Pony taking the mick re catching!

asbo

asbo

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Pone will stand quite near you, second you lift a hand shes off!

Headcollar doesnt work, she got it off.
Bucket doesnt work, she will eat as long as you dont have a headcollar or leadrope, any sight of those and shes off.
Removing all horses doesnt work, she just waits for them to come back.
Chasing her doesnt work, big ass field and she just gallops off, waits for you and then gallops off again.
She isnt in work as we cant catch her every day to work her as do not have 2-3 hours a day to spend catching her as I have 3 horses to do including mucking out/poo picking etc, so shes only groomed/fed/rugged etc, so its not a I dont want to work thing. However, she needs to be caught to be brought back into work so we need it sorted ASAP.
Ideas would be grand as I have ran out of them lol.
 
This probly won't work on your pony if she runs as soon as you lift your hand but what I do is

walk in the direction of the pony hiding the head collar behind my back without even looking at the pony

then walk as if I'm going to just walk past him

then when I'm level with his neck I wrap my arms around his neck and then slide the rope around his neck while still hugging him and then give him a treat

once the rope is around his neck he knows he's caught so doesn't run away

Hope that helps :)
 
trefnantblackknight said:
This probly won't work on your pony if she runs as soon as you lift your hand but what I do is

walk in the direction of the pony hiding the head collar behind my back without even looking at the pony

then walk as if I'm going to just walk past him

then when I'm level with his neck I wrap my arms around his neck and then slide the rope around his neck while still hugging him and then give him a treat

once the rope is around his neck he knows he's caught so doesn't run away

Hope that helps :)
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Thanks for that, sadly already tried that, if we do that then we cant get anywhere near her after she cottons on to the fact we have a rope or headcollar, no matter how well we hide it lol x
 
Maybe find a closer fitting headcollar (I like cheapy old leather ones as safe for field) that she can't get off.
Is it possible to put her in a smaller field/ electruc fence off a smaller area? Then rather than chase just keep her walking until she gets bored (could easily be 2/3 hours for a few days until she realises wandering off isn't worth the hassle!)
 
Blimey what a pain. How big is the field? Would you able to remove other horses, section off a smaller area, drive her into that then really make her work until she gives in and comes to you. When my TB arrived he was a so and so to catch and in a 7 acre field. I just ran after him with a lunge whip, wouldn't let him settle for a moment and made sure he was working. It nearly killed me but he did eventually lick and chew and come to me. I never had to do this for very long after that and eventually I all I had to do if he walked away from me was drive him further away with the lead rope and he's give up.You've probably tried all this though! I hope someone comes up with a solution, it is very frustrating!
 
Polos Mum said:
Maybe find a closer fitting headcollar (I like cheapy old leather ones as safe for field) that she can't get off.
Is it possible to put her in a smaller field/ electruc fence off a smaller area? Then rather than chase just keep her walking until she gets bored (could easily be 2/3 hours for a few days until she realises wandering off isn't worth the hassle!)
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She had a field safe headcollar on which she got off, so I then tried a normal headcollar, found it next to a smug looking pone following day! I did try her in a smaller area but I swear she was laughing at us as she just kept going lol x
 
oldie48 said:
Blimey what a pain. How big is the field? Would you able to remove other horses, section off a smaller area, drive her into that then really make her work until she gives in and comes to you. When my TB arrived he was a so and so to catch and in a 7 acre field. I just ran after him with a lunge whip, wouldn't let him settle for a moment and made sure he was working. It nearly killed me but he did eventually lick and chew and come to me. I never had to do this for very long after that and eventually I all I had to do if he walked away from me was drive him further away with the lead rope and he's give up.You've probably tried all this though! I hope someone comes up with a solution, it is very frustrating!
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Its about 6-7 acres, I have it split into a 3 1/2ish acre field which is now split into about 1 1/2 acres, she knows fine well she can outrun us, she will go past with a stunning floaty trot, stop,turn, smile at you and then wait for you to go after her again.
 
Sounds like a cheeky one!! How about platting the tightest practical fitting headcollar possible into her mane/forlock to keep it on. Or if pony is small enough a foalslip rather than a normal headcollar so it sits higher up her nose again platted into her mane at the top.

When they disappear at sight of headcollar - keeping one on would be first step for me.
 
Polos Mum said:
Sounds like a cheeky one!! How about platting the tightest practical fitting headcollar possible into her mane/forlock to keep it on. Or if pony is small enough a foalslip rather than a normal headcollar so it sits higher up her nose again platted into her mane at the top.

When they disappear at sight of headcollar - keeping one on would be first step for me.
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Shes a 14.2hh NF type. I think when (if) I catch her today I will have to go back to leaving a headcollar on as I am spending more time trying to catch pone than I have and it means poo picking/water/mucking out is rushed and daughters are not getting a chance to ride etc, plus we cant bond with her if we cant catch her.
 
