James kindly sent this in, which if you have a hard to catch horse, you’ll find very useful
It may be obvious to some – but it was a real light bulb moment for me.
“Horses aren’t stupid – far from it.
It doesn’t take long for them to grasp when they see you holding a halter, they’re about to be caught and ‘put to work’.
Use a catch rope – it’s easy to hide over your shoulder and gets you used to leading your horse without a halter. You don’t even need to tie it in to a loop – just pet your horse and slide it around the neck. Works with any hard to catch horse.
James”
A fine tip!
And here’s what Jane has to see on a hard to catch horse:
“In many instances if you create the right conditions, your horse will catch you.
I have a 3 year old gelding who hadn’t been handled for two-and-half years (until he came to me in fact). When he first arrived he just ran round and round and I did wonder (at first) what I had let myself in for). A very hard to catch horse.
I did nothing for two days except sit outside the paddock and then inside until HE CAME UP TO ME.
I then applied pressure-release techniques, where I touched his nose briefly and then walked away. He then followed and within 3 days of this ‘training’ he was standing like statue to be head-collared.
With my others I apply the same -pressure methods when stroking them with the headcollar/lead rope, so they do not associate it with negative things. OK so this takes time but it is worth it.
Now when I go in any of my horses paddocks they walk up quietly to me and wait for the ‘cue’ of what to do next…
Love the leadrope improvisation – will try that!!
Jan”
Please do leave a comment below if you have a hard to catch horse – I’d love to know what works for you, and what doesn’t!
And don’t forget there are hundreds of posts like this on the blog, but the only way you can see them all is on the newsletter.
Best
Here’s one for you – absolutely true.
I had the hoof mark to prove it
Years ago I bought a cob called Candy.
When I went to pick her up it was a nightmare
Few horses like being caught, but Candy violently objected.
Quick as lightning she swivelled round and caught me with a full-blooded hoof to the chest.
The bruise was there for weeks.
I wish I’d known about this 🙂
When a transporter came to fetch a adopted horse, he saw me catch the horse like that. He just about flipped from disbelief. Said had never saw a horse cwught like that before. Lol. Been catching them that way for fifty + years.
This is the way I have always cought horses, that’s over 45 years of it, course I just use a leadline, it has worked great on every horse I have used it on, mine, stables I have worked for, so I bet I have used it on at least 50 horses if not more… 😀
You caught the clever than-you-horse because he was penned in. Try that in an open field and he would have been gone!
THE ROPE TRICK IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA – SIMPLE BUT QUICK AND EFFECTIVE TO JUST USE THE ROPE SLIPPED AROUND THE NECK THEN TIED ROUND THE HORSE’S HEAD AS IF USING A HEADCOLLAR. THANK YOU, I WILL BE DOING THAT UNTIL MY HORSES GET WISE ABOUT THAT TOO!
When i worked with my horse on learning a cantor and a rack, i would give him a sugar cube for a reward. Now, in the field all i do is our whistle and he comes to me. He has no problem with a bridle, thought i don’t need one. He loves to ride. This will not happen for everyone. Never use lots of sugar. Consult with your Vet before giving your horse sugar
In many instances if you create the right conditions, your horse will catch you. I have a 3 year old gelding who hadn’t been handled for two-and-half years (until he came to me in fact). When he first arrived he just ran round and round and I did wonder (at first) what I had let myself in for). I did nothing for two days except sit outside the paddock and then inside until HE CAME UP TO ME. I then applied pressure-release techniques, where I touched his nose briefly and then walked away. He then followed and within 3 days of this ‘training’ he was standing like statue to be head-collared. With my others I apply the same -pressure methods when stroking them with the headcollar/lead rope, so they do not associate it with negative things. OK so this takes time but it is worth it. Now when I go in any of my horses paddocks they walk up quietly to me and wait for the ‘cue’ of what to do next…
Love the leadrope improvisation – will try that!!
I use the same method with my horses and it truely works!! When i walk into the paddock my horses catch me. It may take time but this way you earn thier respect and they feel comfortable with you in thier space. Less stress on them, less stress on you.
