IMPOSSIBLE to catch...

[kiwicactus]

It's not my horse but I was sent to go get a horse named Hope. She is literally IMPOSSIBLE to catch. She'll spin, kick, lash out and even charge just so you don't catch her. Once she's in the stall (after hours of chasing) she spins in the stall, dosen't finish her food and gets really restless. When I let her back out, she galloped up the hill. A little help, please?

[Jessica23]

Put a head collar on her when she's turned out and take a bucket of food to catch her. Also, when she's galloping around, stand perfectly still in the field, its very unlikely she will kick you or charge into you if you stand still, its all for show. It may take a while but she WILL get bored with charging around. If you have something in your hands (it doesn't have to be food) she will sooner or later come over to see what you have.

If possible try and fence off a part of the field so she doesn't have as much space to run around and turn her out in there until she is a little easier to catch. Make sure its big enough for her to have a trot around and enough grass, but it makes it so much harder to catch a difficult horse if they have a huge field to gallop in, trust me, i know!lol

As for her being like that in her stall, lock the door, make sure she has food and water and is comfortable then leave her to it. She'll soon get bored. Horses can be so moody but if theres no one to play up to they stop pretty quickly!!

Good Luck with her.

[kiwicactus]

...I can't bring food into the feild or 30 other horses will sortta trample me.

[Jessica23]

If the horse is known to be hard to catch she shouldn't really be turned out with other horses as it will make her even worse :)

[rubysoho]

how about a carrot or sugar cubes? You can conceal those from the other horses and soon the horse will learn that coming in means a tastey treat. As for stall vice, you need to find a way for her to relax in the stall. Does she get exercised on a regular basis? She sounds like a hot horse who needs to be challenged (but not overfaced!) to remain mentally and physically happy.

Going back to the feild vice, here are some other things you can try:

~if it is feeding time, make her the last horse to come in for food

~go up to the horse near to her and feed a sugar cube to them and pet them. She'll get curious (hopefully) and come investigate. Then slowly switch to paying attention to her and as you are slipping the halter on (or clipping the lead rope on) give her a treat.

there are a few other tricks that i can't remember at the moment.

[nattu]

Wow she really doesnt like it in the stall does she! Some horses just don't like it, but if you look at it from their perspective it makes sense. In the wild, a horse's best defence against predators is to flee, and in a stall they are trapped and it can make them really panicky. All you can do is try to make being in the stall the most pleasant experience you can, dont raise your voice or do anything to frighten her if you can avoid it, and in time she might get over it!
Refusing to be caught is just about the most annoying thing a horse can do, especially when you're in a rush, or just want to ride! There's no quick fix, you need to think long term, unfortunately patience is the only way. Whenever you've got some time on your hands you could make the effort to catch her, but dont necessarily fetch her into her stall, just spend time with her : groom her, speak to her quietly, feed her, and just make a fuss of her, so she doesnt just associate people with work/ being ridden/ being put in her scary stall.
I agree that keeping a headcollar on her should help, but only if it is made out of leather, or its a safety headcollar, so that if she gets it caught on anything she can break free without hurting herself. If she doesnt come out of the fields that often I really wouldnt bother, it can be dangerous.
I hope this helps!

[Trippin]

My mother had the same problem with her horse. When she was a filly she was taken to soon from her mother, and was abused by men. Now she is shy on one side. She and I don't believe in coaxing horses nor' bribing them.

My advice to you would be bring a crop out with you. Then keep her moving, if she turns left, catch her on that side, if she wants to turn right catch her. ALWAYS keep her MOVING, and she will soon get tired. You must be strong and keep yourself in shape as well. If she lashes out at you throw the crop up in front of her face and say "HO!" Be stern with her. Are you afraid of her? It's okay if you are most people are scared of all horses. If your scared go out there with a positive attitude. If you go out there upset or scared she can feel it. The tension will go right down the lead rope. So if your upset she will be too! Now about my advice, make sure not to chase her, or corner her. But by doing this she will see you aren't scared, and you are the BOSS. She will get tired. But if she continues to lunge out at you really throw the crop up on her face and say "HO!" That will freak her out a little bit. What she's doing is taking advantage of you, and she knows she can. The chasing process won't make her the best horse right off. You might even make it a routine. I think this horse is crying out for attention, is she well trained? Greene? Or just a moddy mare! hehe.
I'm guessing you work at this barn? If she was my horse, and the pasture was well protected from Coyotes I would let her stay out. If she doesn't want to come in? Why make her right?... Good luck, and I apologize for such a long post. Lemme know how it goes!

--Em

[MouseLover2005]

kiwi if you get trampled.... well it happens :)

[Pharlane]

[QUOTE=rubysoho]how about a carrot or sugar cubes?) Sugar is NOT good for horses.......

[kiwicactus]

kiwi if you get trampled.... well it happens :)

Thanks! :) I feel so safe now that I have your "words of wisdom" drilled into my friggen' head.

Anywho, I'm not sure what ever happened to Hope. She changed barns, but thank you for all of the helpful tips, guys! :bread:

[whinnysqueak]

You can't make an animal twice as big as you do what you want :) Try going into the field and if she runs or lashes or whatever, throw the lead at her, send her away. Then, mosey back on over to her, and repeat the gesture if she runs again. This might take awhile, but it's a good way to get her to trust you.

[MouseyMari]

I suggest just sitting in her paddock, reading or snacking or something. This way she knows you are not an enemy. Bring a bucket of grain in with u, and shake it and pour some in her feed bin or just on the ground. Walk away, and if she comes to get it, just casually stroll over and talk to her and pet her neck. Loop the lead rope around her neck and while she is munching, put her halter on.

[Fluffyrice]

IMHO, i think that the horse knows that you aren't going to do anything...the horse knows when you come out you are just going to run after him, you aren't going to discpline him, you aren't going to make sure you comes to you. maybe you can turn him out in a different area where it's smaller, less horses so its easyer to catch him...you have to teach him thatyou are incharge and when you say come, he better come...maybe you can put him in a round pen, leave him there for a while like he was out to pasture, then come in and try to catch him? make him come to you...and when he does reward him...if he lashes out at you, make him work...make him run around the pen until he gets the point and start over...so when he is out int he field and he sees you he will know that when he comes to you he will be rewarded...i hope i made some sense...im still half asleep...lol even though it's 4...haha...