Sounds like you are going to have to get him in a smaller space one way or another - electric fence a small paddockette, or drive him into a yard or similar.
Once you have him there tricking him (hiding headcollar) etc isn't going to do any more than make him decide to never get tricked again. Providing he isn't nervous, I would be moving him around until he asks to stop - and then quietly approach him. If he moves again - well, that IS what he wanted to do so set him to work again. He will want to not have to waste energy in this way, so will stop and allow you to approach - eventually.
Give him a treat - but ONLY when he is wearing the headcollar and you have control.
I did this in a 3/4 acre paddock a few years ago - worked a treat but wore ME out lol. But because the owner was sceptical I let him go and did it again. This time he accepted it in 1/4 of the time. I have done it in a bigger field but you have to keep near enough to not let him stop and rest, how fit are you?? Don't stop until he has - you can't be "oh this isn't working" and give up :)
If he is nervous and that is why, then maybe spend some time desensiting him to approaching hands - if you like you could clicker train him to allow the rope to touch him, then rub him, then be put over his neck etc.
 
There was a thread on a similar theme recently.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=612186

3.5 acres isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things. You need a lot of time, and enough people so that the horse is doing the moving not you. Walk her down.

My mare did this, all the usual tricks and stealth approaches didn't work, we had 4 or 5 of us and we kept her moving, didn't chase her, just wouldn't let her stop - at all. She kept going for about 2 hours then gave up. But, I still have to keep her in a smaller paddock and on her bad days I have to pen her in a smaller section and then into a roundpen.
 
She is quite a nervy pone, we have had her 6 weeks now and she has come on in other ways which is fab, I would just like her to feel safe enough with us that we can catch her without resorting to all of this. We have had days were she will catch with a bucket first time and days when its taken nearly 3 hours to catch leaving me with no time to do more than give her a pat and go, meaning the other 2 have had no time spent with them and double the work the following day for me to do water/field etc.
 
hi you need about 3 of you to play pony tag, no whips etc, one walks in the field maybe with ipod and walk up to pony, then she will move on and you carryon walking keeping her moving and don't let her stop. once human one has had enough its humans 2 turn, the idea eventually she will find it easier to be caught rather than spending a hour or so being made to move. you can't let her eat and it will take time. this can be done when poo picking etc but it will be worth it in the end
 
If she is nervy chasing her around with a lunge whip may do more harm than good, it could even be why she is unhappy to be caught if she has been difficult with previous owners they could have made her more anxious.
I would, if you can, set up a funnel from the main part of the field, get her to follow another one into it, with someone coming behind to shut it behind, let her settle for a while then approach from beside the other horse so she does not feel threatened, as long as the other one is friendly, then you should be able to gradually get her accepting you just giving a treat, give friend one also to get her interested, take your time and she should be wanting to get involved with the other horse getting treats. When you do touch her just make a fuss, more treats and leave, if you keep her in the tiny area for an hour or two with no extra food, you should be able to go back several times and repeat.
It can take several days but you need patience, if you cannot fence a small area could you get her herded into the yard and into a stable?
 
be positive said:
If she is nervy chasing her around with a lunge whip may do more harm than good, it could even be why she is unhappy to be caught if she has been difficult with previous owners they could have made her more anxious.
I would, if you can, set up a funnel from the main part of the field, get her to follow another one into it, with someone coming behind to shut it behind, let her settle for a while then approach from beside the other horse so she does not feel threatened, as long as the other one is friendly, then you should be able to gradually get her accepting you just giving a treat, give friend one also to get her interested, take your time and she should be wanting to get involved with the other horse getting treats. When you do touch her just make a fuss, more treats and leave, if you keep her in the tiny area for an hour or two with no extra food, you should be able to go back several times and repeat.
It can take several days but you need patience, if you cannot fence a small area could you get her herded into the yard and into a stable?
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She was difficult to catch with last owner as well apparently. We tried to get her to follow my big lad and little lady into a holding area but she wouldnt go, no matter how many times we tired, she will not go through any gate type openings unless you are actually leading her. She will watch the other 2 getting treats with her ears up, sometimes we get to get close enough to offer her one but she will not take it unless we already have hold of her, and its only carrots she will take, shes not interested in polos/treats.
 
