Pony really does not want to be caught

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Bright_Spark

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I need some help with Suzzie as she is really being difficult to catch atm. She has always been difficult- mainly because she is quite wary.

I've spent 2 hours plus trying to get her and still not been able to. I've left it with me just being able to stroke her so its a positive (ish) ending.

Mainly she refuse to let me get anywhere near her and gallops/ trots off around the field. Eventually I might be allowed to get within a few feet, but thats it.

I am calm and move slowly as she is scared of quick movments.

Food doesnt work- I wont try a bucket because I end up being mobbed with empty pockets anyway LOL.

Today I only wanted to give her a polo and that took an hour!
mad.gif


Any advice please?

Oh she is currently in a 10 acre field with 6 others. I will be moving her to a smaller one when I catch her
 
Forgive me if you have already tried this but when i first got Inky and he was a baby he was very wary in the field. If i struggling to catch him i got as close as i could to him and then knelt down. he would look at me for a few minutes and then he just couldnt resist coming over. I would try it a few times and just stroke him then walk away. He got used to coming over and then i was able to catch him. Even now when he has his mad run around as soon as i crouch down he just comes straight over!!! It just takes time but im sure you have gathered this!!! Its worth a try!!
grin.gif
crazy.gif
 
I agree with stinkbomb, the smaller you are the less intimidating you are to the horse and when you are crouched down the horse cant help but become intreged as to what you are doing, trouble is mine doesnt fall for it anymore. I would just try everyday for a week or two just going out with food and persevering until you have given her some and just dont bring her in, it may or may not work but if she associates you with not being caught and only nice things happen when you come, i.e, food or a nice scratch then maybe it wont be such an issue. I have tried all the natural horsemanship with my horse, join up etc but he can still be naughty to catch, some horses unfortunately are just that way. Good luck!!
 
I was going through the same thing a matter of days ago. 4 hrs is our record - it ain't fun is it? I have started taking a food bucket in and she is coming over to me now
smile.gif


But if you can't do that, pick some time where you have nothing on, hours to spare. Sit in the field as close to her as you can get where she can see you. Don't look at her, just sit there and fiddle with something, a carrot maybe. Toss it up and down for a while, then 'accidently' throw it fowards a short way - you with then just have to reach and get it (crawl along the ground). Just carry on with this. Until you get close enough to catch her.
 
when i used to have a pony who didnt like being caught, i used to put him out with my sisters mare who doesnt mind being caught and fuss over her and ignore the naughty pony- have my back to him and give my sisters mare lots of polos and food. eventually he would come and investigate, and allow me to fuss him too.
 
Stinkbomb is right - when we rescued only foal she was very nervous. In the field rounding her up would be an issue as it would only panic her and she would then charge.
In the end we would just take a day where we would just sit in the field...I used to leave some apples, carrots and polos around me so that she got to know I was not a threat and that on approaching me she would get some food...I would then sit there and gently talk to her...usually if you keep you back to where she is based this works better and is less threating...
We also put her into a smaller field with a mare who would come up to us and was easy to catch...this way she followed the braver mare and would learn that it was ok to approach us. She eventually came around....
Might have to herd her out to catch her...is there anyway you could ride into the field to slip a leader around her..?....maybe if there is a horse she trusts and could just follow it out into the yard and herd her into a stable.
 
What happens if you bring all the others in? Can you bring her with them and then start again in a smaller area? In a smaller space I find the Monty Roberts send away till they want to come to you method works well .....but that is with a cheeky one rather than a scared one.
 
try driving her away from the herd ,dont let her come back a pony that is afraid needs a strong leader. polos and carrots work to a point but the days when you just pass for a hug are also the days i forget to stick a treat in my pocket.dont be harsh stand tall and mean it dont crack every so often stop stroke another and turn your back to her ,walk up to her if she looks like she may run turn your back again.there is no right or wrong way there all different .thank goodness.and unfortunatly no quick fix
 
[ QUOTE ]
Forgive me if you have already tried this but when i first got Inky and he was a baby he was very wary in the field. If i struggling to catch him i got as close as i could to him and then knelt down. he would look at me for a few minutes and then he just couldnt resist coming over. I would try it a few times and just stroke him then walk away. He got used to coming over and then i was able to catch him. Even now when he has his mad run around as soon as i crouch down he just comes straight over!!! It just takes time but im sure you have gathered this!!! Its worth a try!!
grin.gif
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I have tried that, she just wanders off and starts grazing
mad.gif
Mind you at first I have to get close enough to her with out her charging off

