Naughty to catch?

[elliegirl12]

Kyra has never ever been naughty to catch .... we have moved yards and we are now in with two other horses she was good as gold at first but now we cannot catch her, up at the old yard she was stuck in most of the time like 2days in and 2days and nights out, she wont let us go any where near her nwo .... she does have grass now .... and is now out with 2 other horses including my other mare .... she was just out with my other mare before is this just a fad kind of thing or is it like gunna be a long term thing now? she has never been ill treated we think she is just enjoying her freedom? any advice would be appreciated ....

she wont let us catch her with a bucket and food..... Thanks in advance!!

 

[Kenzo]

I find with horses that are a pig to catch is to go into the field al a lot and ignore that particular horse for a few weeks and make a fuss of the others, offering a treat to the others (providing the other owners don't mind you doing this and doesn't not cause any squabbles...so just a bit of common sense etc).

Horses are extremely nosey and if you have heard the saying 'curiosity killed the cat', well instead its curiosity catches the horse.

You just need lots of patience, they get wise to the old bucket trick and wears thin after a while, then once the horse is coming up, don't try to catch it, just give friendly stroke and turn away from them and walk off.

Body language counts for a a lot two, try not to walk directly up to them, instead keep your distance and mooch into the heard and just be present fo for a while, not looking at your horse, with your shoulder away from them and move in that way.

 

[RhiannonE]

Have you cleared out the field so she's left on her own? That wouldn't work with mine who is often left on his own and he doesn't care but when my previous horse was left alone he'd left me get him with a food bucket.
Can you get close to her? Close enough to put a lead rope round her neck? So that you have something to hold on to before getting the headcollar on?

It's probably a fad -enjoying being out with the nice grass so I wouldnt worry too much. With Whisper who used to live out all the time and was only caught to be ridden (therefore was a bit of a bugger to catch when i got him) I spent time just "hanging out" in the field and giving him treats and then giving him treats and leading him to the other side of the field, then untied him and walked off. So now he thinks ok is she here to get me in or just to give me a treat and lets me catch him every time! x

 

[RhiannonE]

I agree about the body language - if i approach Whisper head on and quite briskly then i wont get near him but if i sort of wonder up to him side on, looking about me and fiddling with the treats in my hand then he walks over to me as if to say whats going here then?

 

[elliegirl12]

Okay thanks guys

.... i cannot get close enough to put the head coller on .... i have tried sort of backing up near her and she being a clever little mare just twigs but will defo try the other way tho

and yes tried leaving her out without any one else comes running over but try to touch her and sort of panics mum let her through the gate the other day and let her go to the end of the grass track and she panicked but managed to slip the lead rope over her neck and keep hold of her .... sounds like a good idea though guys thanks