I'll see if I can find the video on youtube, there's a video that actually helped me with bud. Body language to help catch. Leather headcollar with a few inches of rope underneath do you can grab her as you give her a carrot if she doesn't pull back? I know one person that puts a rope around their horse's neck so she can give him a scratch and pony nuts then grab him. I don't particularly like it though as I worry they'd break their necks! But if you really are at your wits end! Once you've caught her, you could always try teaching her to come to call on the lunge. So call her and then pull her in and give a treat. Eventually they get it then you work on speeding it up!
 
budley95 said:
I'll see if I can find the video on youtube, there's a video that actually helped me with bud. Body language to help catch. Leather headcollar with a few inches of rope underneath do you can grab her as you give her a carrot if she doesn't pull back? I know one person that puts a rope around their horse's neck so she can give him a scratch and pony nuts then grab him. I don't particularly like it though as I worry they'd break their necks! But if you really are at your wits end! Once you've caught her, you could always try teaching her to come to call on the lunge. So call her and then pull her in and give a treat. Eventually they get it then you work on speeding it up!
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That would be fab, thank you x
 
Coblover63 said:
Definitely get her into a smaller space. When you are currently trying to catch her, does she get her head down to graze at all?
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Nope, when we are trying to catch her she doesnt ever stop herself to graze, she just stands looking at us with her ears up until you reach for her then she walks/trots/canters off, stops and looks at you till you try again.
 
asbo said:
She is quite a nervy pone, we have had her 6 weeks now and she has come on in other ways which is fab, I would just like her to feel safe enough with us that we can catch her without resorting to all of this. We have had days were she will catch with a bucket first time and days when its taken nearly 3 hours to catch leaving me with no time to do more than give her a pat and go, meaning the other 2 have had no time spent with them and double the work the following day for me to do water/field etc.
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You need to separate the problems.

If you have only had her six weeks, she isn't settled with you or the yard. Give her a couple of weeks off and just feed (small/tiny amounts to spread the food out over the day), fuss and leave as many times as you can fit into a day.
And get her off as much grass as possible so that her being hungry works to your advantage.
Any chance of using a small "starvation" paddock for a few weeks?

When she sees you and makes an acknowledgement that you are the nice person who feeds and fusses, then you can work on the catching.
My mare would start neighing and running to the gate when she saw the car. Still couldn't catch her, but the "relationship" was established.

OK, so you've established in her head that you mean food/good things, now she has to accept the idea that the food comes with conditions attached.

And it's only then that you can work on walking down. And it will work.
 
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I have a very similar problem with my mini Shetland pony, he's is very very nervous, I have just moved yards and he's got even worse, I think from kids walking passed, trying to stroke him (foot path runs next to field) so I've just had to fence off a bit away from the foot path in hope that he settles down a bit!

I used to be able to get close to him if I had crisps or snack a jacks but in the last couple of weeks, even then I've been too scary!

its like he wants to be caught, he comes over neighing but the minute I go to stroke him he basically jumps back! its so sad coz he's such a little sweet heart, and when I do catch him he loves going out for walks, gets so excited, just can't understand what might have happened to him before that has made him so scared of life!

he even poop's himself when I open the electric fencing gate into his little area! bless him!!!
 
Aarrghimpossiblepony said:
You need to separate the problems.

If you have only had her six weeks, she isn't settled with you or the yard. Give her a couple of weeks off and just feed (small/tiny amounts to spread the food out over the day), fuss and leave as many times as you can fit into a day.
And get her off as much grass as possible so that her being hungry works to your advantage.
Any chance of using a small "starvation" paddock for a few weeks?

When she sees you and makes an acknowledgement that you are the nice person who feeds and fusses, then you can work on the catching.
My mare would start neighing and running to the gate when she saw the car. Still couldn't catch her, but the "relationship" was established.

OK, so you've established in her head that you mean food/good things, now she has to accept the idea that the food comes with conditions attached.

And it's only then that you can work on walking down. And it will work.
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In the 6 weeks we have had her we have only fed/groomed/rugged her apart from 2 times my daughter has ridden her the 2 min walk back to the field and the dentist doing her teeth.
Going up lots of times during the day isnt possible at the moment sadly, a lot of the times we just give her a bucket, tell her shes a good girl/cuddle etc while checking her over and leave her at that.
She has to stay where she is as shes keeping my big lad company & our other pony is in another field and stabled at night just now.
WHen she sees us shes ears up and walks over with my boy, its just if you make any attempt to catch her and she doesnt want you too that the issue starts.
 
Had same problem few weeks ago. Here is what we did.
Once we caught her, I worked with her all week, keeping her in small turnout area about half size of a ménage . First day I went to her she turned away, did her trot round me with as if I was lunging, I just stood there she did smaller circles, stopped and turned towards me I just walked away. Next time put bucket of feed other side of fence, she smelt it on me, my hands were full of nuts, she did same thing but smell of food got better of her she came to me, gave her a rub talked to her,let her have the nuts and walked away, she followed me to the gate so I gave her the bucket. It got better each day, I never brought her in to work all week, just do bit of fussing, groom do feet ect. By Saturday my son was able to catch without any problem. She is so much better now, sometimes in the field she parts about for few minutes, but has been coming to call so far.. It is very frustrating and demoralising not able to catch your horse or pony.
I hope you manage to gain trust between you both, I spoke to a natural horseman trainer and she told me how to gain trust. Sasha now follows us and turns with us when she is in the field.
She has been with us six weeks now.
 
kerrieberry2 said:
I have a very similar problem with my mini Shetland pony, he's is very very nervous, I have just moved yards and he's got even worse, I think from kids walking passed, trying to stroke him (foot path runs next to field) so I've just had to fence off a bit away from the foot path in hope that he settles down a bit!