My horse is easy to catch although she would always hold her head up when I placed the head collar on. To me it was her polite way of letting me know she wasn’t comfortable with the way that I approached her. Now I enter the field and call her (so she knows I want her attention), and then turn slightly away from her. I repeat this if necessary… She then approaches me quietly and stands with her head over my shoulder signalling that she is ready to be caught. I place the head collar on and she assists by keeping her head low. I get the feeling that approaching her directly and smothering her with hugs and kisses, was a little ‘rude’ in horse etiquette! Meeting her in the field is now an altogether more relaxed and enjoyable event. I still hug and kiss her though. Can’t help it.
You know, the Equestrian Center where I volunteer actually uses this! It’s really great, and the horses love it! 😀
we have a gorse at my farm right now and we have a very hard time just trying to get up to him let alone trying to catch him. when i am out in the field alone he sees me perks his ears up and walks away. my cousin wants me to ride him because she is to scared to. with good reason. e bucked my uncle off 2 he wasn’t hurt thankfully.
i want to ride him just to show my uncles and cousin that he isn’t that dangerous. anyone have any ideas?
you need to earn its trust then take it in small steps also maybe he bucked your uncle because a peace or tack did not fit (too small/too big)?
😕
Too many problems here to fix in a email message. First get the horse to come to you. Carry healthy treats and just ask your horse to turn his head to you with a kiss sound. Stand next to his shoulder and do not look him in the eye. Practice this daily until the horse, upon hearing the kiss sound moves into you and follows. The object here is to get the horse to always move towards you (into you). When you know the horse is ready start with a small soft rope and rub him with it. Build trust and never act like a predator. When the accepts you as his partner, then you can move on to saddling. Make sure it lays properly on the horses back, with a perfect fit. Lounge or have the horse run around tacked up and if he is not stressed about it, then you can get on and just sit there and bend him around both ways to touch your knee. If you can’t do this, you do not have control of your horse.
Leslie
If you have to ask a question like that you should not be attempting what you are contemplating. By what you are describing this horse at this point, has not been exposed to much human contact or maybe the wrong type of human contact. This is the job for a knowledgeable trainer, “emphasis on knowledgeable.” Even if you could get this horse to trust you enough to let you catch him and groom him that is no indication he would except you on his back. I would suggest, if you are serious about this, try to get the horse in to a confined area: small lot or adequate stall. Then you be the soul person that takes care of feeding, watering and any other needs he will require. He will then slowly begin to trust you. Every advance you make with him will come at the slow paced baby step process.Once you can halter,groom and lead him where you want to. Then he should be slowly introduced to other people, let them while you are, present of course, holding the lead line rub and brush him. When he is comfortable around other people that is the time I would turn him over to the a fore mentioned trainer. Also,I would guess, he will need trailer loading training. Good luck!
😯 light bulb mmoment! ! Great tips guys thanks!
is your Uncle a Big man? I had a mare that walked on eggs if a child was on her, let “any one” ride her (as long as I was there) then my cousin in-law wanted to ride her … she stood like an angle, as soon as he asked her to move he landed on the other side of the coral. No step taken just a buck and off he went. I realized then that he was too much weight on her. oops. He wasn’t hurt but to this day no one speaks of it 🙂
But first you need to catch the horse 🙂 feeding time is always a good time .. if only on pasture try putting some grain in bucket and shake it “some” then walk into a holding pen area you want him in and dump it in feeder or ground – try to make sure the horse sees you do this.Then wait. He will go look – in his own time. Once in – put it away from gate – close the gate. Then it will take time on your part to gain his trust. You could start by taking a book out and read it and in time he should go see why you aren’t paying attention to him.Get him to enjoy your time together. All this before you even think of getting on him. Please don’t rush it … don’t want you hurt. Have fun.
Oh, I was told once a very long time ago that if you feel unsure about doing something with/to a horse don’t do it the horse will know and react like you think it will.
oh please, that is how I caught my pony 45 yes ago with just baling twine
Yeah….start him in a round pen…do ground work til you have him respectful…no riding him for the first 30 days of the ground work….by that point he will be respectful enough for just about anyone to ride…..
I guess I’m lucky cause I just have to whistle and my boys come running! I have used the rope around the neck too, but more for a training exercise than a necessity! I believe it is always good to teach your horse to lead both ways. Stay safe everyone!!!!
Training a horse to come to you is easier in a yard, harder in a paddock – but both requires patience.
in a yard you keep the horse moving, just at a walk – no need for the “horse whispering” running around the yard till sweaty!
