I have got a new pony and I have problems catching him?

Question

I have tried taking treats out to the field with me and hiding the headcollar behind my back but as soon as I try and put it on him he takes off. I have only had him 2 weeks but have only been able to catch him a few times. Help!

Answer 1

Id leave the headcollar on  him if I were you - it'll make things that bit easier. Bring a bucket of feed to the field with you - when you catch him, allow him eat  his dinner, but then walk away - dont even try and  bring him in. This way he'll associate being caught with not necessarily meaning work and riding etc and it should make him easier to catch

xx

Answer 2

Horses hate to be ignored.  When he runs from you turn your back to him and walk to opposite way.  He's figure it out. lol I had a horse that did this same thing. Sometimes it's a game to them.

Answer 3

leave a head collar on him whilst in the field, this means you will only have to clip a lead rope on him when you catch him. Take a bucket with feed in out to the field with you, let him eat a little bit and whilst he is eating, clip the lead rope on :)

Answer 4

try doing something to get his attention like sitting on the ground or playing with some pieces of grass and try to get him to walk up to you. as soon as you can touch him give him a treat and throw a lead rope around his neck. then you should be able to halter him with no problem.

Answer 5

I have answered this question for other horse owners, and my answer can be found at this link:

Catching a Spooky Horse

http://liverystable.net/talk/viewtopic.p...

Hope that helps, it gives a pretty clear explanation of steps to take.  Some people call the process "Join Up"...I think it helps some horses, not all.  Every horse is an individual, and must be handled differently, so if you try this and it works for you, great.  It will benefit horses that are truly afraid, but maybe not a horse that is just ornery.

Good luck.

Answer 6

O dear you should have asked about this and even tried catching im yourself. Take a bucket with feed in to him whilst he's eating gently slip th lead rope over his neck and then put the head collaron. If you cant do this just go down to the field as often as possible with some treat and talk to him, stroke him and then leave, dont even attempt to bring him in. If you do this often and he gets used to it every so often put the headcollar on and then take it off again. After youve done this you can prgress to walking him round the field in it and then eventually to take him up to the yard.When you can bring him in remember to still go down to the field and not catch him otherwise he will just go back to not wanting to be caught again. good luck. p.s maybe ring the seller and ask if he was like this when they had him and how they caught him etc. get as much info as possible

Answer 7

I think the best thing to do would be to use a field-safe headcollar. That way he keeps the headcollar on whilst he's in the field and all you need to do is clip the leadrope on.

http://www.robinsons-uk.com/products/sea...

Hope that helps x

Answer 8

I own 2 ponies both were ill treated and not just spooked by people but scared senceless!!

I spent a few weeks sat in there field with them reading a book with a bucket of feed at my feet! The youngest foal took 5 days to come eat at my feet!! The eldest took 2 weeks!! While they where eatting I made sure I made small movements!! Then I moved on to being able to touch them and stroke them. Then groomed them (they love a rubber curry comb being rubbed on there bottoms), I then spent two days showing them a head collar letting them mouth it (not eat it!). I then got them to allow me to put a head collar over there nose and eventually over there ears!!

I have had them 9 mths and in the morning they both come running over to say hello when I come in the field, allow me to groom them and work them. In the afternoon the youngest will come say hello but the eldest will walk off as he dont like being worked!! The proof is on the days when it is two wet to work them the eldest will come over in the after as well.

It takes lots of time and patiences!! Dont worry if he improves for a while then takes a big step back it will take awhile!!! You may also find it easiler to have him stabled and sit in there with him or fence him in a smal area!

Answer 9

Try this, build up his trust by staying in the pin and act like you are ignoring him. chances are he is curious so he'll come up to you. Let him come to you and when he does rap the halter or rope, around him. Pet him for a while and give him some treats while talking to him in a soothing way.  

Answer 10

Go to the field with no headcollar,leadrope, just a few treats and ask a friend/parent to wait outside the field with a headcollar and leadrope

let him see all you have are treats, give him time and he will come to you. Grab a tuft of his mane then get your friend/parent to hand you the leadrope, link it round his neck while you put on his headcollar then praise him.  

Answer 11

Put him in a small paddock, and work with him, small paddocks also work well to free lunge to get him listening so you can catch him easier. Try catching him with only the lead rope as well. Put it around his neck and then walk him to the gate and put his halter on.

Good Luck

Answer 12

instead of putting the halter on right away have the lead rope also and hiding both and a treatin the other hand feed the horse the treat and then quickly but not to fast (you dont want to spook the horse) take the leadrop and put it around its neck, then you have control and can put its halter on. first you need to gain control to do something (thats what the lead ropes for)

Answer 13

Try going out to the field and giving him a few treats then walk away and leave him for a few hours. Do this several times a day the first day so he doesnt associate u with catching him. Stroke his neck and face gently so he grows to trust u. Then introduce him to the headcollar, let him sniff it but dont try and put it on him at first, When u do manage to get the headcollar on him do it slowly and gently so as not to scare him, feeding him more treats if needed, make a fuss of him when he lets u catch him. When u take him to his stable give him a small feed and groom him, but dont ride him, turn him out again. This way he will not think that every time u catch him u want to ride him. He will soon grow to trust u.

you could also try keeping him in a small paddock with another pony that is easy to catch. Let him watch his friend having treats and being fussed over, he will soon come over to get his share of the feed.

It takes a while to build up a bond with a new pony. Im sure u will have no problems if u take it slowly, never punish him if he takes ages to catch. U might want to have a chat with his previous owners and see if they had any problems with him and if they have any tips for u

Answer 14

Do you work him every time you bring him in? If so, then he has learned to identify getting caught with getting put to work. He old owners may have done that, so he thinks getting caught means work. Horses are naturally pretty lazy, so he will avoid work if he can. You need to teach him that getting caught does not always mean work. You are on the right track taking treats to him. It sounds like you can get close.

What you need to do is make getting caught very, very pleasant for him. So, go back out with the treats and take the head collar with you. Hide it behind your back if you have to. Don't try to put it on at this point, just stand there while he eats the treats and make sure that he sees that you have it. He will think "this is great. I am getting treats and she isn't catching me after all and I don't have to work" Lots of treats and let him go. You may have to so this several times. After he will allow you to approach with the head collar, then you want to try putting the lead rope around his neck. This gives you a little control.  More treats and let him go. You may have to do this several times. When you can reliably put the lead rope around his neck, then put the head collar on. More treats then let him go. Do not take him in and make him work at this point. You are still trying to teach him that getting caught is pleasant. YOu may have to so this several times. Do as many sessions a day as you can. This will take you probably several days to a couple of weeks.

When you can put the head collar on reliably, then you can take him in and make him work, but you still need to go out into the field often, catch him, give him treats, and let him go. That way you remind him that getting caught is actually a good thing.

Also, does he get fed in the field or in the barn? If you feed him in the barn, start catching him to bring him in for dinner. That is a great way to teach him that getting caught is good.

Teaching a horse to get caught is one of the hardest things because it is so easy for them to disobey and you can't force it.