Mare evil to catch

C

Coffee_Bean

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Well, my mare is evil in the field but has got progressively worse, to the point where my friend has to catch her for me most of the time.

When I first got her she was fine, then about 4 months ago,she literally changed overnight, going from being slightly reluctant to a couple of circles in trot then you can catch her. I could cope with that, but now she will do pretty much anything not to be caught. She will rear at you, kick out and have a good go at charging. I am not confident enough with her (hence why friend gets her for me).

But you just never know with her, I got her in one night last week and she just stood, and let me put her head collar on, ears forward! I couldn't believe it!! But then at the weekend she was evil and tbh it scares me!

So any advice? Anyone been in this situation?

Please don't answer if you are going to say sell her, becuase I'm not and want to persevere with her.
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Good luck.Maybe she senses you are nervous and that is why she is being like it.Try building up you confidence by catching other people horses???
 
If she used to be fine have you ruled out any pain on her part? Did anything happen to her at the point when she stopped being fine that you could change back or undo?

Daisy used to be very hard to catch and I could offer plenty of advice but i'd rule out a problem on her part first
 
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my advice, leave her out, until she wants in......however cold and wet!!! call me harsh but she will soon learn!

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Agree!!!

Have you tried the food option, then giving her MASSES of praise when she comes over?
 
If she's bad to catch why on earth do you take the headcollar off or is it only a nylon one (which should not be left on at any price!) If you left a leather headcollar on her with a foot length of rope left on so you can sneakily grab that while she is eating out of your other hand; it also stops the annoying habit of moving away just as you're trying to put the h/c on; that is infuriating!
As someone else said, has anything happened lately to upset her or is she just taking the proverbial? There's nothing more annoying to me and I tend to walk them round if they want to be stupid; I won't let them stop at all, keep driving them away; it usually works as they get fed up and want to stop. When I do catch them I make a lot of them, rub their faces etc. If she came up to me and reared up and paddled at me, then I would throw something at her or have a small whip with me to give her a clack; that is not allowed and the sooner you stand up to her the better. It might be an idea if you make a habit of wearing your hat when you go to catch her too.
 
Food option sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, doesn't work with carrots, sometimes works with a bucket of nuts but depends on her mood.

Leaving her headcollar on makes no difference, if you get close enough to her that you would be able to touch her, she will pretty much stand for you to put her HC on.

Think I might try taking the whip into the field, because she needs to have some respect, but suppose she isn't going to learn that if I don't stand up to her.

dwi- No pretty sure she is not in pain as had everything checked, and I don't think anything happened that would affect her...
 
i wouldnt leave headcollar on after reading recent posts about a horse hanging itself getting caught up. just to be on the safe side.

When she rears/ kicks etc is she trying to kick you or is she full of beans and playing? how old is she?

what I would do is walk into the field, perhaps talking to/ stroking a few other horses before you get to her. Then when you are a few steps away stop, ignore her and let her come to you, hopefully she will be curious.
If she does come over dont catch her just give her a pat/ ears a rub and talk to her praising her, then walk away. i'd practise this a few times before attempting to bring her in. i wouldnt take a whip into the field, she will just run away from you then.
 
Have been there! Took me about a year but April comes straight to me now.
I wouldn't take a whip in with to be honest as if she is already lashing out then it will just become a confrontation.

I'm no expert in horse psychology but the following worked for me:

Check shes not in pain.

Use feeding to catch her if safe to do so with other horses.

If she comes to you catch her over the gate until you gain confidence and trick her into thinking you are braver than you are. Then work up to catching her just inside the gate.

Make sure her routine is varied and she's not dreading being caught to be over schooled etc

If she runs off, leave her and catch another horse. Jealousy does work.

If your hill is on a slope, approach her from above.

Catch her with a rope around her neck first.

Have LOTS of patience and praise her to the skies when you do get her.


PM me if you want, I was in the exact same situation
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well in that case I would turn and walk away from her, totally ignore her and leave her in the field.

thats is of course if you are sure there is nothing wrong with her, she will soon learn she gets no attention from this bad behaviour.
 