In a paddock means more patience! Just walk and walk behind, in front, walk the horse until you get to it! I had to do this in a 50 acre paddock – it took 2 hrs, but next day it was half an hour, next was 5 minutes – after that, because I had treated him right, he would come up to me! This is just one example, all horses I was asked to re train, had been abused.
It takes time and patience – but how you treat the horse once caught – makes all the difference!
I would think that actually putting the halter on would take to long. What I used to do with a miniature I used to work with is, I’d leave her breakaway halter on in the pasture, so if she does allow u to come up to her u can snap a lead rope on in a second. And I find the main reason horses run away in the pasture is usally because they don’t enjoy their work, they don’t like the environment their going to, or they don’t like their handler.
I’d never leave any halter on..get your horse to enjoy being with you and when you enter the pasture/paddock with a hqalter and lead rope, they’ll practically put the halter on themselves !!! Seriously…they will come to you and nose the halter…It’s the best !!!!
I won’t chase a horse round the paddock to catch it. All my Saddlebreds are trainked to come when called and virtually put their heads in the halter.
One trick, as recommended by HenrynBlake, English Horseman, with hard to catch horses is to spend time every day in the paddock with feed for about 1 week and feed them, get them to follow but don’t catch them. Then, when you and they are ready, have them follow you into a yard, but don’t catch them. Do this a few times, play the friendly game and rub them all over but don’t catxh them. When you feel ready slip on the halter.
Tom Roberts states not to attempt to catch a difficult horse to catch in an open paddock. Always have them follow you into a smaller yards.
I am a fan of Tom Roberts – however his statement to never catch a horse in a big paddock? in a week I call them (after patiently walking them to be caught) come trotting up to me.
well, i wish we could get close enough to our mare to even do this! after 18 yrs of trying each and every effort adn trick in the book – unless she wants to be caught – she wont! rope, halter or arms! 👿
jo,
What they’ve been saying is you have to teach your horse to like to be “caught”. A horse always asks itself “what is in it for me?” Give it a good answer and it comes to you to get “it”. It takes a bit of time up front, but lasts basically forever.
I love this. I am presently working with a horse who’s previoud owner chased him and by the way never caught him.Thank you so much
My mustang colt will come up to people for a scratch or rub down all the time. However, if he sees a rope, forget it! I don’t think this method will work for me. We use catch ropes all the time, but just never made the nose part with it. We just loop it over their neck & they walk happily along.
wow unbelivible why didnt i think of that before
Useful info indeed. I keep a lead line by my front, back and side doors so that if my boy “escapes” I can catch him with this method.
My horses always start nickering and come to me.
The problem starts when the horse is always caught and put to work or something else they may not enjoy.
Sometimes I just walk out and give them each a hay cube or other treat and a rub and leave or I will catch them and give them a good brushing.
Anything they enjoy so they are happy to see me and not worried about what I am going to do.
Much easier and enjoyable for me and them.
I rarely bring a halter out to catch my horses, I’ve used a lead rope most of the time loosely hung around my gelding’s neck, he’s gotten so used to it that he’ll let me lead him by his mane as well. Better trick to catching your horse… bring out a treat! (Handful of grain, carrots, an apple wedge) Hasn’t ever failed for me and my treat crazed horses. 😉
I go to the gate and call them, they canter up to me.
Due to time restraint one time, I decided to lunge my 3 working horses – a 15hh, a 14.2hh and a 11.2hh. I decided to lunge the first that came up to me in the paddock. While Grooming her (the 14.2hh mare) the 2 geldings came up being in the way, so groomed them while not tied up too.
When I went to lunge the mare, the 11.2 went in circles inside, the 15.2hh went on the outside!
So I got to work 3 horses in one go!
I had never had that happened – and I had a few spectators amazed!
And yes – used that again when time was short – didn’t matter which horse was on the rope – the others joined in!
i love this idea 😀 i always used it on my gelding before i trained him to come when called
I can go out and bring my horse in just by slapping my leg, I can lead by ear, forelock, and have no problems with just going out with halter in hand. It is called spending time with them not just get them for work riding.
Shouldn’t need to lead by ear! Mine follow me with no hand on them.
