[horsegirlygal]

Right. So my friend's horse Wanda (omg the horse has the stupid show name, wanda for short) doesn't want to be caught when I try to. And I don't go over to catch her very often (and neither does my friends, not quite the horsey type yet). And she's blind in her left eye, so I have to do everything backwards which is a pain in the rear.

When I go to catch her, I do the following:
Take along the leadrope, held lifelessly at my side. I approach in the direction of her shoulder at an angle (like we've all been taught to do). I don't look at her head at all, usually her shoulder/neck. I get about 8-10 feet away from her and she turns away from me and walks off. So then I usually stand there, planning what I'm going to do next as I watch what she's doing. Then I try and do the same thing again, and she walks off. Most every time I do end up catching her, my friend has to stand by the barn and we have to herd her in the smaller paddock.

And while I'm doing this, her foal "starlight" and another smaller "devil" horse is in the pasture with her. Which makes it harder because the devil horse wants to be friendly so she tries to follow me around and that isn't a good thing. So I when she does get in the paddock, starlight and/or the devil horse are usually in there, so I can never ride her.

When I do catch her and get her in the paddock, I don't usually work her at all. I will brush her, pick up her feet, walk her around, and I don't lunge her anymore because it's too dangerous with the 3 of them in there and the rectangular area. I would very much want to catch her easily, help! Mind you, I go over there about once a week (sometimes 2) but in the case that we would need to work on this more, I'm sure I could talk my friend into it (and my parents).

[StarfireArizona]

Unfortunately one of the ideal ways of getting her to want to be caught might be dangerous with the other 2 nearby. None of my horses are evasive, but to get them even more agreeable to be haltered is to give them a small treat after I get the halter & lead on. They can be anywhere and if they see me walking with the halter they come over to me.

Can you perhaps catch the other horse & maybe tie her briefly while you work with Wanda ? If so, then each time she lets you catch her, then give her a treat & make her look forward to it. This will hopefully also transmit to her foal the same behavior.

This method turned my two "I want NO part of the bridle & bit" OTTB's who literally high-tailed it out of there, into two vultures hanging over me whenever they see me with it over my shoulder. They stand side by side begging to be the one to wear it today

Good luck......

[horsegirlygal]

Wasn't quite the answer I was thinking of, but I like the sound of the idea; since their halters are on all the time, I could do the same only clipping the leadropes on. I'm starting to like this already. =]
The devil horse actually let me lead her a bit the other day, so I'm thinking that a while before feeding time I'll put her in her stall with her feed and get Wanda and the foal into the paddock. The devil horse is the one I'm most concerned with (many bad habits) because she hangs around the other two and pesters the foal (who has kicked back at her, rather funny to watch) nonstop.

[StarfireArizona]

Originally Posted by horsegirlygal

Wasn't quite the answer I was thinking of, but I like the sound of the idea; since their halters are on all the time, I could do the same only clipping the leadropes on. I'm starting to like this already. =]
The devil horse actually let me lead her a bit the other day, so I'm thinking that a while before feeding time I'll put her in her stall with her feed and get Wanda and the foal into the paddock. The devil horse is the one I'm most concerned with (many bad habits) because she hangs around the other two and pesters the foal (who has kicked back at her, rather funny to watch) nonstop.

It really is best to eliminate distractions such as the other pushy horse....and have Wanda's attention on you. If she is happy chomping in her stall she won't care if she misses the action

If they are wearing their halters, then you really have more than half the battle won already. Putting the clip on should be a snap (no pun intended )

When she allows you to approach and she stays still, clip the lead & give her a treat. Of course she will immediately look for more, so kinda make her work for them. Get her to take a step or two with you, and give her a treat. More steps, and another treat. It really won't be long before she seeks YOU out. I can literally get any of my 4 to do anything if they know there's something edible in it for them.

What I use that is easy to keep in my pocket is the orange/green/yellow veggie pasta....and I just about ALWAYS have some on me. Sliced carrots work well too....but I shy away from them for the smell stays on your hands longer and the horse may think there is a treat there when there isn't & nip you by mistake when your hand comes close to their face. Biting is a whole other can of worms, so I try to avoid mis-communication

[kaitlyndzn]

giving treats def. helps...shell eventually associate being caught with getting a yummy snack and possibly even walk up to you!

