can't catch my horse :(

hannahbanana250 · 07-02-2009, 12:47 PM

I honestly hope someone can help me - I've recently (2 days ago) bought a 5yo tb x shire gelding, and he has to be in isolation for 10 days in case he's carrying any diseases or anything. But I'm unable to catch him with a headcollar or a lead rope - he runs away as soon as you see him coming with one.

I've tried tempting him with food, making sure he does things on my terms (i.e. if he moves away I send him away, and if he comes to me I back away a bit), trying to get a rope around his neck and handling him like that... nothing works.

Is there anything else I can do that might work? The vet's coming to give him his jabs next Tuesday and I'd like to be able to groom him over the weekend too.

Hopefully it's a case of he doesn't know who I am yet, but I just don't know what to do.

PUtNEE · 07-02-2009, 03:03 PM

Where abouts are you in Wales? I'm originally from there and my sister takes on some training projects/helps people with their horses occasionally. She's in the Llantrisant (South Wales) area.

Sending the horse off will work, but you have to know what you're looking for as far as signs that you can approach/get him to approach...it's complicated to describe in words but I'm sure someone here will give it a try.

Let me know if I can put you in touch with my sister. She's excellent - she's also the 'good' twin!!

Rose ofintrigue · 07-02-2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannahbanana250

I honestly hope someone can help me - I've recently (2 days ago) bought a 5yo tb x shire gelding, and he has to be in isolation for 10 days in case he's carrying any diseases or anything. But I'm unable to catch him with a headcollar or a lead rope - he runs away as soon as you see him coming with one.

I've tried tempting him with food, making sure he does things on my terms (i.e. if he moves away I send him away, and if he comes to me I back away a bit), trying to get a rope around his neck and handling him like that... nothing works.

Is there anything else I can do that might work? The vet's coming to give him his jabs next Tuesday and I'd like to be able to groom him over the weekend too.

Hopefully it's a case of he doesn't know who I am yet, but I just don't know what to do.

If its not a real big pasture..what we do is go out and make the horse run around and continue running until he eventually gets tired and comes in, you have to chase him out of the corners..dont let him hole up somewhere get there as quick as you can and keep him running never let him stop on his terms,keep him running. Maybe you could have a few treats for when he comes to you, and pet him..make it nice and peaceful.

It works for us..hope it does the same for you

.

Coaco · 07-02-2009, 03:22 PM

so this week end go in with the head collar and your brushs and maybe a chair. and just sit and let him come to you. pet him and then send him away. when he comes back you can see if he will let you pet his neck, do this for a bit and then move to gromeing him with out putting the head collar on him. if he wount stand send him away and ignor him for a bit (you might want a book to read). then try again. when he will let you brush and touch him, put the callar on him give him a treat take it off and walk away.

he thinks you want something from him when you catch him that he is not sure he wants to give. so make friends with the head collar in sight but not nesssasraly in use. It can also help if you go out with the idea that you are not going to catch him, he needs to catch you.

Bruce Wiley · 07-02-2009, 03:32 PM

Please understand not to take it's actions personally.
It nothing you're doing really wrong but maybe the horse is picking up on your concerns of catching, halter and securing him.

I want to make this clear to you and others.
An indivdual shouldn't drive the horse away when he move because think about it that would be teaching the horse to flee whenever coming into your present and you want it the other way. When you enter into his pasture or stall you want the horse to come to you or stop it's feet. The technique works best when it goes into the opposite direction.
Before the horse moves you must then drive it away.
You should turn your back causing the horse to want to return and see what things are about, which is working on the horse's curious mindset and they have the tendency to only go so far and then stop their movment and return to follow the person or another horse.

Try it and pratice having this mindset on not catching the horse.
Never look directly at the horse's head or any part of it's body...look somewhere else and flip things in your thinking that, you want the horse to catch you so you can halter him.

I hope this insight helps.

horsesare1 · 07-02-2009, 03:37 PM

My horse occasionally does this to me...... and I only have one way that works well, but it's not always quick.

Take out your halter and lead...... if he moves away from you.... MAKE HIM MOVE MORE.
I did this with Apollo..... he'd move off, I'd flick the rope at him and make him think it was MY idea for him to move off. I did this a total of maybe 7 times? Until he was done with his little game and let me walk right up and halter him.

Dont make a fuss, don't get upset or yell...... just make him move out away from you.
I'd approach apollo and pet him, tell him he's a good boy as long as he stood still, and if he moved off, I just flicked the rope at his feet..... no biggie.. and follow him to the next spot.
The following day he stood still while I caught him ....

hannahbanana250 · 07-03-2009, 03:53 AM

thanks guys - i've been working a bit with the kind of thing you've been saying, and even though i've not caught him yet he came all the way up to me from the other end of the field when i opened the gate earlier

which is major for him

hannahbanana250 · 07-06-2009, 01:31 PM

whoop

caught him at last, i think he's had some major problems in the past when people have caught him, he's so scared. have to try building up his trust now...this'll be hard

Rose ofintrigue · 07-06-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannahbanana250

whoop

caught him at last, i think he's had some major problems in the past when people have caught him, he's so scared. Have to try building up his trust now...this'll be hard

that's great we knew you could do it...

froglover · 07-06-2009, 01:53 PM

it sounds like you have it under controll. wtg on catching him.