This method was taught to me by my grandfather 50 + years ago. Now I have one that will come but unless cornered, is no getting rope on. Usually for him I open up gate and he goes straight to barn and into stahl, where he will allow you to do anything. To him the pasture is his domain. Was a wild stallion when I bought him. Very gentle now. Just won’t be roped on his turff. Petting and playing is allowed. Lol
When Jack was born he was lying soun asleep at his mother’s feet. She stood there exhausted.He was her first foal. She was too tired to be bothered with my presence. I lay down on my belly on the grass. Eventually Jack awoke. I spoke to him quietly whislt gently caressing his rear fetlock. It took me an hour and a half to get to his ears. Each day I rubbed him over gently from bum to nose and from withers to his hooves. To this day he is alwas the first of the four to make a bee line to me and now sticks his head into his halter for me. Ithink a bond of trust was built, without fear, from our first day. Perhaps smelling oils for attracting and repelling horses, as used by ploughmen who were members of the secret Horseman’s Society in Scotland and East Anglia should be explored by more by us horsey folk horse.
HMM Your foal was imprinting.
I think the smelly oil is the chestnuts off the horses – rubbed onto your hands and face before approaching a strange horse- as you will smell more horse than human.
Take a carrot out there and eat it yourself. Most horses can’t let that happen.
Also don’t make the horse do something he considers work every time he or she is caught. Spend some time in the field petting the horse.
Don’t treat your horse punitively. If the horse associates being scolded and harshly treated when caught being caught us ‘bad’ to the horse.
Make sure your horse isn’t overworked. Horses need a day off here and there.
Also, why even bother with a rope. Wear a cardigan and catch the horse with it.
Pet the horse when you catch it and tell him or her what a good horse it is.
Don’t be in a rush. Your horse has been standing around all day. Horses don’t go to your school or office. Take a deep breath. Slow yourself down and saunter out to the field. Pause a couple of times and look off into the distance. Present your side to the horse (blade your body). Don’t march up in a big hurry, face your horse in attack stance and walk like a predator. Remember this is supposed to be fun or you should quit because it is too expensive if it becomes a chore. RELAX, you horse will feel comfortable around you and seek your comforting relaxing presence.
😯 well how long till they figure that one out? do you think they wont figure out the rope is the same as the halter?
I disagree with the tip. You should NEVER sneak anything while working with horses the “sneaking” I am talking about is “hidding” the Lead rope. The horse IS smart enought to figure you Hide the lead rope and he still gets caught So Most likely once he got it figured out that you still catch him most likely he/she is going to “run” from you every time he see’s he even if you dont have a halter or a Lead rope. So Do Not do this tip cause if you do you will have a horse that ALWAYS runs away from you EVERY time he see’s you!
Totally agree! I never hide the halter/rope – even when “walking down” a new horse. The result is that my horses trot or canter to me when I call them, even when I am carrying a halter in full sight!
I recently rescued two mares, each from a different area. The youngest, Shasta whose’s 10 would let me oatch her but my fumbling and nerviousness made our times together not quite bonding 😳 Our new arrival, Moka, an “Arab” an 18 yr. old really had been ignored for a long time. She will not let me catch her, feed, yes!, treats YES, pet through the fence, pet her face fine, (Shasta hates that!) but catch to brush, halter, heck I don’t even know if I can saddle her 😥 But now Shasta is starting to copy Moka. I’m 63 and haven’t been around horses since I was a kid, with a ride here and there. I figure it’s got to be my nervousness. I love them, literally they are my dream come true. But some day I would like to ride and have a bond with them. Although the Shasta and I had an incident about a month ago and they hold a grudge a minute or two 😕 I need help.
I would suggest perhaps a ground work class and a trainer to help you with energy and basic horse handling. Horses will pick up on your energy. if you can take a class and work with a horse you can handle will build confidence and Moka and Shasta will feel safer with you. But remember your horse will feel your energy even off your body language.
I recently adopted 3 horses from a rescue. two are fine with me and easy to catch. One, “Eagle” will not even come close enough to catch. The horses are still at the rescue till all of my structures are completed etc. I go out regularly as I volunteer there. when I am not working I go out and just sit in the paddock and show eagle I am not a threat and not always there to try and catch him. I will turn slightly away, never stare him down and dont make sudden movements. he is slowly getting more and more curious about me. when he does come closer to me I make NO attempt to catch him, I simply hold my hand out for him to sniff. remembering quite often at rescues horses are sometimes so difficult they are caught only for work, vet, and hooves, not so fun, Sometimes patience and time is your friend. One word of advice. If you start something with your horse always finish it. so if you do go to catch the horse. it is important to finish what you start, I hope this helps.
