Trainer's Corner with Lori Mangan
The Hard To Catch Horse
Some horses that get handled on a regular basis are still difficult to catch. Often they have been inadvertently "taught" to run away. Their handler chases them around for awhile and either gives up, which rewards the horse for running away, or upon successfully catching him, promptly does something that, from the horse's perspective, is punishment. Examples would be administering wormer, or putting the horse right to work.
The hard to catch horse must be retrained to learn that it is easier and more pleasant to be caught, than to go to all the effort of continually running away. Pick a day when you have plenty of patience, and plenty of time. The ideal place for the lesson is in a more confined area such as a small paddock, corral, or arena. It can be done in an open pasture but it requires much more effort.
Approach your horse in a non-threatening manner. Body language is important. Your posture should be somewhat slumped and shoulders should not be square to the horse. As you approach, be prepared for your horse to turn away and leave. As it does so change your posture to a more aggressive stance, square your shoulders, maintain eye contact and drive your horse away. Make him canter if possible and at the very least trot. Wave your halter and lead rope for added effect if needed. It is important to make your horse expend energy; if you are in a confined area, you can push him around you in circles almost as if you are lunging him. This can be accomplished even if there are other horses. Keep your shoulders squared up with the horse you are after and maintain eye contact with him. You will be surprised at how quickly the whole herd knows who you are interested in. After a while, soften you body language, drop your shoulder and let him stop. Approach him again in a non-threatening manner. Once again you should be prepared for him to leave. When he does, simply repeat the process.Some horses will give up after just a couple of times being pushed, while others may take as much as a couple of hours before they let you walk up to them.
Once your horse lets you walk up to him, simply scratch his withers or pet his neck and then turn and walk away. He may choose to "join up" and walk with you or, more likely, he will let you leave. Walk about 20 yards, wait a minute or so, and then, once again, approach your horse. If he leaves, repeat the earlier process. If he allows you to walk up to him, then stroke his neck and let him relax. This time halter him and lead him for a short distance. Then turn him loose, walk a short distance away and then repeat the whole process. This should be repeated until your horse is completely at ease with you approaching him. Lesson over; reward him with a carrot and leave him for the day.
This entire lesson should be repeated the next day and again the next. You will find the time required to catch him shortens dramatically each time. Remember that at some point in his life your horse learned that getting caught is an unpleasant experience. Be sure not to reinforce that thought. Reward him for allowing you to catch him and allow some interval between getting caught and anything unpleasant. You will soon be glad you spent the time to retrain him for it will save you hours and hours down the road.
Editors Note: This really works!!! I tried it last week. Thanks a bunch Lori for the good advice.
From the February / March 2005 issue of the MAHA Leader.