http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=2
Our method for a hard to catch horse: In a large pasture - approach mare until she is about to leave. YOU leave first. Not far, just turn your back and walk away a few steps. Wait a moment. Then turn and approach again, ONLY to the point that she is about to leave. Repeat process. The first time may take an hour or more, but be persistent and patient. Never walk close to the point that she is about to leave. You may find that she will get curious enough that SHE will approach you when your back is turned. I've neve had this method fail. Sometimes it takes a LOT longer than other times, but it does work. Caught the naughty pony that I'd never seen before in 20 acres in about 3 minutes this way. The owners had been trying for over two hours.
Also DO not actually catch her every time - sometimes just scratch and pet and praise when you can touch her, then walk away. Other time put the halter on and take her to groom/ride/whatever. Do not make catching mean something unpleasant every time.
From fhotd member KaylaBlueHorse:
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=4
TKNoland uses my method, except that I don't just walk right up to the horse, I kind of siddle around, have my hand limply stretched out - that direct, square on approach will make 'em leave every time. Once you see the start to *think* about walking away, at least stop or take a step or two backwards or sideways and don't resume until they relax. If they do move, the idea is to keep them in a low gear so you can calmly follow.
Also, I stopped trying to hide my halter. This insulted my arab mare of years ago, and was a sure way to piss her off. If it's just out in the open, they don't seem to mind as much, plus I think your body language changes.
Oh, and someone else said that you should practice haltering her and then unhaltering her and walking away after a scratch or two (I don't do treats, so don't suggest that). And don't get discouraged - it may take a while but this is a great method for setting a foundation, and it will probably go relatively quickly.
From fhotd member pdj:
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=3
In a pen like that if the horse isn't really wild but just hard to catch get a 30 foot or so rope & tie it to a post in the fence about 4 ft up & use it for a wing to just pull around & trap him..This won't work with all of um if they are really wild & it he runs through it just let go & don't get rope burned cause ya cant hold it anyway....But if ya had it in a round pen ya should have left a 20 foot or so lead dragging where ya could go up & grab that & while your doing that have him in there with no feed or water & let t get hungry & thirsty before ya go to catch him & then take it to feed & water a while..A few days of that will usually make um pretty friendly....But it's much easier & better to not let um get that way...
From fhotd member Renee:
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=4
Next time you catch the runaway, take it, and put it in solitary confinement for as long as it takes for the horse to WANT to be caught. A round pen is great for this, as is a 60'x60' paddock. Basically, you want your horse to be TOTALLY bored, and YOU are the only entertainment it gets all day.
From fhotd member 4H&H
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=4
Here's something else I did with a mare I had who would just occasionally snatch back away when I would go to halter her. (It helped that I was bringing the horses in to feed every afternoon.) The first time she did it, when I went to approach her for a second & third time, she backed away. So I just brought everyone else in, fed them, and turned them back out. The second day, I gave her one chance. She backed away, I brought everyone else in, fed 'em, turned them back out. The third day she practically begged me to put the halter on her. She only ever got one chance after that, and on the odd occasion when she'd snatch back she'd follow me to the gate asking me to halter her. *This* method won't necessarily work with every horse.
Catch daily, or more. Groom, work, whatever but you have to work on it! Also, if the horse runs away from you in the round pen/paddock, do NOT let it stop moving until you catch it. I cannot stop to eat, drink, poop etc. until caught. This does not mean chase it with something and make it run around like an idiot, but it does mean you must be consistent and persist.
We do this will all ours, and it has yet to NOT cure it. Occasionally one will try to not be caught, and they get a day back in the round pent to think about it.