Build your relationship with your horse and while everyone else is worrying about what a difficult horse he is to catch, he will have followed you to wherever you want without a rope or halter… I agree absolutely with what KB says above, though I would add some energy exercises too: e.g. imagine sending love from your heart to the horse’s heart along a fine flexible thread of light and just watch his expression and reaction. If you try to fool him by hiding your intentions, he will know he can’t trust you.
we give the horses one chance walking up to them. that doesnt work then we drop everything and go up and pat them when they calm down we simply grap a hold of their mane if they run we hang on, sooner or later they get the pic that theyre caught so they stop and you lead them to the dropped halter and there. if they fight to much we stop and they get left behind next time, theyre the first one caught.
HMM Jenna – your method is very against the horse’s natural habits! By grabbing onto them, you are a predator in their mindset.
Compare your getting them in the paddock, and mine where they canter to me when I call them from the gate…
And yes – not just my recreational horses now – but Hunting and Polo horses I worked with!
you shouldn’t need anything to catch any horse
my horse, my friends horses and every horse at my riding school is easy for ME TO CATCH i walk up to them, send them away by throwing my arms up, wait for them to stop, walk up to them again. pat there neck and walk away. every single horse Ive tried it on has followed
(some time i don need to send them away 2 or 3 times but its every easy to know if you need to send them away after a short time.)
what i always do when i cant catch my hoorse is i act like i am going for another horse and then reach out and grab my horse’s mane
That is a predatory act and is not a good idea, because soon you will be kicked and kicked very hard
Not going to work with my horse, he starts running when you approach him, be it with a halter, rope lead or snacks…
How do you catch a horse that has never been caught? We bought a yearling that we believe the only human interaction was getting roped a jammed into a trailer. She is scared of ropes, halter etc. my husband has developed a little trust with her. But the moment we move, she runs.
Anyone that can give us good tips would be much appreciated.
On a side note, we are very new to horses (we purchased our first horse in Dec 12). And we do not have a round pin at this time.
Send her to a reputed trainer, and in the meantime – get some lessons for yourself! Please! for both you and the horse’s sake!
I take it she does not have a halter on her at this time?
If that is the case the first thing you are going to have to do is get one on her.
Feeding time is always a good time to earn trust. You can sit out with her and offer her feed by hand. Talk, sing just let her know you aren’t trying to be sneaky. She most likely not going to eat out of your hand any time soon, but in time. Just sit close to feeder but not too close, you want her to come eat. Just spend time with her and offer her food by hand. She will get use to you the more she sees you and the more you are around her. Don’t chase her or scare her, this is a time to earn her trust. Once she trusts you she will let you gently touch her then she will let you pet her – don’t pat – rub softly, start with side and move to neck, don’t reach for face or rump yet. After you can rub her while she eats the next step would be to slide rope around her neck, this will scare her, don’t yank on her move slow and talk soft to her until she realizes you mean no harm, reward her apple, carrot just let her know she did very very good, after she calms down and you are standing there with rope around her neck petting her then slowly move on to halter, ask her to reach for carrot or apple thru halter nose, once she gets her nose in finish putting it on her. Then attach rope to halter and remove from neck after attached to halter. Now you have her … REWARD REWARD REWARD … leave halter on until she is not a wild child 🙂 but make sure there is nothing she can get it caught on. Yeah you now have your horse!
I am also working with a yearling, scared of everything ! But now she comes to me 🙂 and lets me put halter on her.
All this takes time, but it is worth it.
There are a lot of other ways out there … mine may not be for all, but it works for me and is done with care and understanding.
I have never broke a horse, but have trained many many horses. My first was a three year old stallion that had never been touched .. my Father’s rule “You Ride Before You Buy” boy was that a day I will never forget, I could have been in a Rodeo 🙂 but I stayed on and he was mine:) what a beautiful smart talented horse he was, would do anything I asked of him. Days gone by.
