day…

no stable.

Definitely no hard feed or hay net.

 

[nagblagger]

def no tea tonight

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Is there a smaller permanently fenced off yard, field or other area you could herd them into? When you fenced them into a pen in the field did you use standard electric fence posts or the tall ones? If it was the standard ones then I would suggest buying the taller ones as IME most (except one of mine apparently!) horses won't try to jump them, especially with only a short run-up.

The final option that I was forced to use on a previous horse (and have used with other horses new to yards who refused to be caught) will take determination and time, possibly several hours. You need to quietly go into the field with headcollars and an apple/treat and walk up to Zulu as if to catch him. When he won't let you, you need to calmly walk after him, and keep him walking. Only stop walking if he stops or turns towards you (and say 'good boy' etc and show him the apple/treat). Don't let him stop to graze, and don't push him into anything faster than a walk (the more wound up they get the longer this will take). Eventually he will decide he is bored (and possibly hungry by that point) and let you catch him. Put his headcollar on quietly and give him an apple/treat.

However (understandably) frustrated you are when you finally catch him it is important not to get angry as he won't want to come to you next time. At no point during the process shout or wave your arms/throw things, the process needs to be calm and controlled so that the horse doesn't think you are playing a fun and exciting game of running about.

With some horses you only need to do this once, but others require it several days in a row, with the time it takes getting shorter with each go. Yes, it is boring and frustrating (and tiring if they keep going for a long time), but it will work.

Will try this. But unfortunately won’t be viable for me until the weekend (as i’m not brave enough to sit out there in the pitch black).

Thank you

Also…he never walks away from me. He only knows fast

 

[meleeka]

What happens when you put the feed down? Does your horse come straight away for it or wait until you’ve moved away?

 

[SilverLinings]

Will try this. But unfortunately won’t be viable for me until the weekend (as i’m not brave enough to sit out there in the pitch black).

Thank you

Also…he never walks away from me. He only knows fast

Hopefully after 5mins or so of charging around and you just walking/standing quietly he will settle and walk. Good luck, I hope it doesn't take too much walking and he learns that you can be more stubborn and determined than him!

 

[TheChestnutThing]

What happens when you put the feed down? Does your horse come straight away for it or wait until you’ve moved away?

They come when they see me/hear me calling (canter up the field), then stay at a distance until i’ve put the feed in/tied up the nets…
Zulu then goes to his feed and as soon as I walk towards him he high tails it all the way across 4 acres…

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Hopefully after 5mins or so of charging around and you just walking/standing quietly he will settle and walk. Good luck, I hope it doesn't take too much walking and he learns that you can be more stubborn and determined than him!

We spent an HOUR walking after them at lunch and trying to get them into a corner…
I have lost the will to live

 

[TheChestnutThing]

def no tea tonight

I tried the no breakfast thing yesterday (only because I had to drive to a meeting in Kent), but it did not deter them from being A holes at dinner time.

 

[SpeedyPony]

They come when they see me/hear me calling (canter up the field), then stay at a distance until i’ve put the feed in/tied up the nets…
Zulu then goes to his feed and as soon as I walk towards him he high tails it all the way across 4 acres…

I'd be inclined to stay by the haynets/buckets until they come up- if they won't then take the buckets away with you, I wouldn't let them have hard feed until they will approach you for it.
Once they will eat out of a bucket you are holding you can try the old headcollar over the bucket trick to get one of them caught- hopefully the other will be a little more amenable once his mate has been caught!

 

[Peglo]

I would wait until he comes right to you to give him his bucket. If he doesn’t come up to you, no tea. If he comes then the bucket can go down and leave him to it.

Also have you tried turning your back on him? So if he turns away you do. If he looks like he’s going to take off turn away before he does and pretend your not interested in him at all. That often works for me.

It is so so frustrating and keeping your cool is so hard but you do feel very proud if you manage it. Wishing you all the luck

Cross posted with speedypony. If you have the time I would try and build up his trust with getting him to come up to you for his bucket before trying to catch him but I understand your needing to check him over so might not be plausible.

 

[DabDab]

Walking them down is really the only thing I've ever known that always works....but it can take hours of just quietly refusing to let them settle. They will get bored as long as you are persistent and don't escalate nor back off.

And yes, stop feeding them. No more food until they allow themselves to be caught

 

[Abacus]

In desperation I have corralled an injured pony with a long length of white electric tape and a few people. If you can get them into a corner then generally with food you can catch them. It doesn't solve the long term problem and might make it worse. It's easier if you can first get them into a smaller area and then keep reducing the size, or corral them into an enclosed space. Good luck.

