struggling to catch

[rsfmillsy]

I've been working with a 5year old mare who was left to her own devices before hand. Since day one I've never had an issue with catching her, until a couple days ago. Yesterday she kept walking away then trotting if I got too close and today I was giving her friend attention and she kept coming over trying to separate us and when that failed she kept circling us and then stopping with her bum towards me. I'm not quite sure what to do. Help please

 

[Barnacle]

http://intheequinemind.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/my-horse-just-wants-to-be-free.html <- Some tips for catching here.

 

[redandblue]

I had issues with one of my mares a few years ago. She would just walk away when you approached her and it was very frustrating not knowing what to do. The best advice I can give you is firstly and most importantly don't be in a rush to be somewhere, to break this behaviour you need to be able to invest time - as long as it takes.
The approach I took was quite simple really:- as soon as she turned away from me I would drive her away - in other words - make her work hard. When she turned to face me I would stop driving her away and slowly approach her. If she turned away again, I would drive her on again until she positioned herself to face me then I would stop. I continued this for as long as necessary and the distance between us gradually lessoned until I was able to get close enough to give her a scratch. I would then take a few steps back. Sometimes she would come towards me sometimes she wouldn't, either way as long as she didnt turn her back on me that was good After a while I would quietly slip the headcollar on and give her another good scratch. This was a labour of love with my little mare who from the first day of owning her was difficult to catch. Two hours was my worst experience! The horse you are refering too has only just started it and it sounds like she doesn't want to leave her pal. I think by driving her away will make her realise you are the 'herd leader' and its far more effort to keep working than it is to stand and be caught!
As I've said, my catching problem was fairly extreme and I am sure you will not have to go to the lengths that I did to succeed, but know that it can be overcome Good luck.

 

[Morgan123]

I'd go for the opposite to RedandBlue above!
Driving away is indeed a good quick-fix for catching and could solve your problems. It is a good option if she is just being a bit of a brat because the grass is coming through.
However, I would start by thinking, why is this happening. IS she just more interested in the grass/her friends than you? Or is 'coming into the yard' just not very fun for her in some way? Perhaps she just can't see the point - it's a bit stressful and she thinks you make her do weird stuff like pick up her feet (or whatever).
It depends what you want really. An ideal situation would be to say, well she only has to be with you if she wants to. In this way you'd just go and give her a carrot on day 1 and 2. On day 3 you'd give her a carrot and put a rope near her neck (not round it). Day 4 rope round the neck. Day maybe a headcollar on,. Always just small goals, reward (carrot or scratch) and walk away. Then when eventually you get her coming into the yard, you keep it quick - she comes in, has a little groom and a carrot and goes back out, gradually increasing it.
this really transformed my bad-to-catch horse, and is a good option if she is nervous or very sensitive.
However, if she is more of the bolshy grumpy type, I'd probably go with RedandBlue, but I'd be particularly mindful of making things fun, easy and interesting while she is learning.

 

[rsfmillsy]

Thanks for your advice I found driving her away didn't help at all, what I found worked was by giving her friend attention and treats amd just ignoring my horse until she came to me and then I would give her a treat. After 3 days I was able to put her headcollar on and today she was good as gold think she is just testing her boundaries and learning what she can get away with etc. Thank you for the advice

 

[flirtygerty]

It's rare I have to catch any of mine, they normally canter up to meet me on a whistle, but if someone doesn't want to be caught I do one of two things, either ignore the one I want (usually one of the younger ones) and make a fuss of another, they hate missing out, then it's a rope put quietly over the neck, a quick scratch, headcollar on and bobs your uncle, or follow them round until they stand, not letting them graze, rope round neck etc, etc, a friend calls me the pied piper of horses, cos they follow me anywhere