To catch or not to catch

fidleyspromise

fidleyspromise

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A couple of days ago, I moved ponies to another paddock (so they now have some grass) and young 'un was delighted - several laps around the field and both pnies leaping into the air.

I went to catch her today and the little bizzum decided no thank you, mum. She would only let me near her if I didn't have the head collar and even then, she darting away.

I tried joinup (after removing her comanion) to which she just merrily bounced around the field and showed some snazzy trot work (not what I was going for).

I resorted to food (a pet hate) and managed to get the head collar on after several more tigger moves. I have left this on as I reallly do not want her to get into the habbit.

Until she starts catching easily, I don't want to remove this! It could be a one-off but I'd rather have some ideas up my sleeve to anticipate this.

Any ideas/tips on how to get her catching easily again? I tried to do a search but couldn't get much to come up that was relevant.

Many thanks!!
 
Change her perception of being caught. Walk up to her, give a treat and a scratch, walk away. Find her best scratch places and use them. Progress to walking up to her, putting the headcollar on, give a treat or scratch and walk away. Make it so that every time you approach her she thinks it will be good. Never fails, but be patient.
 
Hi Tinypony, this is what she does get. She gets scratches around her ear - she bends her neck and leans into it - as well as her bottom scratched. I also do various stretches with treats.

This is the first time in 6 months I've had an issue with her. She hasn't had a bad experienced etc and just seems to have totally changed since going into this paddock (which she has been in before). Only other difference is she now has grass instead of a boggy field.

Any other ideas? :)
 
Please don't leave the headcollar on hun. I know of a 3 month old foal whose idiot owners put a bog standard webbing headcollar on her while she was turned out with her mum. The headcollar got caught on some derelict farm machinery and the foal was found hanged and bloated 3 days later, with poor mare going demented. I know of so many accidents and so many very near misses - better you can't catch than a terrible accident. It's probably just down to new grass - she'll probably settle soon.
 
When my lad is being a pain with new grass coming in I find this one a fail safe...

Go into the feild with a carrot or apple or something. Stand near enough that they can see you but not near enough to make them bound off. Look off into the horizon just past them and eat the apple.

Then do it again (you can get all of your 5 a day if you're having a bad day at this!)

Eventually they get bored wondering why you are eating all the treats and come up to see what is going on. But don't give them anything until the headcollar is on!

I know treats to catch are not ideal - but they are sometimes a necessary tool. At least this way you're eating the treat and not them!
 
mishaspey said:
Hi Tinypony, this is what she does get. She gets scratches around her ear - she bends her neck and leans into it - as well as her bottom scratched. I also do various stretches with treats.

This is the first time in 6 months I've had an issue with her. She hasn't had a bad experienced etc and just seems to have totally changed since going into this paddock (which she has been in before). Only other difference is she now has grass instead of a boggy field.

Any other ideas? :)
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I wouldn't worry about it in that case, it's probably just a one-off. Mine are normally angels and there has been all sorts of chaos in the excitement of getting back on grass. I agree with the others, leave the headcollar off, or use a Fieldsafe one.
 
it takes time but if she wont be caught keep her walking - dont chase at all - but dont let her put her head down to graze - just quietly talk to her but keep her walking forward. When you catch her give her a carrot a cuddle then walk away. Keep at this and yep it works but just takes time. When you do finally have no probs catching vary what you do - catch give carrot and walk away, catch take in feed turn our, catch work carrot then turn out good luck :)
 
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