Tips on catching the uncatchable PLEASE!

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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Colt - 1 year old.
With 1 other colt.
Both have head collars on.
Colt is lame. Needs to come in, and be treated.
Can't get within 10 feet of colt.
More people make it worse.
Food is a no go as other colt gets very free with his feet and wants it first. On his own food isn't wanted only his friend!
Can lead the other away, but colt we want then gallops up and down - even on three legs!
Tried corralling into a gated off section, we get so far, then he whips around and won't come back..

He has been handled and only moved fields 10 days ago - where he was very good. New field has more space and more grass!

So, I hope I'm not sounding stupid, but this chap has got us all scratching our heads....
Quick fixes/ideas please!!
 
Hmm, well, mine is now 27 and frequently uncatchable. Awful as it would be to watch the only way I'd be able to get mine is to remove his friend and get him into as small an area as possible until he wanted to be caught.
 
Would it work with 1 bucket feed for other colt and another for the colt you want? Aiming to get the other colt to feed furthest from the gate and the lame colt closest for a quick remove from the field.
 
Would hay in the corralled area be an incentive to get them both in there?

Otherwise you're just going to have to spend the day wearing him down.
 
You say more people upset him?

Do you have anybody with you?

I have tried catching horses before with people that dont really have the first idea about catching the uncatchable, or horse/animal behaviour in general. If he will tolerate one more person, try and find someone that does actually know how to deal with this sort of horse.
 
If you have enough people, he really shouldn't be able to whip round. The people should act no different than a wall to him. If he doesn't like more people, tough.

If it was me, if there was a clear gateway or place to run them up onto a lorry or high enough holding pen/corral or similar, then I'd do that. Grab the other colt and tie him up in there.

[Failing that, more people and using a corner of the field.]

If he's handled he shouldn't want to jump and should give in soon as he realises his fun's over.

Or otherwise, I'd get a much older horse to lead into the field to try and use as a lead horse for them. Joys of colts suddenly getting their herd mentality back.

Good luck.
 
If you are near Oxon I may be able to help - have caught lots of uncatchables for pros etc.

Big subject to try to explain . .. basically you will build trust by having him tolerating you being a little closer, then you moving away again. Done right he will start to step towards you then in a few minutes he will come close enough to touch. Don't grab - touch his shoulder/neck then walk away - repeat several times until he is happy for you to touch his head then quietly touch headcollar - when happy with this quietly clip on rope. Usually doesn't take more than 20 mins but that is with umpteen years practise.

Otherwise your best bet is to gently herd him into a safe smaller area (with a large entrance). Experiment with how much body movement you need to get him to move in walk or maybe trot, if he canters off you did too much. You can control his direction by blocking and driving with your body language.

Try not to look at him unless you want him to go away. If he shows interest in you or steps towards you, turn your back on him, just watch him out of the corner of your eye. Coming to you = good (turn back). Going away from you = bad (follow him and when he stops make him go a little further).

Practial thought: Maybe your enclosed area is too small - can you make it big enough for both to be safely in it and put out food for the other one, will tricky one follow then you can quietly close the entrance? Then woudl leave them to settle/finish food before going further.

Sorry it is much easier to do than to explain!
 
Thankyou for all your ideas.
There have been 3 of us, later on there will be 2 of us.
His owner has said he has had difficulty before trying to touch him, something I wasn't aware of. The colt doesn't really know me, and therefore has no reason to trust my ever decreasing slow advances but I have handled him on a daily basis over the christmas/new year period. Not at all since. He seems to have got far more nervous than I remember.
The area we want to run him into, is not ideal, we have to get him our of his current feild, into the one 'above it' and that has a pen of gates that have been used for this before. Trouble earlier was we couldn't even get him out of his current field and going in the right direction! And then the other colt got strong and fellow groom let him go = 2 manic colts prancing about!!
Said other groom is away now, and other lady who DOES know this colt will be on hand to help later... if she can't, then I will be back on here to round up the troops!!
BTW, Dorset/Wilts/Somerset border...

ps, the corral area isn't large, just a square of 'ordinary' sized gates at the edge of a field about 4-5 acres? And the colt is called FRED!!! C'mon Fred vibes please!!!!! lol
 
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Where abouts? We're North Wiltshire, near Swindon. PM if you want :)


For herding him, I'd strongly suggest having at least 3 'firm' people [ie, hold their ground and don't back off or let them through the gaps...soon as they learn to break through once, then it's a nightmare. If there's anyone who 'lets' him through/the other one go, kindly ask them to wait out or do gates!]
Have another person with an older lead horse in the field with you, and just quietly herd them up the field in walk/slow trot.

