My horse doesn't want to be caught!

So I keep my horse in a 5 acre pasture and when I go to catch her so I can ride her she pins her ears and takes off loping away, if I stand in the way I have no doubt that she will trample me either! She is a huge brat until I actually have the halter on her... How do I fix her running from me problem? And I do not have a smaller stall I could keep her in.

Boy, that's something I won't tolerate. And a lot of the ones I've had over the years came that way.

I start small. Once I hassle my way into catching them, I put them in a stall, tiny set of panels, barn alleyway, some small area. Then I start to approach them. When they wheel away, I pop them on the hind end with a lunging whip or cattle flag. When they turn in surprise I stand there with my arms down looking all relaxed.

Then repeat. And repeat. And repeat. And... I stop a lesson when they just stand there and let me approach. They don't have to act like they are okay with me approaching. I don't require head down, licking lips, anything. Just tolerate it. Then I lead them out and let them loose.

It takes a few days in the smallest area, then I might move to a pen made of panels or a corral. Do the same thing. If I can't make them spin and face me, I will make them circle until I see resignation.

Then I go for a paddock the size you describe.

Once they are good in an area of that size they seem to know I will make them work if they run off or turn their hind quarters to me, and I can approach them even in our large pastures.

I teach turning and facing me in the round pen which also means standing still while I walk up and touch them all over..........once taught you can do it any where......

Super Nova

My moms horse is the same way, but I have him in the round pen and I cut him off when he trys to bolt saying "whoa" (my other two are tought that when I say whoa an dstep in front of them they stop and wait for me or come to me) and he will try to go the other way and I stop"whoa" over and over till I can get close and then throw the halter on and praise and praise. Don't ride everytime spend time with her and groom. Work up to bigger areas.

Thank you all very much! Im going to have to get panels out and build a stall now! Haha (:

Mine on occasion with get disrespectful like that. I try to corner him and he will try to go left or right to get around me, which of course I don't allow. He will usually do this 3-4 times each way - like mentioned above you can use a whip if you want. When he has enough He will then stop and face me and give up. Basically make him uncomfortable until he realizes that he has a choice.. be uncomfortable or come to you. Horses are smart, so they usually choose the latter.

If I tried to corner my horse I am pretty sure she would trample me!

You don't need to corner him, you can do the same thing in a bigger area, it's just more tiring for you. My horse is in a 5 acre pasture as well and sometimes she just doesn't wanna get caught haha So along the same lines as the others mentioned, as soon as I can see her pinning her ears, or showing signs of turning away, I will run at her and smooch and chase her off for about 10 strides. She usually goes off to some far corner to pout, so I'll walk out there with my shoulders relaxed and acting very calm and if she acts like she's going to take off again, I run at her and push her away for as long as I can. Then repeat. It usually only takes once or twice before she gets tired of being run off and she'll let me walk up to her. Make it hard work for them not to come with you, and easy for them TO come with you.

I think she needs motivation- whether it be getting to rest when she's near you, or getting a treat. These are the two options I generally use for hard-to-catch horses:
1- If she wants to move, she gets to move. On five acres, you're going to have to do some leg work, but just keep at it and give her as little rest as possible. You can chase her around until she comes to you- when she is rude and canters away, she gets to keep moving. If she comes up to you, she gets to rest, and I would suggest that when you take her out you just groom her or give her a bath, something that's not work so she doesn't associate you catching her with something unpleasant. Treats when she comes up to you won't hurt either ;)
2- This is generally how I approach a horse that is more scared/ timid, and not just being a brat. Basically, just walk into the pen with treats, and when they run away, stand there and ignore them. If this doesn't peak their curiosity, shake the treats or something to get their attention- as long as they're interested in you. Let them slowly walk up to you, and don't move until they've sniffed you/ etc. Slip them a treat, give them a pat, and if you have to, don't even bring the halter in- as long as they come up to you and are comfortable, you may just want to leave it at that for a day. Keep doing this and taking baby-steps until you get to the point where you can rub on them around their head and neck, like putting on a halter or a lead around their neck, and they are completely relaxed.

Hope these help- I'm sure there are some other cases out there, but this seems to work with all the horses I've encountered.

I agree with you. You have to know your horse. I trust mine, so i'm not too worried.