She is not nosey or food orientated at all, which makes it soooo much harder.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I agree with stinkbomb, the smaller you are the less intimidating you are to the horse and when you are crouched down the horse cant help but become intreged as to what you are doing, trouble is mine doesnt fall for it anymore. I would just try everyday for a week or two just going out with food and persevering until you have given her some and just dont bring her in, it may or may not work but if she associates you with not being caught and only nice things happen when you come, i.e, food or a nice scratch then maybe it wont be such an issue. I have tried all the natural horsemanship with my horse, join up etc but he can still be naughty to catch, some horses unfortunately are just that way. Good luck!!

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Thanks, today it took me an hour to get close enough to give her a polo. I always try to say hello to her when I go out into the field and just give her treat or a pat, she just really is not intrested. Trust me to have an awkward pony LOL.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I was going through the same thing a matter of days ago. 4 hrs is our record - it ain't fun is it? I have started taking a food bucket in and she is coming over to me now
smile.gif


But if you can't do that, pick some time where you have nothing on, hours to spare. Sit in the field as close to her as you can get where she can see you. Don't look at her, just sit there and fiddle with something, a carrot maybe. Toss it up and down for a while, then 'accidently' throw it fowards a short way - you with then just have to reach and get it (crawl along the ground). Just carry on with this. Until you get close enough to catch her.

[/ QUOTE ]

Its not fun at all- especially in the pouring rain! As I have said it hasnt worked so far but I will keep trying.
 
[ QUOTE ]
when i used to have a pony who didnt like being caught, i used to put him out with my sisters mare who doesnt mind being caught and fuss over her and ignore the naughty pony- have my back to him and give my sisters mare lots of polos and food. eventually he would come and investigate, and allow me to fuss him too.

[/ QUOTE ]

She tends to hover in the background- everyone else are so friendly and love a fuss- they cant understand why I want to spend time with Suzzie when they give me cuddles and eat my food LOL. Jethro normally follows Suzzie though in the hope he can do the naughties with her
blush.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Stinkbomb is right - when we rescued only foal she was very nervous. In the field rounding her up would be an issue as it would only panic her and she would then charge.
In the end we would just take a day where we would just sit in the field...I used to leave some apples, carrots and polos around me so that she got to know I was not a threat and that on approaching me she would get some food...I would then sit there and gently talk to her...usually if you keep you back to where she is based this works better and is less threating...
We also put her into a smaller field with a mare who would come up to us and was easy to catch...this way she followed the braver mare and would learn that it was ok to approach us. She eventually came around....
Might have to herd her out to catch her...is there anyway you could ride into the field to slip a leader around her..?....maybe if there is a horse she trusts and could just follow it out into the yard and herd her into a stable.

[/ QUOTE ]

She'd prob follow everyone else in to the stables, just a case of trying to get 7 ponies into the stables as its normally quite fun LOL.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What happens if you bring all the others in? Can you bring her with them and then start again in a smaller area? In a smaller space I find the Monty Roberts send away till they want to come to you method works well .....but that is with a cheeky one rather than a scared one.

[/ QUOTE ]

She would prob follow them all in,might try that this weekend.
 
[ QUOTE ]
try driving her away from the herd ,dont let her come back a pony that is afraid needs a strong leader. polos and carrots work to a point but the days when you just pass for a hug are also the days i forget to stick a treat in my pocket.dont be harsh stand tall and mean it dont crack every so often stop stroke another and turn your back to her ,walk up to her if she looks like she may run turn your back again.there is no right or wrong way there all different .thank goodness.and unfortunatly no quick fix

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, that is what I have been trying to do- she walks away from the others then suddenly gallops back so it doesnt always work- she is a cunning little minx. Will just have to keep trying with her.
 
if you have time and a nice day, just sit in the middle of the field and let her come up to you, may take hours, but when she does reward her with food.

i know yo usaid she isnt that interested but it may work given time and patience.

has for me a number of times.
 
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