Is she in with lots of other horses?

we had a horse at our yard who got a bit settled and attached to the herd. The owner put her in a paddock for a few weeks, it was smaller and so she was easier to catch, also no other horses... she got better at being caught and then was gradually reintroduced into the herd again and was then fine to catch... this could be an idea!

Bx
 
YO's rules where we are, are for under 16's to wear a hat, gloves and appropriate footwear to bring horses in, good idea for anyone having trouble fetching in from the field.

As for getting the beast in, maybe a tranquilizer dart fired from a 12 bore shotgun, only kidding
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, cant think of any magic answer, think others have covered it, a hungry horse is normally easier to bring in, maybe too much grass in the field.
 
It is interesting that you say you send your friend in to catch her most of the time. Is she easier to catch for the friend? Perhaps she associates you with work, which is why she won't be caught by you. Obviously, you need to check that work is not causing her any pain, but it could just be that she is a lazy madam who prefers her friends to working!

I would suggest trying to break the mental association between you catching her and her being worked. Bring her in sometimes and just feed her and turn her out again. Even if she is going to be worked, still give her a small token feed, preferably something that she really loves.

How is she with other horses? Does she have any strong attachments to any of her fieldmates? Is she ever nappy about being ridden away from other horses?
 
If I were you, I'd electric fence a bit of field off....small enough that you can walk her down..........and only leave enough hay so she runs out before you want to catch her.
Then walk her down, if she kicks at you or tries to stop and graze, keep her moving by chasing with whip or rope (be quiet but determined).
When she comes to you...catch her and give her a feed or at least a titbit. Put her in the stable...and don't ride her until after she's had some eating/chilling time. If she turns her ass on you, say 'no!' and swing a leadrope (not metal bit) at her bum (stay out of range) until she turns. Then catch her and give her a treat. And work her if you want.
She should soon associate being caught with eating rather than work...and not being caught with being worked in her electric fence enclosure.
S
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Talking of treats, his lordships attention is totally mine for a KitKat, handy when I first moved to where I am now to distract him from wanting to clear off back to the old yard, he knew the way and would have had to negotiate roads
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I would give him it a bit at a time while walking, his little brain was totally engrossed in the KitKat he forgot all about the turnoff at the bend.
Maybe if you could find a treat she REALLY loves and give it to her everytime you have any contact at all, maybe she would then associate you with the treat and be more willing to be caught.
 
My horse did this when they went out 24/7 in spring. He came in easier for friends as they did not ride him. He wasnt nasty though, he was just enjoying the freedom, he would walk around me in circles for ages and as soon as I stood by his shoulder to get his headcoller on he would do the circles again.

I used to get a small bucket (supplement size) and put some feed in. The put the noseband of the headcolller around it. As soon as he went to eat the feed I pulled the headcoller up quickly.

I started bringing him in, feeding and grooming him, then putting him back out. No exercise at all. He soon leart and came to me most of the time.

He did it the year before aswell though at the same time
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On a slightly different tack (sailing reference there
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) have you found out what she enjoys doing regarding work? Does she enjoy jumping? Or hacking? Or loose schooling? Do you let her make some decisions...and do you praise her a lot for good work so she feels she is doing well?
My TB's thing was exploring...so every now and then I'd let her take me on a hack...so she'd decide which way to go, often down new routes. She loved it...and it kept her sweet, so happy horse. Obviously not a good plan if your girl is likely to bu**er off home at speed
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A lot of horses really enjoy working out grid work, too...or going cantering with friends...or playing loose schooling... with some interesting objects to find/play with?
If you make work enjoyable...she'll 'bond' (urgh) better with you.
S
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Completely agree with Shilasdair, that's what helped me with Ap.

In my head (a scary place) it's like a deal, we will go hacking, jump and do lots of fun stuff that she enjoys but in return when we go in the school she has to work!
She's much more motivated now, it's give and take I guess
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Completely agree with Shilasdair, that's what helped me with Ap.

In my head (a scary place) it's like a deal, we will go hacking, jump and do lots of fun stuff that she enjoys but in return when we go in the school she has to work!
She's much more motivated now, it's give and take I guess
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Yes, that's exactly the deal I struck with my mare...you put it much more eloquently though
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S
 
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