[Blistering Winds]

Couple of exercises you can try come to mind.

1. walk and do not let her stop......until you see her WANT to stop, push her just a bit more then let her rest.Don't run her, just walk, and walk, and walk. let her stop on YOUR terms, then approach.

2. I didn't see you had a round pen. Round pen work is the first thing I do with any horse before they get turned out. or one that becomes hard to catch....

3. treats DO help, just it can be a problem if you don't have any. So in my opinion, mix it up. Sage every blue moon I'll do it, only because she has a shady past. But you eventually want them weaned completely off of it and come to you because they WANT to be with you, they SEEK you for strength, leadership, and guidance.

[Goonhorse]

I had this problem with my mare. Unfortunately I don't have a round pen, and she's usually out in our huge pasture when I want to catch her. Every time she tried to run away, I'd flick the lead rope at her (stay away from her hindend, she just might decide to kick out) and "push" her away from me. She usually wouldn't go too far away, because she would want to stay with the other horses. It is however, a very tiring process.

I would keep her at a good trot or canter (making my circle a fair amount smaller than hers) until her inside ear flicked in towards me and she started licking her lips and chewing. Then I'd stop and ask her to disengage her hindquarters (she already knew how to do that from me teaching her). Sometimes she would and sometimes she wouldn't.

If she didn't, I'd flick the leadrope at her again and drive her away from me and keep her going, and then try again when she showed the previously mentioned signs.

If she did, I would sort of lean over and smooch to her and try to get her to come to me. If she didn't I'd go up to her and love on her a bit--unless she tried to get away from me again, and then I'd drive her away.

She is a SLOW learner about things like that and it took her forever to figure it out, but all of a sudden one day she just disengaged and faced me and I called her and she came without me having to "chase" her at all.

Now once in a while she'll start to walk off, and then the light bulb will go on and she disengages her hindquarters, faces me, and then walks towards me. It's so nice to have a more willing horse.

[pittmd]

Originally Posted by Goonhorse

I had this problem with my mare. Unfortunately I don't have a round pen, and she's usually out in our huge pasture when I want to catch her. Every time she tried to run away, I'd flick the lead rope at her (stay away from her hindend, she just might decide to kick out) and "push" her away from me. She usually wouldn't go too far away, because she would want to stay with the other horses. It is however, a very tiring process.

I would keep her at a good trot or canter (making my circle a fair amount smaller than hers) until her inside ear flicked in towards me and she started licking her lips and chewing. Then I'd stop and ask her to disengage her hindquarters (she already knew how to do that from me teaching her). Sometimes she would and sometimes she wouldn't.

If she didn't, I'd flick the leadrope at her again and drive her away from me and keep her going, and then try again when she showed the previously mentioned signs.

If she did, I would sort of lean over and smooch to her and try to get her to come to me. If she didn't I'd go up to her and love on her a bit--unless she tried to get away from me again, and then I'd drive her away.

She is a SLOW learner about things like that and it took her forever to figure it out, but all of a sudden one day she just disengaged and faced me and I called her and she came without me having to "chase" her at all.

Now once in a while she'll start to walk off, and then the light bulb will go on and she disengages her hindquarters, faces me, and then walks towards me. It's so nice to have a more willing horse.

I used the same approach as above and it works wonders. couple trips around the dry lot tossing the rope at them then stop and let them process it. Approach calmly and halter. I only had to do this once in the open pasture but the same things applies. MAKE them go if they decide not to let you catch them. ATV's help with this if in a big field. Don't chase them on the ATV just use it to get within walking distance then do your thing.

[Shotgun93]

Goonhorse has a very good method. You have to work the drive to get the draw.

If she walks away, keep her away, make her work. Then, invite her to come in. Turn away from and start walking. Once she starts following you, ask her to come in and be caught. If she wants nothing to do with, drive her away again.
If you ignore the other horses and push them away, but don't focus your attention on them, they will eventually leave you alone.


BTW, keeping halters on horses 24/7 is very dangerous.

[AtomicTop]

Wow, great post! I like the sound of the reverse psychology. Chase them and make them work, so that they want to come to you next time. Might try this with my hard to catch pony. She always ends up getting caught but it can take a few minutes longer than I want it to take. I'm going to give this a shot.