How can you get close to a young wild horse?

Question

These horses have not been handled by humans or know what a bucket of food means. How would someone get close enough to coral them to start calming them down.

Answer 1

Put your thumbs at the top of your head with your fingers spread out and say "Don't mind me, I'm a deer!"

Or just stand near the corral and let them get used to seeing you. Whichever.

Answer 2

First of all, it takes an expeirenced horseperson to train a young horse, so if you have no clue what you're doing, I highly reccomend getting some expeirenced help. Second, training a horse takes patience and time. if these horse have never been around humans before, it will take longer for them to trust you. Go out in their pasture and sit and read for a couple hours. Eventually they will be used to you and might even let you near them. let them know that you're not a threat, that you want to be their friend. once you can get close to them, try petting them. When they are used ot you putting them, rub your hands all over their face and neck, to get them used to having a halter on. When they think nothing of it, bring a halter out to the pasture with you the next time. Slip it on the horses head for a few minutes, then slip it off and praise him. Continue this every day, and everytime leave it on for a little bit longer. The horse should trust you enough to follow you, so leading should not be a problem. These are just some basic ideas, but i dont reccomend trying them unless you are an experienced horse person. training a young horse can be dangerousfor you and the horse if you dont know what you're doing. I wish you the best of luck and hope that these horses and you turn out to have a remarkable partnership. Horses can make the best of friends!

Answer 3

I agree with patience and time.......

I have a rescued arab He had been severely abused so he didn't trust anyone. It took months to get him calm enough to get him haltered, etc. He loves apple treats and carrots so I used them alot. I would walk out into the field and kneal down for what seemed like an eternity and when he came close enough to get the treat, I'd give it to him and back up closer to the coral. I took a while but it eventually he would come into the coral when he saw me in there. Then it takes constant work to get a halter on. Clinton Anderson has a wonderful video called "Ground work" that may help. These are available at www.jeffersequine.com (I get everything there) Hope this helps

Answer 4

Don't get too close, you'll scare them away! Get a big bucket of food such as-apples, carrots, and hay. After you put the bucket of food down, slowly walk away, hide behind a tree, and wait until the horses come. It'll take more than 2 people to get close to them, so don't do it alone! Creep up behind the horse and lasso them, or something. Once you have got the horse talk to it and pet it, but carefully...they may try to bite you! Or hire a specialist to capture the horse for you. It may take a long time, but if you really want to get the horse you'll take the time to do it! Bring a bucket of water too. Show them that you aren't going to hurt them, by walking slowly, and talking calmly!

I'm not sure what else to tell you, but I gave it my very best! Hope you can get close to the horse, maybe even keep them!:) Have fun!

Answer 5

Where are they now? I take it they are in an enclosure of some kind. You have to get them into a fairly small area. Close enough that they can see you. Start by just sitting quietly so they get used to your presence. In time you should be able to get closer and closer to them without causing any alarm. That is the first step. Leave good things to eat like apples and carrots. Lay them down a few yards away, so they see you leaving them. Soon they will not only be calm when you draw close, but they should be curious about what you may be bringing. Sit on the fence and eat the apples or carrots in front of them. They will want the goodies and move closer to you. Eventually you will have them coming to you for the treats. It will take major amounts of patience.

Answer 6

I definitely agree with cowboy up.
Also it sounds like you aren't used to horses, so really you probably shouldn't be around horses that haven't been handled much. The one thing that you can try though is just being around them. Sit in or near the pasture (always be alert though if the horses become spooked or upset with you, you want an exit close). Time will only tell if the horses will get used to you.
So take Cowboy Up's advice and go from there.

Answer 7

my advice is simple.
if you have to ask this question then you need to find a profesianal horse man to deal with them.
a novice is only asking to get hurt but worse to get a horse hurt.
I could not give you all of the things that you need to do in the time or space given.
I work with wild horses to the point that they are ready for a green rider. and I can tell you there are 1000's of tricks you use to get them to trust you and some work one some horses and some don't
but you will never get them to trust you in a pasture and running togerther.
sorry I can not be of more help.

Answer 8

If your in- experienced, watch clinton anderson or monty roberts. If you have RFTD channel, you will learn alot. Go to your library, rent a tape. You will learn alot from these two trainers. But just go out in the field, do simple things as walk around, squat down, so as if you need to get out of there, your not fighting to get off your rump. drop some apples on ground in a path that get the horse to come closer to fence, then sit down on other side and read a book. If in field keep your arms and your eyes down, in a non threatening way.Do as they do, walk towards them then walk away act like they do in the wild. watch horse shows with wild horses, pay attention to their communication. you will learn.

Answer 9

do the last thing they would expect you to do. horses are prey animals, and people are predators, and horses know it. they are only interested in survival. their natural instinct is to run away from danger, and that means do exactly the opposite of what humans want. never try and catch a horse by chasing it. it will only make them think that they are on the menu. a good way of getting a horses attention is making them curious. pretend your not interested and do things that a prey animal would never expect a predator to do, like lying down, for example.

Answer 10

I would take the least frightening approach, as in sitting on the ground as far away as you have to and letting them decide when to come to you- although this could take a long time..it is the best and healthiest way to tame any wild animal..and it works!! i don't know if you have a time limit or not but i wouldn't restrain them in any way..could most likely cause injuries and scare them more than they already are..I have tamed white-tail deer, raccoons, hummingbirds, foxes....etc..