07-02-2009, 12:47 PM	#1
hannahbanana250 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 3 Images: 1	can't catch my horse :( I honestly hope someone can help me - I've recently (2 days ago) bought a 5yo tb x shire gelding, and he has to be in isolation for 10 days in case he's carrying any diseases or anything. But I'm unable to catch him with a headcollar or a lead rope - he runs away as soon as you see him coming with one. I've tried tempting him with food, making sure he does things on my terms (i.e. if he moves away I send him away, and if he comes to me I back away a bit), trying to get a rope around his neck and handling him like that... nothing works. Is there anything else I can do that might work? The vet's coming to give him his jabs next Tuesday and I'd like to be able to groom him over the weekend too. Hopefully it's a case of he doesn't know who I am yet, but I just don't know what to do.

07-02-2009, 03:03 PM	#2
PUtNEE Full Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: hillcountryhorseworks.com Posts: 224 Images: 4	Where abouts are you in Wales? I'm originally from there and my sister takes on some training projects/helps people with their horses occasionally. She's in the Llantrisant (South Wales) area. Sending the horse off will work, but you have to know what you're looking for as far as signs that you can approach/get him to approach...it's complicated to describe in words but I'm sure someone here will give it a try. Let me know if I can put you in touch with my sister. She's excellent - she's also the 'good' twin!! __________________ ...breathe...!

07-02-2009, 03:32 PM	#5
Bruce Wiley Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,055	Please understand not to take it's actions personally. It nothing you're doing really wrong but maybe the horse is picking up on your concerns of catching, halter and securing him. I want to make this clear to you and others. An indivdual shouldn't drive the horse away when he move because think about it that would be teaching the horse to flee whenever coming into your present and you want it the other way. When you enter into his pasture or stall you want the horse to come to you or stop it's feet. The technique works best when it goes into the opposite direction. Before the horse moves you must then drive it away. You should turn your back causing the horse to want to return and see what things are about, which is working on the horse's curious mindset and they have the tendency to only go so far and then stop their movment and return to follow the person or another horse. Try it and pratice having this mindset on not catching the horse. Never look directly at the horse's head or any part of it's body...look somewhere else and flip things in your thinking that, you want the horse to catch you so you can halter him. I hope this insight helps. __________________ http://bwnaturalhorsemanship.spaces.live.com/ Bruce.

07-02-2009, 03:37 PM	#6
horsesare1 Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: up state Ny Posts: 2,302 Images: 152 Blog Entries: 1	My horse occasionally does this to me...... and I only have one way that works well, but it's not always quick. Take out your halter and lead...... if he moves away from you.... MAKE HIM MOVE MORE. I did this with Apollo..... he'd move off, I'd flick the rope at him and make him think it was MY idea for him to move off. I did this a total of maybe 7 times? Until he was done with his little game and let me walk right up and halter him. Dont make a fuss, don't get upset or yell...... just make him move out away from you. I'd approach apollo and pet him, tell him he's a good boy as long as he stood still, and if he moved off, I just flicked the rope at his feet..... no biggie.. and follow him to the next spot. The following day he stood still while I caught him .... __________________ Gotta Love 'Em Horse.. You are truly noble, for you fly without wings, and conquer without sword

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07-02-2009, 03:22 PM	#4
Coaco Full Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 39 Images: 3	so this week end go in with the head collar and your brushs and maybe a chair. and just sit and let him come to you. pet him and then send him away. when he comes back you can see if he will let you pet his neck, do this for a bit and then move to gromeing him with out putting the head collar on him. if he wount stand send him away and ignor him for a bit (you might want a book to read). then try again. when he will let you brush and touch him, put the callar on him give him a treat take it off and walk away. he thinks you want something from him when you catch him that he is not sure he wants to give. so make friends with the head collar in sight but not nesssasraly in use. It can also help if you go out with the idea that you are not going to catch him, he needs to catch you.

07-03-2009, 03:53 AM	#7
hannahbanana250 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 3 Images: 1	thanks guys - i've been working a bit with the kind of thing you've been saying, and even though i've not caught him yet he came all the way up to me from the other end of the field when i opened the gate earlier which is major for him

07-06-2009, 01:31 PM	#8
hannahbanana250 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 3 Images: 1	whoop caught him at last, i think he's had some major problems in the past when people have caught him, he's so scared. have to try building up his trust now...this'll be hard

07-06-2009, 01:53 PM	#10
froglover Banned Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 58	it sounds like you have it under controll. wtg on catching him.