Tip of the Day: Catching a Reluctant Horse

We’ve all been there. You go to catch a horse in the pasture, and just as you’re nearly close enough to put the halter on, he turns tail and runs away. Maybe it’s been a while since he’s been out and he’s got a little excess energy and wants to play. Maybe one of the other horses drove him away to steal the attention. Or maybe he’s tired from his last lesson. Whatever the reason, it’s frustrating, tiring, and time consuming to have to chase him down.

Maybe that’s because that’s exactly what you’re doing: CHASING HIM AWAY

Oops. If you approach from the front and glare at him in frustration, you’re just telling him to get moving. Ditto if you approach from the rear—especially if you’re running after him. And if you’re yelling and waving things in the air, well, you’ll soon have the whole herd going.

So how to you invite the horse to come toward you, or at least stand still while you close the gap?

1. Adopt a passive body language. Avoid eye contact, keep your head down, and have your arms relaxed at your sides. If necessary, face away from the horse.
2. Approach the from the side and walk slowly toward the horse’s shoulder. If the horse starts to move away, stop. When the horse stops again, continue walking toward him in a zig-zag pattern, gradually closing the gap. Be aware of your surroundings—if the horse is near an exit, busy road, or other hazard approach from the direction you *don’t* want him to go so you don’t accidentally drive the horse into a dangerous situation.
3. Use any available helpers as “blockers”. Have your buddies position themselves to cut off the escape routes. If the horse starts to move in their direction, they should step calmly and quietly toward the horse. When he stops, they should stop. There's no need to wave and yell to redirect the horse, it will just get him wound up and more difficult to catch. The goal is to get the horse to stand still while you walk up to him to put the halter on.
4. Quickly loop the lead rope over the horse’s neck so he knows he’s been caught. Get the halter on right away—don’t dilly-dally and give him a chance to have second thoughts about this being caught thing. (If you can’t put a halter on quickly, you need to practice on a cooperative horse!)
   

Treats such as grain or carrots should only be used as a last resort, especially in pasture where you’re likely to lure the whole herd and get mobbed. They are more effective when offered as a reward after you’ve caught the horse so he learns to associate being caught with good things.