Catching problem

[sunflower]

My horse had a catching problem in the summer when I bought her. I sorted that out at least I thought I had. Thinking Ill have no problems in the winter. Well lately shes been a little madam to catch. Ive either had to shake some nuts at her or get someone else to bring her in. She kicked out at me whilst cantering round the field like a loon and nearly caught me with her hoof. Anyone got any tips??

I was thinking of doing join up. I did attempt it in the summer but it kind of didnt work. Is she associating it with being clipped (Ive been getting her used to clippers most nights when shes brought in and also she has a loading problem/stubbornness.

[Deleted]

Hi sunflower,

No tips other than call your RA (I know, same old same old...). It sounds like there is a lot going on here that may at least in part be your body language. It may also be that your attempt at a join up that didn't work hasn't helped matters. I certainly would suggest you don't try again.

An RA will be able to come and help you with your overall relationship, with catching, with clipping... Sounds a safe option compared to getting caught with a flying hoof!

[Deleted]

I woulnd't attempt join up unless you really really know what you are doing you could end up frustrating and confusing your horse more than she already is. as Liz has already said if you are stuck get an RA out to help point you both in the right direction

[gillee]

Hello, I would say that initially it is probably something to do with the clippers, and perhaps associating them with you and being brought in as you mentioned sorting out her initial catching problem in the summer, and from what you have written, this seems like the only added difference. Also you mentioned that she will let others catch her, so it is perhaps suggestive of some kind of negative association. Perhaps try catching her at a different time of the day to normal when you have plenty of time and feel very relaxed, with the intention of putting on the headcollar and perhaps not bringing her in but giving her lots of praise, and then letting her go, so it is short and sweet and develops a positive association, therefore changing her association with being caught. Try this each day at different times and then perhaps sometimes leading her in to the stable to a feed (already made up, so she doesn't develop bargy behaviour associated with feed towards you etc).
If you vary what you catch her for, and always make it a positive experience, you will keep her guessing and looking forward to being caught. Soon being caught will become a positive association to her. I would say to be very careful of using food though, and make sure you don't feed directly by hand, as other problems may develop as a result.

Just with reference to her cantering around the field like a loon! You could also look into any change of feed that she might be having, such as haylage perhaps, which might be creating too much energy for her at this time of year.

I am sure you know already but the ground work and the foundation exercises in Kelly's Perfect Manners book really are amazing. By making sure that you are the one who moves the horse around and not the horse moving you I have found to make a huge difference with my relationship with my own horses and in effect actually is the priniciple of join up.

Making sure you are in charge of where your horses feet move I think is so important, then you are basically doing join up the whole time you are with your horse.

The exercises are fantastic in making you really aware of how your body language affects what the horse does. What I learnt most from my journey through these exercises was that every movement you make talks to the horse and every movement the horse makes is talking to you.

Anyway try and stay calm and see if spending some time just being with your horse in the field without intending to catch her helps, and see how your body language affects her.

I am sure you will be fine, as you managed to sort out her catching problem before, so hang in there and appologies if what I have already written you are aware of or tried, just hope it helps.

Best wishes,
Gillee