Good Luck .. I hope you enjoy your little filly as much as I have mine
Alicia, I do not in any way claim to be an expert, but have had a little experience with this and found that what I did is very much in line with what the holistic or whisperers do. You must FIRST win the confidence of your horse. Read up on this, watch videos (youtube has some very educational “horse training” clips, but use some common sense what to believe and what to pass on). You need to get your hands on the horse without it freaking out or running off before you can go any further. I have worked with abused horses and it can take far longer that most trainers are willing to spend just to win the horse’s confidence. As a yearling, your horse should be able to put that bad experience well behind in a short amount of time, but it is going to take a lot of patience and understanding horse language (how they communicate in a herd) to get there. Understand that any horse is initially scared of a swinging rope. The process is called “desensitizing” and there are good ways and not so good ways to do that.
You don’t need a round pen, the round pen is only for people that know to read horse body language, and to learn that it takes time. You need to build trust. No matter if is a horse, dog, cat, etc, with treats you build trust and friendship. You will hear some people telling “The horses don’t have friends”, that is a BS.
Take a rope on your hand, in a packet have some treats, go at your horse, give a treat or two, give a rub than go away, after few times take the rope and rub the horse and give sone treats too. Don’t do this for long, less than 5 minutes after a week throw the rope on her back, but becarefull not to hirt your horse. On You Tube is SCEA rescue horse videos, and watch them or search for Scoth Downs trainer. Those videos will be the best videos for you.
😀 Have always used that method ! Is the easiest and the best way ever.
It doesn’t always work Kim! I have used the loose pen work with great success, but it does not always work. I have a pony that settled better by calm working in hand – as he was chased by a ute for 2 hrs until he was exhausted and could hardly walk the poor bugger, before he came to me.
And also, some people have no idea – they run the horse round until dripping with sweat etc., not knowing the horse was submitting, because they missed the signs!
The pen thing is dangerous to both people and horse if they do not know what they are doing!
First of all don’t act like a predator. Horses are prey animals, so don’t go out looking sneaky or to your horse directly in a straight line looking him in the eye. That is what predators do. Instead, walk slowly, looking down at the ground or off to the side. If your horse is looking at you, stop and turn around. Once he stops looking at you, start walking again. Keep doing this until you are about 10 feet from him. Turn your back to him and put your hand out toward him, fist up. This should get his curiosity up and he should start coming to you. If he doesn’t then get slowly closer to him and turn and put your hand out the same way. Keep this up until he walks towards you and touches your hand with his nose. Then turn around slowly, scratch him on the withers and neck and make it a good deal for him. Take the time it takes and it will eventually take less time.
I have been riding horses many many years and try not to play games with my horses to get them to do what I want. I approach them – if they turn away I walk away from them, any horse that comes over gets love then I move off and once I reach the gate I have “all” following me and then I go to my horse ( horse I wanted) and lead him out. No candy no tricks just “this is what I want”. Even Mustangs understand this approach.
should you not look a horse in the eyes and if so why not?
Only a predator look direct in eye , and horses being a prey they look at body, because they communicate with the body not with the eyes. You do not look direct in the eye of a horse because he will kick you with the hoof, and before a horse kick you he tell you some with other parts of the body.
May now you understand
I do the same thing, except I use a piece of twine off the hay bale. ALways tons of them around, and I can just tie the slip loop in the one end, and ball it up in my fist. My “hard to catch” horse will let me walk up if he doesn’t think I am going to catch him and do something to him, so I can slip my arm around his neck, drop the string and catch the other end. Once the string is there, he gives up, and walks along peacefully.
I am no expert on horses by any means but a way that worked for me is a time out method. I have 3 horses, a gelding and 2 mares. The gelding got his halter off in the feild and refused to come to me to put it back on. I had a heck of a time but finally got him into the barn without the halter. They all have their own very large stalls and I have an open door concept where their free to roam in and out of their stalls at will. When he wouldn;t come to me that day I scolded him and told him he had to stay in his stall till he let me put on his halter and shut the door. For 2 days I would take the mares out to the field as usual than I would open his door and ask him to come and put his halter on. He would have a hissy fit so I would just shut the door and walk away, feed and water him than leave the barn. The morning of the 3rd day I opened his stall and again offered the halter, to my surprise he came over to me and stood perfectly still and let me put it on. I then rewarded him with a treat and lots of love. Since that day I have never had any trouble with putting his halter on even when he has got it off in the field and if I call him he comes running to me. It also worked for my young mare who is only 2 when she went through a biting stage. She got locked in her stall for 2 days after biting and she has never bite again.
