My horse won't let me catch her in the field. Why?

Answer 1

If she's in pasture w/other horses she probably doesn't want to leave them, if she's by herself, she's just playing a game. The easiest way to catch her is to get a coffee can w/grain in it & shake it, if there are other horses in the pasture, get there attention & give them some w/out even trying to catch your horse at first. I had to do this w/my mustang & she didn't like the thought of the other horses getting her grain so she would come up to me.

Answer 2

More than likely, she thinks she is the "lead mare" in your group of two. She is reinforcing this by not allowing you to catch her. She is making you move your feet, which is her way of showing you she above you in the pecking order. I would suggest working with her in a round pen using natural horsemanship methods to demonstrate to her that you are the herd leader in your little herd of two. If you can get this through to her in a language she can understand, she will be easy to catch in a field. My favorite method out there is Sylvia Scott's method. I will send you the link to her round pen training section, which is the foundation for all other training with our horses. By doing this, you will be doing a form of "join up" made popular by "the man who listens to horses" and "the horse whisperer." Once you can accomplish this, look on the same website for Sylvia Scott's bonding techniques. Most horses just love these special rubs and scratches. Hope this helps!
http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/RoundPen1.html

Answer 3

Well there can be a number of different reasons that your horse won't let you catch her. First can be if you're not being nice to her. Or she could associate being caught with having to do work. Or she could just not respect you and have decided that she doesn't want to come in so she won't. More info is needed to better answer this question. But my best advice is to be persistant and eventually she'll learn tha its easier to just come in. Also, try taking her out of undersaddle work and just hang out with her, work with her some on the ground teaching her to come to you, then spend time brushing and loving on her. Good luck!

Answer 4

have you ever read or heard of a book titled "the man who listens to horses"?
well this really cool horse guy has a technique for dealing with exactly what you are talking about. i am not an expert but you should google it might help.

Answer 5

Number one reason... She doesn't want to work. Plain and simple, when you go into the field you have a halter and lead rope. Right? and when you have a halter and lead rope you put it on her, lead her away, saddle her up and ride. Right? Your horse needs to learn that you aren't all work and work, she needs to know you can have fun and play, and you want to communicate with her. Take a whole day to just play with your horse. No getting on her, no whipping, no ropes, just you and her. Go into the field, take a pocketful of treats with you, and just follow her around. Don't push her, just follow her. When she stops and looks at you, stop walking and watch her. When she starts walking again walk after her. If she stops and keeps her butt towards you or doesn't look at you, push her away, send her off and make her run. This will confuse her, as you usually want her to come to you, not the other way around. Like reverse Phycology. After about an hour to nearly 2 hours of this she will see that by running away she is only making herself work. When she stops and looks at you, stop walking and hold out your hand, the horsemans handshake, and if she doesn't accept your invitation to come into your herd, walk around her without getting closer, and if she looks forward walk toward her and begin pushing her away again, but if she turns and looks at you stop and back up a few steps. Like the game red light, green light. When she comes to you give her a treat and rub her favorite spots and just give her lots of love and let her relax for awhile, then walk away and if she follows you, GREAT!!, but if she doesn't begin walking around her again and if her focus isn't kept on you send her off again and follow her. She will soon learn that you are fun, and not all about saddling up and riding. It may be fun to us, but would you call 100+ pounds on your back and running around fun? the next day, bring a halter into the scene, but no lead rope. Repeat as the day before but once she comes to you put the halter on and walk around awhile, do everything as the day before but just a halter added. if she runs off, do the same as yesterday, but when she comes to you take the halter off and spend some time with her. Do all this for about a week, no riding, just fun and grooming and food. This will be great exercise for the both of you. during the week bring in her grooming supplies and brush her UNTIED just standing in the field. Take her out and lead her around the property and let her graze (you will need your halter and lead for this) let her know that everytime you come in the field with a halter and lead rope you aren't just going to make her work. You might go for a walk, or just get some extra TLC. I did all of this for months with my horses, (months without riding) but in the long run we had so much fun and now when I whistle every single horse comes running to the fence whinning and ready to play, and they hand their heads of the fences and 'cry' when I leave.

Answer 6

Is this new? Will she come for oats? Are you staring at her or looking off to the side?