How do you persuade a horse to be caught?

[Martorana]

Dd's youngster is coming on nicely at the actual riding bit- once he's tacked up, he is compliant and eager to learn and a general delight. But he is. nightmare to catch. And he is also a bit bargy in the stable and messes about when he's being groomed. That's getting better though. But the catching isn't- somebody else turned him out last night and took his head collar off, and it took dd nearly an hour to catch him today. He is obviously just being naughty- he waits til he's almost caught then dances off just out of reach, as dd says "GRINNING at me!"

Any ideas!

[Pixel]

Dhorse can't stand it if I turn my back and ignore him, he's so nosey! You can guarantee that he will soon appear behind me practically begging to be caught. Looking too eager to catch him never works as he can stay just out of reach forever.

Also make sure you visit your youngster in the field even when you don't want to catch him. Slip a rope round his neck, give him a carrot and a fuss then release him and walk away. It will confuse him no end and make him keener to come over next time.

Can you make a small pen by the gate that you can gently 'drive' him into? He would probably allow himself to be caught if you could get him into a smaller space.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

My naughty won't be caught horsey has to feel like she's come to me - I turn and walk away from her, with something exciting looking in my hand (usually its just a sweet wrapper but she hasn't caught on yet) she can't. Then I walk up to her with my back turned. And Never give up lol :-D

Does he get anything exciting when he comes in? If he's just coming in, being ridden, then going out again it's really not much fun for him lol

[Plomino]

Ignoring also works for my cheeky toad too . He's so full of himself he thinks he's the most interesting thing in the field , so he gets most upset when I ignore him and virtually plants himself in front of me . I have been known to take a book and sit in the field with my back to him , which completely threw him .

[Martorana]

She does the ignoring thing- but he's usually too quick to whisk away, even if she spends ages fussing and chatting to him before she tries to get the head collar on. I'll suggest the taking a book wheeze- at last I'll be able to get some good photos! He really is a brat.

The frustrating thing is he loves coming in - he's very sociable and there's always stuff going on in the yard and treats and different (obviously more interesting ) grass...Once he's caught he trots along all happy and eager.

[slackcabbage]

Sorry if I'm stating what you already know/the ruddy obvious but if the horse is a youngster - has your dd had the chance to really build up a good relationship with him yet?

I second the book (and the ignoring!) thing - or take a radio - and one of you sit in the field for half hours at a time. Then leave. Then repeat and so on. Once the horse starts coming closer, you can pretend to pluck the grass with your hand as if you are grazing, or rustle a sweet wrapper inside your jacket, all the time looking as though you are not remotely interested in him. Repeat frequently. Once he stays close to you and lets you touch him without becoming tense, then he should be ready to catch (in theory ). Grazing in hand can help too.

And as others have said, catch him at different times, give him a treat and turn back out (easier said than down if turned out with others - may need cooperation from other owners).

If he is being bargy though and not standing still to be groomed - I think that needs sorting out in the stable before being turned out so it doesn't develop. Is he trying to barge you out of the way to get to the door? Or will he just not move over? Think you need to be confident of having control over him inside before turning him out as its all part of the same problem ifyswim.

[ADishBestEatenCold]

"even if she spends ages fussing and chatting to him before she tries to get the head collar on"

If she's fussing and chatting to him, she is no longer ignoring him. The head collar bit happens after all the ignoring and should take minutes.

I have tried the ignoring thing with a hard-to-catch horse and was told it had to be 'interesting looking' ignoring (to the horse)!

So the first morning, I took the wheelbarrow, put a couple of empty buckets on it and went poo picking. While I poo picked, I clattered things around a lot, occasionally dropping the buckets and generally making a performance of it. Periodically he'd close in for a better look, but when he did I didn't look at him, just swung my head away and 'turned my hindquarters' on him, positioning my back between him and the action. Yes, I do know what I must have looked like!!!!

Once I'd done about 20 minutes, I left. Came back that evening, this time with half an apple in my pocket. Did exactly the same thing, this time when I left, I left eating the apple (that is, me eating the apple).
Second day, morning and evening, did exactly the same thing as the first evening, and on both occasions he walked to the gate.
Third day, we got the gate and (holding the apple in my teeth) I put his head collar on, led him out, gave him the half apple out my teeth, brought him in and groomed him and turned him out.

I have no idea if it was important, but all the way through the poo-picking, the acting, the apple eating, and the eventual head collaring I didn't speak to him. Not once. Also, when i turned him back out, I led him right up the field and just left him very quietly with no reward or pat.
By the fourth day onwards, I only had to poo-pick for 10 minutes and shortly after we stopped even that, just the walk and the apple eating would do it.

I've only ever had to try this with one horse, and it had a permanent (as far as I know) effect on him, so have no idea if it would work on others. Nor can I claim it to be my idea. A friend suggested it.

It was a labour of love. I don't like apples.

Good luck.

[ADishBestEatenCold]

Also, agree with slackcabbage that the behavior inside thing needs to be sorted out, as a priority.

[Pumpkinette]

Do you ever bring him in and not ride?
We had a horse that refused to be caught, after a few weeks of bringing him in for a groom and a small feed and then turning back out without riding he was much better to catch.

The apple idea sounds good but it depends on the other horses in the field. I would get mugged for the apple by a few of the others in the field before my horse would get a chance to see me eating it!