 

[Clodagh]

In desperation I have corralled an injured pony with a long length of white electric tape and a few people. If you can get them into a corner then generally with food you can catch them. It doesn't solve the long term problem and might make it worse. It's easier if you can first get them into a smaller area and then keep reducing the size, or corral them into an enclosed space. Good luck.

OP tried that, they jumped out.

OP I will agree that not being caught is the most annoying thing EVER as you can’t even punish them for it. If they won’t load you can generally do it with food or lunge lines or a broom, but not catching… I had one I’d have happily shot him at times! (Joking, oh HHO panickers).

But really do not feed him. Why would you? Do not be nice!

 

[DabDab]

As a (not particularly serious) aside ref your dart gun idea....my friend once had her sister's horse darted in the field by someone from the local safari park. The horse had got a flyrug over it's face and had gone into a complete panic, with nobody able to get near her without risking life and limb. They darted her with a 'zebra' dose and it did do the trick. So, you know, if you get desperate...

 

[Cortez]

An hour is nothing.......I have been known to spend up to four hours walking a horse down, you just need to be more stubborn than the horse. So, deffo no feed, and no giving up either: you need to make it a mission. Good luck!

 

[planete]

Take a flask and some sandwiches with you. I am not joking, you will need them if you are going to outlast them. I walked a two year old down once but it only took an hour and a half and ten minutes the second time,, then no time at all after that.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

No food worked!!!

I got to the gate and they were waiting.

I left the food outside, went in, grabbed for the neck rug and hung on like a monkey. Walked him to the nearest headcollar. Then took him for an in hand walk so he knew he was going back. Fed him outside the gate. Then let him free with headcollar on with a small bowl of chaff and made a point of going over to fuss him and grab him again.

hopefully tomorrow is better.

 

[ihatework]

If you need to intervene rapidly for vet reasons then a load of yellow sweeties (ie acp in feed) can help.

But long term - no bloody feed.
Set aside time to walk them down (all day if needs be)
For the foreseeable, they only get fed if headcollar on and human attached.
Do not get angry/ frustrated as much as they are pushing your patience

 

[Frano]

How was he kept before? If he didn’t have much grass or turnout, he may be enjoying the freedom. Could the swelling be grass glands. Build a small corral type area and feed in there. If they won’t enter the corral they get no food.

I have a small area enclosed by electric fence , it works well. Handy area to change rugs etc .

 

[maya2008]

How was he kept before? If he didn’t have much grass or turnout, he may be enjoying the freedom. Could the swelling be grass glands. Build a small corral type area and feed in there. If they won’t enter the corral they get no food.

I have a small area enclosed by electric fence , it works well. Handy area to change rugs etc .

I have this. Full height fence, sturdy wooden posts.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

How was he kept before? If he didn’t have much grass or turnout, he may be enjoying the freedom. Could the swelling be grass glands. Build a small corral type area and feed in there. If they won’t enter the corral they get no food.

I have a small area enclosed by electric fence , it works well. Handy area to change rugs etc .

He has had 24/7 turnout before in the summer time, but always been day only in winter and for the last 6 months he has been on part livery.

 

[Ratface]

I spent hours - I think it was about six - sitting in a field with a a dozen carrots, a book, sandwiches and a flask trying to get hold of a youngster for a friend who had completely lost patience with trying to catch the pony. They had stormed off, saying that if I could catch it, I could keep it! I did the completely ignore bit for four hours, until the filly nudged me, and I gave her a carrot. She grabbed it and rushed off. I knelt up, still reading and ignoring. Thirty minutes later, filly returned and grabbed carrot. Trotted off. I stood up, still reading and no eye contact. Pony returns at walk. Still reading, no eye contact. Two carrots. Pony stood there. I scratched her neck. Another carrot. Put lead rope against her neck. Carrot. Lead rope round her neck. Two carrots. Pony demanding more carrots. Headcollar attached to lead rope. Carrot. Holding lead rope round neck and giving yet another carrot, I slid the headcollar over her head and did it up. Stood there for a few minutes, gave the final carrot and led her calmly out of the field, up the lane and back to the yard.
I offered to buy her after that, got her very cheaply (£25) and moved both her and my own horse to another yard some way away. A friend bought her and she stayed with them for life.