Is he testing me...?

[SamanthaToby]

Ok so i have had my re home traditional cob for about 2/3 months now.
He is fine in the stable.
Will stand for farrier
Will box fine
Is a bit rude in the school but that i am working on.

What’s driving me mad is that the last few weeks he has taken to giving me the run about round the field. Normally we have no [problem with getting hold of him. I have had to take a feed bucket with pony nuts in its and let him get his head down and grab him the. When he comes in after playing up he is as good as gold.

He is currently living out 24/7 unless it’s a bad night then he comes in so I’m at a loss.

He has also taken to trying to avoid me when i put his head cooler on. He puts his head against the stable wall. But i have tacked him outside and we are getting there with this...

 

[SpringArising]

Bring him in to give him a feed every day and then turn him back out again. He's not testing you - he just doesn't want to see you/do the things he associates with seeing you.

 

[SamanthaToby]

Thanks for the advice. I have tried this too. Eveyday we do the same run round the field. He so cheeky. We all at a loss

 

[bubsqueaks]

I would say he is testing you yes
Our Cob mare did exactly that after a few weeks with us especially with my daughter who rides her!
We did a lot of groundwork with her as we had other napping & loading issues
These have all resolved now
If its just a catching issue its not too serious - annoying yes - maybe leave a leather headcollar on him.

 

[paddy555]

He has also taken to trying to avoid me when i put his head cooler on. He puts his head against the stable wall. But i have tacked him outside and we are getting there with this...

you could try putting it on from behind, put the head cover over his withers and then run it forward down over his ears. Let him have a few nuts in a bucket to keep his head down. This is how I get them on nervous animals.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We bought a 'difficult to catch' youngster. We have never had any trouble. We can only guess that it is because we use a rope halter, rather than a headcollar, as she is noisy reactive.

 

[SamanthaToby]

I would say he is testing you yes
Our Cob mare did exactly that after a few weeks with us especially with my daughter who rides her!
We did a lot of groundwork with her as we had other napping & loading issues
These have all resolved now
If its just a catching issue its not too serious - annoying yes - maybe leave a leather headcollar on him.

Funny you should say this we had napping issues but I had a tb befor him who was bad for it so I sorted that right out. I have just been an got a safety head collar an will leave this on him least I have got something to get hold of. Even if it does go against my greater instincts to leave a cooler on him.
At first I thought it was just me as I do all the ground work with him. But he has started doing it to my other half to.

I am due to go away and dreading catching him when I come back after he been left feral for so long

 

[Highflinger]

I suggest you frequently "catch" him give a scratch/treat & then let him go. Mine are all fine to catch but I often put a head collar on in field when I check them & then take off again so they don't associate head collar = coming in= work.

 

[respectedpony driver]

I would be worried about him putting his head against the wall,this is usually a pain issue,do you use a noseband?Also,keep going out into the field and talking and give him something nice without bringing him in,orbring him in and just feed him and make a fuss of him.I would definately get him checked out for the head against the wall though.Good luck.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I suspect he isnt fully trusting at the moment. I always swear by monty roberts join up! I have done this with every horse i have had or worked with and its always worked for me , worth a try 🤗

 

[The Trooper]

When I bought Bonnie last year she was perfect to catch, but after a few weeks she decided to give me the run around. I'm of the opinion that if she wants to run she can run and I chased her on not letting her stop to eat or rest, just kept her moving.

We did this for nearly an hour the first time (mid heatwave summer 2018), in a field on the side of a hill, I was exhausted and soaked with sweat and so was she.

I used a lunge line to keep her moving, once she went to the gate I would stop chasing. I had to do this for 2 days (after day 1 I left a field safe headcollar on for a couple weeks). After 2 days she learnt that running away from me was more hassle than coming to me for some treats and a scratch (ALWAYS after I had her headcollared and lead rope on).

I know that some people won't like this method but it worked for me, I don't see it as any different to the Monty Roberts join up stuff, other than it being in a field instead of a round pen and being alot more work.

I am completely against the taking a bucket to the gate method, yes I know it works but I just don't like it, dunno why.

 

[Barton Bounty]

When I bought Bonnie last year she was perfect to catch, but after a few weeks she decided to give me the run around. I'm of the opinion that if she wants to run she can run and I chased her on not letting her stop to eat or rest, just kept her moving.

We did this for nearly an hour the first time (mid heatwave summer 2018), in a field on the side of a hill, I was exhausted and soaked with sweat and so was she.

I used a lunge line to keep her moving, once she went to the gate I would stop chasing. I had to do this for 2 days (after day 1 I left a field safe headcollar on for a couple weeks). After 2 days she learnt that running away from me was more hassle than coming to me for some treats and a scratch (ALWAYS after I had her headcollared and lead rope on).

I know that some people won't like this method but it worked for me, I don't see it as any different to the Monty Roberts join up stuff, other than it being in a field instead of a round pen and being alot more work.

I am completely against the taking a bucket to the gate method, yes I know it works but I just don't like it, dunno why.

Absolutely! Thats another good idea!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I wouldnt do the bucket thing either, giving in to them to easy, im lucky my horse sees my car and takes himself to the gate 😂 pretty sure he would bring himself in if i let him lol

 

[Leo Walker]

When I bought Bonnie last year she was perfect to catch, but after a few weeks she decided to give me the run around. I'm of the opinion that if she wants to run she can run and I chased her on not letting her stop to eat or rest, just kept her moving.

We did this for nearly an hour the first time (mid heatwave summer 2018), in a field on the side of a hill, I was exhausted and soaked with sweat and so was she.

I used a lunge line to keep her moving, once she went to the gate I would stop chasing. I had to do this for 2 days (after day 1 I left a field safe headcollar on for a couple weeks). After 2 days she learnt that running away from me was more hassle than coming to me for some treats and a scratch (ALWAYS after I had her headcollared and lead rope on).

I know that some people won't like this method but it worked for me, I don't see it as any different to the Monty Roberts join up stuff, other than it being in a field instead of a round pen and being alot more work.

I am completely against the taking a bucket to the gate method, yes I know it works but I just don't like it, dunno why.

This does work. The first time is usually bad, the second can be worse but by day 3 most have seen the light! Its best to catch them, treat them and immediately let go if you can. Then repeat. In my younger fitter days I was forever getting called in to help people with naughty to catch ponies. There was only one it ever failed on, but she was out on 30 acres of hill and I had to admit defeat in the end!

 

[Leandy]

What does his previous owner say? Is this new behaviour? I would doubt that it is and it would be good to know how they managed it. It is common for ones which can be difficult to catch to be good to start with in a new place until they are confident again in their surroundings and then to revert to their old ways. Alternatively, has something changed about routine or the way you are keeping him?

 

[redapple]

Potentially not the story you want to hear. But I had a share horse who even at 25 was still a pain to catch (she came in every night but only got ridden once or twice so most nights just got dinner and hay). Tried lots and lots of things but like The Trooper says she would give up if you made her realise that it was that or keeping moving. I just used to stop her eating and keep her moving (They dont have to be running but they cannot eat!). Somedays it took longer than others and somedays it look 10 seconds but it always worked.