From fhotd member twofatponies:
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=4
My horses are occasionally not in the mood to be caught, but they never try very hard to get away, so I can't say my technique would necessarily work on a hard to catch one. I just keep an attitude in my body that is not aggressive but not timid. Sort of like I'm just walking out to the curb to get the newspaper or walking over to a store window to take a look. I don't make eye contact, and I aim for the nearest shoulder. When they swing away and start walking away, I walk towards the nearest hip, and I keep maneuvering so I'm always just 20 feet away from the nearest hip, following the horse. If they swing the other way I just switch hips. Eventually they give up and stop, and I switch back to walking towards the shoulder. When they pause or hesitate, I pause and droop my shoulders, cock my head and say sweet things. If they walk away I return to the purposeful but non aggressive walk, like I'm in no hurry and could walk all day. When they stop long enough for me to reach the shoulder, I pet the neck and talk nicely. Then hold the halter up under the chin. If they swing away I go back to walking. etc. Never snatch or grab at him.
From fhotd member Fetlock Up
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=7
Don't be afraid to be aggressive when chasing the horse. Sometimes the difference between a right and wrong answer has to be big. When the horse first looks at you turn around and walk away. The horse doesn't expect that and gets curious. Once you get that first look and your retreat you can start pushing the horse. Quietly works better than fast. Cluck or kiss or shake a rope (forward cue) enough that the horse wants to move, extra points if they want to move and don't.
As soon as they look at you back off and stop your forward cue. Keep backing if they keep looking at you. If you back into the fence start walking along the fence towards the horse.
This is where it gets really easy. If they are looking at you "reward" (no forward cue, no aggressive posture, back off.) If they are not looking at you give the forward cue, be aggressive, approach.
Once they understand about looking at you, you can start chasing them when they look away. Do NOT chase them around and around. They shouldn't get very far (maybe a quarter of the way around) before you ask them to turn around. There is no rule about it, so set yourself up to step towards the front of the horse to turn them around. If the horse seems inclined to run you over get bigger. Flap your arms, shout and stomp your feet, whatever it takes.
When the horse stops and looks at you long enough that you have made your way up to the along the fence you can gently cluck to see if they will take a step towards you. That first step towards you needs the super reward of turning around and walking away. Same thing as when the horse lets you approach finally, pet them and turn around and walk away. The horse immediately relaxes when you turn around and walk away. It is very effective.
Once you get to the point the horse is looking at you most of the time and follows you with his feet you can start walking straight up to him. Walk up to the place where he starts getting uncomfortable, but hasn't moved his feet away yet and then turn around and walk away. You can keep getting closer and closer, but each time turn around and walk away. It is OK if he just leaves as you approach. Give the forward cue and get his attention back and start approaching again.
I've used this method on horses who have never been handled and it never takes more than a few hours. The horse gets more and more relaxed. The next day you can always catch them within 5 minutes.
From fhotd member SurpriseWind
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=7
I use the "chase" method. Don't know what else to call it. If they don't face me and stand still, they work. Hard. Of course, it's a little harder on me. The worst was a 20 acre pasture on the side of a hill, which wore the horse down faster but I was too pooped to ride once I caught her.
If they still but have their butt to me, they work. I accept ONLY facing me, and still. It takes a couple of days usually, but they learn it quickly. They come to understand that there is less work and headache INSIDE the halter than running from it.
I do not care if this makes me seem like a heartless asshat. I don't want to be kicked or trampled or have to chase Fuzzy while juggling a bucket and a carrot stick.
Have also heard of people withholding food and or/water.... which seems like a medical emergency waiting to happen, AND isn't a long term training solution. Quick fixes don't last.
From fhotd member 4H&H
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=4
Here's something else I did with a mare I had who would just occasionally snatch back away when I would go to halter her. (It helped that I was bringing the horses in to feed every afternoon.) The first time she did it, when I went to approach her for a second & third time, she backed away. So I just brought everyone else in, fed them, and turned them back out. The second day, I gave her one chance. She backed away, I brought everyone else in, fed 'em, turned them back out. The third day she practically begged me to put the halter on her. She only ever got one chance after that, and on the odd occasion when she'd snatch back she'd follow me to the gate asking me to halter her. *This* method won't necessarily work with every horse.
