HEEEELP!! Pony playing with catching..

[jennifire]

I'm at my wits end, she is normally ok to catch doesn't run to you but lets you walk to her and put a headcollar on. Today she was having none of it she would just gallop loops around me tail up in the air..

Rightly or wrongly I kept her moving and it took me best part of an hour to get anywhere near her. Finally got to her to calm down and gave her a fuss and walked away from the field, I was feeling really upset and frustrated and thought I better go and have a cigarette and calm myself down. Went back to the field walked up to her and she let me put a headcollar on without any problems.

Then got told off for setting the other horses off (field next door) by keeping her moving....

So no I really don't know wht should I do??? If she doesn't let me catch should I just walk away and wait until she does

[wabuska]

I'm a stalker. I keep level with the head, eyes on and keep walking with them, trotting if needed (don't speed them up deliberately) and as soon as they give me a stop, turn away, shoulders low and work from there.

[HFM]

hopefully she was just having an excitable day if shes normally ok

i think catching is a very individual thing for some horses. I tend to do the staying level with the head thing as well, being submissive and turning one shoulder to reel my boy in. However, he can be confrontational in the field so i also send him away if i get any undesirable behaviour. it goes on MY terms.

Im not really sure what to suggest apart from do you think sending her away could be potentially be winding her up more? perhaps next time try standing stock still and waiting for her to calm. Also, i reccomend doing unexpected things, when you get near her, nice rub on the head and then turn tail and leave the field. So 'catching' doesnt always result in...say work or coming in.

You could also try food. When i had problems with Jack Grant Bazin (RA) said to me it is ok to use food (by bucket not hand to avoid being mugged every time you enter field), sometimes they just need that extra little incentive.

good luck!

[jennifire]

It all seems to go hand in hand with her seasons, some of you might have read my post on the confidence board with our cantering issues (bucking) had mctimoney lady checking her over and saddle was checked too and all we could come up with was that she was very much in season... THIS TIME OF YEAR!!!!!!!! She hasn't been worked very much during the xmas time so it can't be that she thinks I'm just bringing her in for work. If I ride her I normally do it in the morning before she is turned out and in the evening just bring her in, change her rugs and feed her..

Blimey Kanga yuo must be fit, I was huffing and puffing after 20 mins!! Doesn't help my field is on a hill....