How do you catch a horse that keeps running away from you in the paddock?

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Permalink Reply by Ayesha on July 26, 2010 at 10:16am

There are no tips or tricks when it comes to catching a horse. You need to ask and evaluate why the horse runs away from you. Horses don't usually run away just to 'play' with their owner there is always a reason as to their behaviour.

You need to think about your approach first off.
Do you storm across the field bridle in hand staring straight at the horse whilst marching or jogging as you are in a hurry? if yes, then you are using your body language to say to the horse, im boss, im comming through get out of my way so the horse is not 'play' running away it is merely doing as the boss says and moving.

Do you always give the horse a quick flick over with a brush before getting on and bombing off up the road or around the jumping arena?
If yes then try putting yourself in his shoes for a moment. If you were in a relationship and someone only ever paid you attention when they wanted something out of you, how would you feel. Wouldn't you prefer to work for someone who is kind, pays you attention shows you how much they care and spend lots of time with you. A horse is no different. For a horse to willingly want to be a partnership/friendship with you it needs to be 50/50 you can't always take and not expect your horse to be a bit stubborn about it. Running off before you can catch him to tack him up is his way of saying, there's nothing in it for me but hard work, so why should I. Horses that are schooled for hours on end every day week in week out get bored and unwilling just like you would if you were made to run around in circles week after week.

Is your horse a new member to your family? if yes, maybe people have been unkind when catching him before, ill fitting tack such as a tight headcollar, or people that find it easier to 'herd' a horse into a corner to catch it can cause a horse to be reluctant when you want to catch him.

Some horses that have issues being caught have their dislike worsened by an owner who loses their temper too easily. I have witnessed some people will try once or twice then throw their toys out of the pram and throw the headcollar at the horse in frustration and yell obscenities at the poor thing as it charges off in fright down the paddock. How does that help?

Solutions and bonding.

I find with a horse that has got wise and happily trots away from you can benefit from a zig-zag approach, where by you meander towards him rather than taking a direct route. a handful of treats always comes in useful, simply walk up to him if you can get near, offer him a treat then retreat and leave. Do this a few times and the horse wil start to realise that you had no intention of catchin him up and he will start being more interested in you when you come into the field.

With my rescue mare I use a 'will she wont she' technique where by some days I would catch her up, give her a treat then let her go, other days catch her up and brush her and then other days catch her up and work her for a small amount of time then let her go. The horse will not be sure what your intentions are and generally speaking the hope of getting a treat or a nice brush off is usually quite tempting.

Spend some time!

Spending time just being with your horse is essential to your relationship, you cannot expect to win prizes, or have a trust worthy friend without making an effort, having a horse does not mean you have to be on it's back 24/7 in fact you will notice some amazing things if you spend some time on the floor just being, not touching, just being. Horses just like humans will do anything for a friend rather than a boss who shouts orders constantly.

Think

Think before you act, before you hurl your headcollar or yell, or chase the horse some more, think...why does he not want to be with me, how can I make him want to be with me. Where has the relationship gone wrong. A horse is highly unlikely to waste valuable energy running away from you for no reason so I don't buy the answer 'oh its all a game he loves me really' Spend some time, buy some treats, and be more empathetic towards his situation. Remember a horse cannot tell you if he 'feels a bit rough' or 'Cant be bothered today' and they can quite easilly just like us humans just want a lazy day without someone hammering on their sides and yanking their teeth or flicking them with a crop and making them jump in the midday sun. Maybe you could share a lazy day with your equine friend?

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on July 26, 2010 at 10:32am

I do agree with what Ayesha says.
When I have to catch a horse that does not want to be caught I proceed SLOWLY. I walk slowly in the direction of the horse and I look AWAY from the horse. Every time the horse looks at me I stop and stand there until the horse looks away, and then I change the angle of my approach. After several minutes as I get closer to the horse I slow down even more, and the closer I get the slower I go. With really resistant horses I will get some nice grass in my hand and offer it to the horse. When I finally get up to the horse I either hold out my hand (palm down) inviting the horse to touch it with his nose, or I stroke his lower neck. Then I slowly work the lead rope around the horse's neck, stopping all movement if the horse moves at all. This does not work every time, but it is what I used when the horse's owners could not catch their horse.

