catching a horse - who is not co-operating!

If you are looking for help with this,
then it suggests that your horse

•  may well have 'got away' with not being caught for several 'sessions'!
• thinks that this is a great game and he's been perfecting his art!

I'm afraid that means he now thinks he's very clever
and if he's just stubborn he gets away with it

because that's what you've unwittingly and unintentionally taught him...
                                                                                                                            NOT Recommended !
I know we don't all have 'all day' to win 'discussions' with our horses,
and (obviously) the first time this happens you can't be prepared for it...

But as a rule, I would say,
if this DOES happen,
then, if humanly possible, stick with it,
and FIX IT THAT SAME DAY

IF you genuinely haven't got the time to sort the problem on the first day
then make absolutely sure that the next time you go to catch your horse
you have a couple of hours available
(in case you need this long)
and then make darn sure you succeed...

as Monty Roberts says...
if you approach something as if you only have 15 mins to do it,
then you probably won't succeed,
whereas if you approach something as if you have all day (if necessary),
then you may well acheive it within 15 minutes!!


What to do when catching a horse - who is not co-operating!

Assuming you are a competent and experienced horse handler
who can interpret a horse's body language
and is canny enough not to let the horse corner you, for example,

NOTE: if the above is NOT correct then I strongly advise you get someone you choose to HELP,
(don't just let the local yard 'expert' persuade you to let them do it
- unless they actually do know what they're doing of course)!

So... Don't get frustrated, Don't get angry, Don't allow yourself to 'think he won't catch'...

Watch out for any of these symptoms
and the moment you detect them,
stop,
take a deep breath,
give yourself time to refocus,
and start again,
once you're in the right mind set

Remember:
you only have to be persistent
for one more second
than you're horse is willing to be stubborn for,
so keep going...

Approach the problem incrementally, e.g. :

• aim to get within 10 yards,
• stand, both relax,
• then 8 yards
• stand, both relax
• and repeat etc.

Resist the temptation
(very difficult if its taken you 30 minutes to get to this stage!!)
to 'grab' him once you get close enough
... you will almost definitely 'miss'
and even if you succeed you will only have reinforced the problem for the future...
- i.e.this will instantly undo the previous half hour's work

Instead, stand facing the same way as him,
talk to him,
if he nuzzles up to you, pat him on his lower neck or body
but don't try to catch him....

If you've nearly got him...
and he runs back off,
DO NOT GET ANGRY OR FRUSTRATED
breathe, refocus, and start again ...
it will all happen a lot quicker this time...

So repeat,
increment,
wait,

and when you get to a point where he has genuinely relaxed and you're close enough...

Slide the lead rope quietly over his neck
and secure round his neck with both 'sides' in your hand

having reached this point
DON'T LET GO
the rule must be 'once you are caught, you're caught'
(at this point you've 'cracked it' with a horse that's used to being handled)

Now, wait,
talk to him,
get to a point where you're both genuinely relaxed again,
and put the headcollar on quietly,
whilst keeping the lead rope loop securely around his neck until the headcollar is on.

(Note: to be able to acheive this,
make sure you leave sufficient length of 'loose' rope
from the headcollar to the loop held in your hand).

Wait,
relax,
talk to him,
tell him how wonderful he is,
give him a really good fuss,
groom him or whatever you intended to do
(but don't go for a hard schooling session on this occassion
- aim to leave him 'happy')...

Remember to give yourself a 'pat on the back', too...

and then turn him out with a headcollar on

(Note: use a headcollar that would release in an emergency if the horse got trapped,
add a loop of breakable string to one of the fixings if necessary,
then do it up tightly enough that the horse cannot easily rub it off)

and make sure you repeat the process the next day, if humanly possible

and repeat until the problem is under control....

leaving the headcollar off, when turned out,
once you feel confident that you can consistently catch him

 I hope that answers your query on 'catching a horse - who is not co-operating!'

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