Catch daily, or more. Groom, work, whatever but you have to work on it! Also, if the horse runs away from you in the round pen/paddock, do NOT let it stop moving until you catch it. I cannot stop to eat, drink, poop etc. until caught. This does not mean chase it with something and make it run around like an idiot, but it does mean you must be consistent and persist.
We do this will all ours, and it has yet to NOT cure it. Occasionally one will try to not be caught, and they get a day back in the round pent to think about it.
From fhotd member twofatponies:
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=4
My horses are occasionally not in the mood to be caught, but they never try very hard to get away, so I can't say my technique would necessarily work on a hard to catch one. I just keep an attitude in my body that is not aggressive but not timid. Sort of like I'm just walking out to the curb to get the newspaper or walking over to a store window to take a look. I don't make eye contact, and I aim for the nearest shoulder. When they swing away and start walking away, I walk towards the nearest hip, and I keep maneuvering so I'm always just 20 feet away from the nearest hip, following the horse. If they swing the other way I just switch hips. Eventually they give up and stop, and I switch back to walking towards the shoulder. When they pause or hesitate, I pause and droop my shoulders, cock my head and say sweet things. If they walk away I return to the purposeful but non aggressive walk, like I'm in no hurry and could walk all day. When they stop long enough for me to reach the shoulder, I pet the neck and talk nicely. Then hold the halter up under the chin. If they swing away I go back to walking. etc. Never snatch or grab at him.
From fhotd member Fetlock Up
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=7
Don't be afraid to be aggressive when chasing the horse. Sometimes the difference between a right and wrong answer has to be big. When the horse first looks at you turn around and walk away. The horse doesn't expect that and gets curious. Once you get that first look and your retreat you can start pushing the horse. Quietly works better than fast. Cluck or kiss or shake a rope (forward cue) enough that the horse wants to move, extra points if they want to move and don't.
As soon as they look at you back off and stop your forward cue. Keep backing if they keep looking at you. If you back into the fence start walking along the fence towards the horse.
This is where it gets really easy. If they are looking at you "reward" (no forward cue, no aggressive posture, back off.) If they are not looking at you give the forward cue, be aggressive, approach.
Once they understand about looking at you, you can start chasing them when they look away. Do NOT chase them around and around. They shouldn't get very far (maybe a quarter of the way around) before you ask them to turn around. There is no rule about it, so set yourself up to step towards the front of the horse to turn them around. If the horse seems inclined to run you over get bigger. Flap your arms, shout and stomp your feet, whatever it takes.
When the horse stops and looks at you long enough that you have made your way up to the along the fence you can gently cluck to see if they will take a step towards you. That first step towards you needs the super reward of turning around and walking away. Same thing as when the horse lets you approach finally, pet them and turn around and walk away. The horse immediately relaxes when you turn around and walk away. It is very effective.
Once you get to the point the horse is looking at you most of the time and follows you with his feet you can start walking straight up to him. Walk up to the place where he starts getting uncomfortable, but hasn't moved his feet away yet and then turn around and walk away. You can keep getting closer and closer, but each time turn around and walk away. It is OK if he just leaves as you approach. Give the forward cue and get his attention back and start approaching again.
I've used this method on horses who have never been handled and it never takes more than a few hours. The horse gets more and more relaxed. The next day you can always catch them within 5 minutes.
From fhotd member SurpriseWind
http://fhotd64476.yuku.com/topic/4553?page=7
I use the "chase" method. Don't know what else to call it. If they don't face me and stand still, they work. Hard. Of course, it's a little harder on me. The worst was a 20 acre pasture on the side of a hill, which wore the horse down faster but I was too pooped to ride once I caught her.
If they still but have their butt to me, they work. I accept ONLY facing me, and still. It takes a couple of days usually, but they learn it quickly. They come to understand that there is less work and headache INSIDE the halter than running from it.
I do not care if this makes me seem like a heartless asshat. I don't want to be kicked or trampled or have to chase Fuzzy while juggling a bucket and a carrot stick.
Have also heard of people withholding food and or/water.... which seems like a medical emergency waiting to happen, AND isn't a long term training solution. Quick fixes don't last.
