Paddock Drama

[DancingHorse76]

Hi hope everyone is doing well. Not sure if this has been addressed before. I have a mare who has recently come back into work after having a year off partying in the filed. She is good as cold and have the seeetest temperament - until you try bring her in to rode when it’s not coming in time. She will let you walk up to her and put the halter on. Bit as soon as you walk towards they gate she clocks she has to leave the field and boom she’s off. Lead rein and all. Then it’s impossible to catch her unless you start moving the other horses in the field. Then she will happily go with you. She does not have a particular attachment so any of the horses in the field, in fact she hates it when they are in her space. Any idea what I can do to let her come in on her own with me so it’s a positive experience and to avoid having rope burn or my arm pulled out the socket. I have not tried a bridle mainly out of fear she does the same and then I’m minus one bridle and don’t want her to accidentally hurt herself. I’ve tried food, bribery, plus now wearing gloves and my riding hat when I go get her but it seems to be a two person job. Me getting her and someone else grabbing another pony. It’s like she suffers from FOMO with no clue what she might miss out on. It’s not a nasty move more a nope not now

 

[Highmileagecob]

It can be a tricky one to solve. She has learned that she only needs to walk with you to a certain point in the field, then she can escape. We had this with a 14;2 cob on our yard. With him it was fairly easy, as he was very food motivated. Put a handful of treats in a crinkly bag, crisp packet or something. Walk up and put halter on, Decide how many steps you are going to take, and walk firmly with her - say twelve strides. Give her a small treat from the packet, remove the halter and walk away for a few strides. At this point she will either zip off back to the herd, or stand and think about another treat. The aim is to get her to come to you for another treat, then you move away, and turn away from her. See how far down the field you can get. Don't be in a hurry to get her out of the field, be prepared to take a few days over it. If you manage to get as far as the gate, maybe have a small bucket feed handy, give her a quick groom, and put her back in the field. The aim is to break her association of coming in with work, and also break her routine of coming in at a set time. Good luck, it is a frustrating process.

 

[meleeka]

She's telling you quite clearly that she doesn't want to work. Are you as sure as you can be that she's not in any discomfort when being ridden, or that you aren't asking her to do more than she has the fitness for? If yes, I'd try a control halter next, with plenty of treads when you get her to stick with you. I also wouldn't try taking her out of the field at first, just aim to get her further than the day before.

 

[I'm Dun]

If shes sound and enjoying her work then get a Dually and do some very basic groundwork. When you are happy shes soft and responsive and understands how it works, you can use it to bring her in. Safer than a bridle if she does get away. But have gloves on and use a lung line to help make sure she doesnt get away.

 

[DancingHorse76]

Hi hope everyone is doing well. Not sure if this has been addressed before. I have a mare who has recently come back into work after having a year off partying in the filed. She is good as cold and have the seeetest temperament - until you try bring her in to rode when it’s not coming in time. She will let you walk up to her and put the halter on. Bit as soon as you walk towards they gate she clocks she has to leave the field and boom she’s off. Lead rein and all. Then it’s impossible to catch her unless you start moving the other horses in the field. Then she will happily go with you. She does not have a particular attachment so any of the horses in the field, in fact she hates it when they are in her space. Any idea what I can do to let her come in on her own with me so it’s a positive experience and to avoid having rope burn or my arm pulled out the socket. I have not tried a bridle mainly out of fear she does the same and then I’m minus one bridle and don’t want her to accidentally hurt herself. I’ve tried food, bribery, plus now wearing gloves and my riding hat when I go get her but it seems to be a two person job. Me getting her and someone else grabbing another pony. It’s like she suffers from FOMO with no clue what she might miss out on. It’s not a nasty move more a nope not now

She's telling you quite clearly that she doesn't want to work. Are you as sure as you can be that she's not in any discomfort when being ridden, or that you aren't asking her to do more than she has the fitness for? If yes, I'd try a control halter next, with plenty of treads when you get her to stick with you. I also wouldn't try taking her out of the field at first, just aim to get her further than the day before.

No she is fine once through the gate and if you lead her with buddy pony she turns into dopey donkey and works like an absolute dream. I’ll aim for bit forward every day until I make it to the gate. Once through the gate you can take off the halter and she’ll walk down the path next to you. It’s just getting to the gate. I can do 3 strides normally and she’s off turning into a catchable if you can. As soon as you lead another horse away she comes trotting up aka don’t leave me here mum

 

[DancingHorse76]

If shes sound and enjoying her work then get a Dually and do some very basic groundwork. When you are happy shes soft and responsive and understands how it works, you can use it to bring her in. Safer than a bridle if she does get away. But have gloves on and use a lung line to help make sure she doesnt get away.

Good idea thanks ! Was a bit nervous about the Dually as I’ve never used it and read it can be bad if you don’t know what you are doing with it

 

[Highmileagecob]

Try walking up to her without a halter, give her a small treat, then walk away three or four strides with your back to her. Crackle the treat packet, bend down and look at your shoe laces, pick a couple of handfuls of grass, anything to make her curious and step towards you. As soon as you see the step towards you. half turn towards her and hold out another treat.. Repeat for as long as she will engage. It's a fun (frustrating) exercise to make her concentrate on you instead of the herd.
Good luck, hope you can break her bad habit!

 

[I'm Dun]

Good idea thanks ! Was a bit nervous about the Dually as I’ve never used it and read it can be bad if you don’t know what you are doing with it

It can be but its a lot safer than her getting free with a bridle. You must do some groundwork to get her to understand first. They come wit a DVD so you can learn the basics.

 

[Exasperated]

Good idea thanks ! Was a bit nervous about the Dually as I’ve never used it and read it can be bad if you don’t know what you are doing with it

I’d agree about the benefits of a Dually halter, and once your horse understands what’s expected, you’ll both be in a happier position, generally.
However, if the horse breaks free with the lead rope attached to the nose line, it will do damage if your galloping horse treads on that rope, or gets the rope tangled onto something, mid-flight.
The Dually nose line forms a nylon noose that keeps tightening around the muzzle until pressure on the rope is taken off. Never tie up using the nose line, either.