I have a mare here that I have only had about 2 months. When she came here, you could catch her anywhere, anytime. The more I ride her, the more difficult it is becoming to catch her. She came from a place where she was hardly ridden at all. Do you think she just doesn't want to work? Any suggestions as to how to nip this in the bud?
She has to make up her mind that hard to catch is not the answer. the only way to "convince" her is to make her work harder when she chooses to go away. Keep her feet moving--work-- and only let her rest next to you. Don't chase her. The key is for her to do the work and for you to control her feet. You don't need a lead on her to do that. If the pasture is big get a couple of your friends to help you.
If she allows you to halter her nicely just halter her and let her go.
Most horses start this when work is added to their life.
Pretty soon you can control her feet just by walking in the pasture.
This approach will teach the horse that she'll have to allow herself to be caught or else she'll be worked at liberty. It's desirable, however, for her to want to be with you--"Oh, boy, there's my fun human!" rather than, "Might as well let her catch me or else she'll just run me around."
Noone wants to work all the time.
If the only time you spend with your horse she has to do something I would expect her to be difficult to catch. Somedays just catch her, groom her (I would groom her in the same place you usually tack up, so that place is also a place of relaxation and not always work). Or you could even just lead her around a bit to graze somewhere different.
I do agree with the 'make her work if she isn't easy to catch'. But sometimes it's nice for them to just feel good to be with their human friend - no strings attached - just bonding time. Have fun with your horse.
Sometimes it's a domination issue or she is just being playful or lazy and doesn't want to work. All of my horses like to run away when I try to catch them. But with my best mare Bella, When I need to catch her I shake a grain bucket and she comes running and I can catch her. Hope this helps
I have never agreed with bribary! But with anything that is hard to catch it's hard to know what to do. Like they say get her in to be groomed and messed with, not always to be ridden and just make her want to be with you. Posted via Mobile Device
I never said groom her or mess with her. Get her caught, give her a little bit of grain and leave her alone to eat it and as soon as she is done turn her loose again. You can't MAKE her want to be with you because she isn't going to. I have a dog that wants to be with me so I don't have to pen him. He just lays on the front porch and waits for me to come outside. I have never seen a horse that would do that. That tells me that they would rather be with other horses 99% of the time. For a reward and to establish that good things happen when she gets caught don't force yourself on her. You can catch her again later to groom her and "mess" with her.
Yes and when she starts nipping and pestering/searchin you for food everytime u or anybody else goes near her in the field u can post on here again with a new problem!
My horses WILL choose me over any horse out in their field anytime of day and everytime I go down there. or maybe if just had the 0.01% of horses with the 12horses I've owned. 4 of which were very difficult almost immpossible to catch when I first took them on.
If she is worked then feed her as this is possitive thing for her to associate work with, as to is being scratched and groomed and " messed" with. Posted via Mobile Device
Yes and when she starts nipping and pestering/searchin you for food everytime u or anybody else goes near her in the field u can post on here again with a new problem!
My horses WILL choose me over any horse out in their field anytime of day and everytime I go down there. or maybe if just had the 0.01% of horses with the 12horses I've owned. 4 of which were very difficult almost immpossible to catch when I first took them on.
If she is worked then feed her as this is possitive thing for her to associate work with, as to is being scratched and groomed and " messed" with. Posted via Mobile Device
If you don't feed them by hand they will not bother you with nipping and pestering. If you want the fastest results then just bring the horse out and feed it and leave it alone. I have trained 20 horses so far this year and about half of them have been hard to catch at some point while I had them. Catching them an extra time every day is sometimes a PITA but it only takes a few days to get the horse used to being caught.
The only bad thing about bribary in my opinion is that when I give treats every horse will begin to nip me when I catch them because they want the food. Otherwise its great, if you don't mind the biting!
Go sunbathe in the pasture. Tie halters to your chair and in trees, along with yourself. Show her that everytime you go in there you aren't going to catch her. Besides, the weather is getting nicer. Surely you could use a tan? I know I'm pale as milk since winter, which means the time has come to give my horses a valuable lesson
I had a mare when I was alot younger, I loaned her off someone, How old is your horse that your struggling to catch. Two months, so you haven't had her long then! when she may be just trying to test you out see what she can get away with. Dont let her get you down! Just be brave maybe encourage her with her favouite treats! and make sure you make her work fun! and very enjoyable. It's easy to say if your schooling her for hours on end every day she might be bored! or if you hacking in the same place. So try and vary your work. Dont just jump dont just school, go for new hacks, go to competitions, give her a break from jumping if you do! xGOODLUCK!x
Totally agree!! Just make urself the best thing to be around! My lot all think that I'm THE person to be with so sod the field and other horses n they each come running! Lol
she's still new to u too so give her time to adjust! If ur going to use food then take it in a feed bucket and always use the same one, that way she will associate that bucket rather than u for food n hopefully won't start nipping.
My horses get a polo after a competition and that's it, they never search or nip me for food. But have had a friend beside herself with a horse that starting nipping n then biting because she treated him regularly! He also started to kick the stable door which drove us all wild! Lol
let us know how u go! :-D Posted via Mobile Device
I have a mare here that I have only had about 2 months. When she came here, you could catch her anywhere, anytime. The more I ride her, the more difficult it is becoming to catch her. She came from a place where she was hardly ridden at all. Do you think she just doesn't want to work? Any suggestions as to how to nip this in the bud?
I dont think it is that she doesnt want to work. It is just that if a horse has a choice to work or not they would chose not to, not that they dont like it , its just an easier concept to them to graze all day but they always enjoy it once they get going. My horse is the same. If you are struggling catching her then get a field-safe head collar, this will not only make it easier to catch, but also your mare will have the sence that she is under your control when she is wearing it.
If every time you saw a certain person they made you work, would you want to be around them?
You need to mix things up. Sometimes do nothing but groom her after she's been caught. Other times, hand graze her. Then release her back into the pasture.
If you do this, she'll start to associate you with nice things too, instead of just work.
Horses, like humans, don't want to work all the time, and it seems to me you're doing nothing but working her when you show up.
I think that's a good question. Every young horse I've had has gone through a spell of walking away. But when I stop, they'll usually stop too. Are they trying to move my feet? After a few months they tire of the game, if that's what it is.
I was taught to leave a horse feeling better than when I brought them in. Exercise, or work, makes me feel good afterwards. When I've sprayed off a sweaty horse, I know he feels pretty good too. If he doesn't, I've worked him too hard. My horses like coming in.
Another thing to consider is how much pasture he's got. My horses only have an acre or so, so they get bored. Another reason they like to come in, I guess.
Im not for the "luring" a horse with feed or treats. To me its like teaching a dog to do a trick with treats.... 9 times out of 10... if you dont have a treat... the dog wont do it. So if you get the horse to come to you with feed... what are you gonna do if you are ever in the situation that you dont have feed or treats? Thats just my Opinion.
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