If there's any place for a lorry or anywhere with higher sides to get him enclosed him, then I'd always much rather do that way.
If it's the top field he's running away from back to the lower one, then do the same but just herd him into a corner of the field instead of the pen.
 
Once caught would recommend a shortish piece of plaited baling twine from loop on headcollar so you can take a hold without startling when going to catch.

Not at all pc, and probably wouldn't be any good with your youngster but I did once use a Lunge line as a lassoo (sp?) to catch my section b after 2 weeks of behaving like a feral - once I'd got him he was fine, but this would probably make your youngster panic more, so not ideal - but maybe ok as a last resort?
 
Jonesy said:
Once caught would recommend a shortish piece of plaited baling twine from loop on headcollar so you can take a hold without startling when going to catch.

Not at all pc, and probably wouldn't be any good with your youngster but I did once use a Lunge line as a lassoo (sp?) to catch my section b after 2 weeks of behaving like a feral - once I'd got him he was fine, but this would probably make your youngster panic more, so not ideal - but maybe ok as a last resort?
Click to expand...


Umm, lassooing.... I'll pass on that with this young colt, but maybe for the next naughty shetland, my dog or even practice on the kids!!! ;)
 
My mare went through a stage of nnt being caught, i got so fed up on day i chased her round the feild. Every time she tried to change direction i stopped her and herded her the other way. After two hours she finally gave in and since then she has been fab to bring in.

Hope it goes okay tonight. X
 
Strategies I have used with success:

1. Does he respect electric fence? fence off a big area around him. Make it a bit smaller. Repeat, repeat, repeat. If not electric fence, perhaps strategically positioned vehicles (do you have enough lorries and trailers on the yard to make a wall?)

2. Funnel. Can you create one of these with a large enough opening for him to go into? Lead mate into funnel. Have food there or whatever. Block his exit and move in.

3) The waiting game. Sit in the field, with something interesting to him in your hand, treats maybe. Throw a few small moresels around you (carrots maybe so they are visible?) Plus a good book for you! Ignore them both. Wait (a long time if necessary, this won't work if you are on a time budget). Titbits for (probably the more handleable colt) when he comes over. Titbits for the lame colt without attempting to catch him. Then stroke him while feeding titbits. Then gently catch.

4) A la monty roberts join-up. If you can fence the field smaller for this then its easier for you.

Finally if all else fails and you really need to treat his lameness, if you have a zoo near to you the vets involved with them must dart animals to sedate them, perhaps look into that as a quick fix?
 
Catch the colt you can handle and give a feed too, in hand and the other colt, extra calmer(magic liq etc),but don't take the first colt away just keep him close as you can to the other but let the one you want to catch have a good feed,if he's really lame you should be able to catch him.But try and get them into a smaller area,even if you have to electric fence it.
 
CAUGHT!!!

Actually didn't take very long, he backed up a few steps, but food worked this time. I had the other colt, who wasn't so possessive over the bucket. Lead them both out together, and up to the yard... where the colt I had got naughty!! Christ they are strong.... :eek: Anyway, kept hold, told him a few home truths about how to behave on ALL FOUR FEET and good boys they were....

Til we tried to re-catch Fred in the stable...a breif moment elapsed before food won that time too (way to a mans heart and all!!)
He was such a good boy, seemed to really enjoy the attention and home comforts of a thick straw bed and a good neck and head rub. His foot was poulticed, here lays the problem - no snatching legs, so really can't complain too much about him.

Meanwhile, in the next door stable, the other (nameless) colt was causing havoc throwing a (now empty) feed manger around and trying to eat his way out threw a 2inch hole in the (wooden) stable wall!! :confused::):eek:
 
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