Permalink Reply by Marlene Thoms on July 26, 2010 at 1:06pm

I just take out a bucket with a little grain in it, shake it a little so he can hear it.I only approach so far as he won't take off. Don't "hunt them down". I set it down and appear disinterested, don't look directly at him, when he comes to me. Gradually get him used to having lead rope around his neck, then halter, pet, praise, then just let him go. Gradual progression.Repeat as often as necessary. Eventually he might even just come running into his paddock when he hears the grain, or I whistle.

Permalink Reply by Alan Perron on July 26, 2010 at 1:28pm

I did encounter this with a pony that I had. The only way she would come closer and follow me was to rattle some feed pellets in a tin...when I fed her from my hand I quickly attached the lead . She then followed me into the barn. When I reached the barn and her stall, I put a handful of feed into her stall. It might work for you ...let me know...

Permalink Reply by Tracy McDermott on July 26, 2010 at 9:39pm

This will take about a week of repetitive action on your part.
Go into the paddock, stand still pay no attention to the horse and eat an apple (or pretend to eat whatever the horses favorite treat is). When you get to the core or about 5-10 minutes of standing in one place the horse will probably be there where you are because their curiosity is far greater than they can stand. Give the horse the apple core or treat and walk out, don't try to capture the horse. If you do this 3 times within 2 hrs of the usual time for capture on the 4th time you can put the lead over the neck then give the treat and halter the horse. If you do this over the course of 1 week, at the end of the week the horse will come to you as soon as you enter the paddock. During the week following always give the treat when the horse goes into the box. Always be calm and quiet.

Permalink Reply by steve critchley on July 27, 2010 at 2:33am

With patience, trial and error and then some more patience...it always works....

Permalink Reply by A_Sassy_Temptation on July 27, 2010 at 1:48pm

I didn't read everything, but a horse who isn't interested in treats, has been brushed before anf then turned back out, and you CANNOT no matter the way you walk up to the horse catch them, I use the running away as my idea. A horse (like my old mare) took about 1/2 hour to catch a day, she was checked out for saddle fitting issues, health, chiro, we brushed her and fed her grain with no work for sa couple months, I was gentle with my approach, it goes on and on, but what it came down to was my idea to run. Each time she gave any clue to turning around and leaving me when she saw me coming I'd flick the halter and lead and make her WORK, and if she let me catch her, she got worked less, than if she was running away from me. Works easy, and it makes the horse less pushy for treats, and respect your leadership

Permalink Reply by Marlene Thoms on July 27, 2010 at 2:14pm

I have used this approach occasionally with my Guy. Normally I can just sidle up and put his lead on, but once in a while he doesn't feel like working. So if the horse is just testing you and already is trained that the choice is come nice and good things happen, give me grief and you'll have to do laps, this tactic works. If the horse never has learned yet to allow approach, or is fearful, I don't know if this is the best approach. Maybe it works for some.

Permalink Reply by A_Sassy_Temptation on July 28, 2010 at 10:32am

if they are fearful they should be in a roundpen, and the owner should not work at all to catch the horse, unstead feed them, take the hay (only necessity feeding) and make the horse come towards you by placing the hay closer and closer to you each time, feed water in small pails so its you the horse needs to depend on, talk to the horse etc etc. Leading and catching will come when the horse has realised who you are, and will come willingling towards you. I guess this approach would only work if you had a horse at home and it was the owner doing all the necessities as a horse who is truly fearfull would need consisitancy.

Permalink Reply by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on July 28, 2010 at 9:27pm

Gahh!! We used to own one of these - So I acted indifferent. took a book, sat in the field and the nosy thing would come to ME!

Permalink Reply by Jenny Mustoe on July 30, 2010 at 6:22pm

Biggest mistake most people seem to make is to only go and catch their horse when they want to ride it! Go catch it every day at least once without fail, bring it out the field, put it in a stable or tie it up somewhere safe; give it some grub, a nice scratch, a fuss and then turn it out again. Oh, and smile all the time - not the one through gritted teeth, though. Pretty soon you will be able to run towards it, even waving the headcollar and it will come to you happily. It's worked for every horse or pony I've had. The only thing that really spooks any of my lot is the natural horsemanship creeping; they think it is most furtive and it really panics them. They haven't read the book, obviously.

Permalink Reply by Marlene Thoms on July 30, 2010 at 7:51pm

I agree Jenny, this is the best method. But you have to know that on that one day when you are in a hurry or you just have to catch the rascal for some reason, it's hard to fake that it's just a normal, no big deal day. They always know when you are up to something. They are just too good at reading body language. And yeah, sneaking bugs my guy too.

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