Train your horse, 45min a day of ground work 5 times a week and the horse will respect you. Tricks are for the circus.
This is crazy, hide a rope? it wont take long to start bolting when you get that one out!
Make catching enjoyable! my horse had me walk after him for 40 minutes sometimes until he realised each time we got together once at the other side of the fence he got a tasty little treat. Now he canters across the field to meet me and comes through the gate with a nicker. JOB DONE!
I have been catching horses like this for years. Although a lot of the time I just use a piece of twine from a hay bale. Just tuck it in your pocket, or up the end of a long sleeved shirt. works like a dream. 😀
🙄
Sorry-
got to ask why your horse doesn’t want to come to you.
I have built a relationship with every horse I own board or train and have no issue “asking” them to come to work.
I use this method a lot. I keep a stash of baling twine in my pocket and wrap it around my horses neck when he isn’t looking. He leads well with this.
Light bulb moment here! Great tips guys, thanks! 😀
The incredible “catch rope” … I was first introduced to these by the owner of a horse rescue ranch. We had a lot of horses to move around in a short amount of time every day. The catch rope works very well. However, I noticed in the video that they used a 5/8” lead rope. We found that a soft 3/8” “slippery” rope works best. One of the main reasons we use these is that if the horse were to get away, the rope will practically fall off of the horse and thus less likely to strangle the horse. I can roll or wad up a seven foot rope and completely conceal it in my back pocket. With a little rubbing or massaging of the shoulders that rope can be over the horse’s neck without any fuss. It is a quick on and even quicker release … then it’s on to the next horse.
Loving all that I am learning … thanks to everyone with good input!
If I even have my boots on they know it!
My owner just uses a piece of baler twine, just loose around my neck, she just holds on to the 2 ends. If I am in the mood she just has to touch me on the neck and I will follow. It was not always the case, until my owner sussed out the bridle (bitless now) saddle (treeless now) barefoot and booted. Now that I am happy to be ridden I don’t have a problem with being caught. She uses the same on the Shetland Pony – using baler twine = less is more control.
I’ve used a catch rope lots of times. Works real well.
But if you have to “catch” your OWN horse, there’s something FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG with the relationship you have with your horse.
I recommend you fix THAT and not worry about learning some “trick” to catch your horse.
sj
Whenever I get a new horse I let the horse choose me. I don’t go running out for it in the field. I stand patiently and wait to see which horse wants me. The horse will catch me and say in body language, “Hey let’s go home.” Lolz but it’s true. I work with a trainer about 4 times a week and she said, “Never walk up to your horse.” Let her walk up to you. Doesn’t matter if I have a halter hanging in plain view my horse asks to be caught.
It is the same if you had a halter and lead .I have harness horses plus am a horse transporter here in Aussie . I can walk up to any horse wether it is mine or not and just put the lead around its neck and put the headstall on .the only problem I see with this is when you tie up the horse he pulls back and hurts him self which I have seen done.
I own a two year old filly a four year old stallion a six year old gelding and two broodmares and I have no trouble catching them as I can walk straight up to them sometimes they walk up to me.
I just walk up to my horse give him a pat and cuddle then say walk up and he follows me.
no ropes’
cheers warren
When I was 10, we got a horse for our family to share. I eagerly accepted responsibility to care for the horse. I fed him twice a day, groomed, tidied up after him & basically spent all my free time getting to know him better. Our family didn’t know anything about horsecare or riding: this was a learn as you go endeavor. The concept of “catching” a horse never came up. When the horse heard me coming he’d call out & run up to meet me at the fence. He would follow me around till i saddled him up or fed him. My parents bought another horse for my sister. She only showed up to ride him. I fed him. He had a separate paddock & became more & more difficult for her to catch over time. This was mistakenly blamed on the “bad” horse, who was sold.
You could always try visiting your horse in the field to give him affection and not just visit him to bring him in and ‘work’ him. I often pop into the field before I leave the yard to give my horse a pat and a carrot, I make sure I have enough for the herd [6] just in case they come over to investigate. I also bring him in to groom him and then turn him back out again so he doesn’t always come in to be ‘worked’, I try and make sure there is enough time after he’s been worked to turn him out so he gets the reward of more playtime before bedtime. My horse is not difficult to catch and I don’t want him to become difficult to catch so I endeavour to make time especially during the summer not to just bring in to work him. I can catch pretty much any of the horses in the herd because I visit them for practices other than ‘work’. 🙂
Poo pick the paddock daily and the horse will eventually come and see what you are up to…if you catch him and he enjoys his time with you, there shouldn’t be a problem. If catching him turns out to be a game you will end up in real difficulty. If he uncharacteristically becomes difficult to catch this could be a sign of something more sinister and can happen with things like the staggers. I don’t ever catch my boy – he just follows me out of the field but it took a leap of faith to try this first time!i don’t ever tie him up – on the basis – where else would he go? I am very very lucky to have such a trusting horse!