I used to be able to get close to him if I had crisps or snack a jacks but in the last couple of weeks, even then I've been too scary!

its like he wants to be caught, he comes over neighing but the minute I go to stroke him he basically jumps back! its so sad coz he's such a little sweet heart, and when I do catch him he loves going out for walks, gets so excited, just can't understand what might have happened to him before that has made him so scared of life!

he even poop's himself when I open the electric fencing gate into his little area! bless him!!!
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Poor little man, its so hard when all you want to do is show them some love but they cant bring themselves to let you xx
 
ROMANY 1959 said:
Had same problem few weeks ago. Here is what we did.
Once we caught her, I worked with her all week, keeping her in small turnout area about half size of a ménage . First day I went to her she turned away, did her trot round me with as if I was lunging, I just stood there she did smaller circles, stopped and turned towards me I just walked away. Next time put bucket of feed other side of fence, she smelt it on me, my hands were full of nuts, she did same thing but smell of food got better of her she came to me, gave her a rub talked to her,let her have the nuts and walked away, she followed me to the gate so I gave her the bucket. It got better each day, I never brought her in to work all week, just do bit of fussing, groom do feet ect. By Saturday my son was able to catch without any problem. She is so much better now, sometimes in the field she parts about for few minutes, but has been coming to call so far.. It is very frustrating and demoralising not able to catch your horse or pony.
I hope you manage to gain trust between you both, I spoke to a natural horseman trainer and she told me how to gain trust. Sasha now follows us and turns with us when she is in the field.
She has been with us six weeks now.
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Glad shes settling in, shall have a look at trying some of this as well x
 
I wouldn't see it as 'taking the mick' - that's a human attitude. This is a pony and ascribing human emotions to them just isn't fair. I understand you have a problem but you have to wonder what it is about being caught that is so unpleasant for her. She needs to make positive associations with human contact and this doesn't mean being chased until exhaustion by people with lunge whips.
 
My horse also infuriating to catch , she'll let you stand me to her but moment you try and clip the lead rope she's off. Caught her the other day by picking up each foot in turn. Confused her I think!!
 
scotty1 said:
I wouldn't see it as 'taking the mick' - that's a human attitude. This is a pony and ascribing human emotions to them just isn't fair. I understand you have a problem but you have to wonder what it is about being caught that is so unpleasant for her. She needs to make positive associations with human contact and this doesn't mean being chased until exhaustion by people with lunge whips.
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She has had nothing but positive associations from us, we feed her, we scratch her itchy bits, we rug her when cold, we unrug her when warm. She is not fleeing from us scared out of her wits, shes walking/trotting off with her ears up and her tail out.
This needs to be sorted as if she becomes injured or unwell and doesnt catch then it could mean serious issues for her.
 
asbo said:
In the 6 weeks we have had her we have only fed/groomed/rugged her apart from 2 times my daughter has ridden her the 2 min walk back to the field and the dentist doing her teeth.
Going up lots of times during the day isnt possible at the moment sadly, a lot of the times we just give her a bucket, tell her shes a good girl/cuddle etc while checking her over and leave her at that.
She has to stay where she is as shes keeping my big lad company & our other pony is in another field and stabled at night just now.
WHen she sees us shes ears up and walks over with my boy, its just if you make any attempt to catch her and she doesnt want you too that the issue starts.
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Can you make her a separate paddock next to the other horse?
Will still have company but more isolated?

(Though if she's NF, if the fence isn't that high I'll bet she goes over it.)

If she comes over I'd say it shows she's not scared, so that's something to be positive about.
So have to agree with the other posters and say, lunge whip and serious effort to chase her down when you have taken the other horse away from the field.
Keep her moving at a trot after the galloping, tail up, this is fun stage and watch for the circles to get smaller round you and the head to drop. Then tell her to stop, woah ect. so she's standing and looking at you. Try and approach with the headcollar and if she moves off, send her away again. And repeat and repeat.

I did read that "join up" doesn't work so well with natives, so don't ask for the moon. Just the acceptance that they will stand still when you approach them with a headcollar. Let her know you have a treat (carrot, something that smells good) but don't give it before the headcollar is on.
 
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