I have always come to the gate of the pasture with a little treat for my horses. I spend time with them in the pasture just hanging out with them not asking anything of them. They know they can depend on me and in return I can depend on them. When they hear my car approach they almost always come to the gate with a sliding stop. I never have to “catch” them. That’s it, just plain trust.
In case your horse is a spooky one and pull hard on that rope his nose will be very damaged. That video is only for those that have very calm horses and are people horses.
That metode is very very old, namely for thousands and thousands of years, and for that came out the halter, because the halter put more presure on poll than on nose . You want to catch easy your horse, go daily on pasture with some treats, hold the halter or a rope on your hand and go in zigzag at your horse like you are on pasture for something else not to catch him and don’t look direct at horse like a lion do. Wen you are beside the horse give him a treat or two, rub him some and then you go the same in zigzag out of pasture. Then from time to time put the halter on horse and take it back out. After a short time your horse will come at you.
Soore, many of you cannot catch a horse because you go at horse like a lion do “I will catch you”, and what reward the horse have to come at you ?
That mean throw that video in trash pall ( can)
I perchased a horse that is hard to catch. It has taken time. But I don’t get in a hurry. I have been working on the ground teaching her manners and that Im the boss. Gently working threw her issues. I just. Ask her to follow me to where she will be brushed,then use a piece of bail twine to hold her while. I put the halter on. If I put a bit in her mouth I use some honey on it.She likes it alot better. Juzt temporary until she gets used to it.
My horses will come to me and follow without a rope of any kind. My paint mare will lay her head on my shoulder and I raise my arms and any rope is on her. She also leads with just my hand under her chin. It just depends on the animal and how they handled.
That is super!! I use the rope, just never thought about the knot. Thanks Love it
I would also recommend not working your horse every time you catch him. Do something nice. Take him out for some grass. Reciprocation goes along way. Make being caught a positive thing
I believe in positive training methods. End result being: I whistle, the whole herd comes a running, I pick one. I try not to use a catch rope because my thoughts are that if you are doing right by your horse … he will eagerly want to be with you. My horses fight over who gets to come with me. Some seriously pout if I am working with one horse more than the others. I just hold up a halter and they stand quietly to have it secured so they can go play! That is the perfect world. I have purchased horses that will run from people. One horse had been chased so much I turned him out and ignored him until he got so lonely he needed my attention … Took 6 months, yet I reached my goal of this horse wanting to be with me. Keep in mind these are horses I have trained. As a horse hauler, and an owner that has just acquired a horse that is catch shy, this rope method may be useful. I still maintain my personal end goal of whistle, catch and go! Respectfully …
That is the correct way to go about it, Mardelle. Well done!
NEVER hide things from your horse !!! NEVER hide the halter or use a catch rope….Build a relationship with your horse so that your horse catches YOU!! It’s way more fun for both of you when your horse wants to come and be with you….Don’t trick your horse…make being the you the best place to be and your horse will come to you every time….It’s the most awesome thing !!!
I have no problems at all fetching either of my horses from their paddock, in fact when they see me (or my vehicle) they actually approach me, which makes me feel really very special. I love my horses very deeply and I think they know this, I also feel very loved in return.
Never have this issue , i dnt bring my horse in just for work . I walk in the field shout when he looks up i walk back to the gate guarantee hes at my shoulder in seconds n happy to walk back with me . No head collar , rope required unless im haveing to walk the road.
If your horse is hard to catch what does that say about your relationship? If your horse doesn’t ‘catch’ you then a catch rope is only fixing a symptom, not the problem
This worked for my horse we got her from a riding stable and she was so skinny you could see all of her ribs and her hip bones
But she is so fat now but in a good fat
She is back to health
Me and my little Yorkie lay by. My horse and go to sleep and stay he night there