| A common problem that many horse owners have is | | | | your part the first few times you try it. Your horse |
| dealing with a horse that doesn't want to be "caught". | | | | may not give in easily. But the effort pays off in the |
| This is particularly frustrating when the horse will allow | | | | long run. |
| itself to be caught some days, but not others or will | | | | 2. Walk towards the shoulder not the head. Horses do |
| come for the barn manager but not for his owner. The | | | | not like impulsive (pushing) energy going towards their |
| reason a horse does or doesn't want to be caught is | | | | head or neck. If you walk directly towards your horse's |
| basically about the relationship between the owner | | | | head, your horse will move her head away from you. |
| & the horse. | | | | As the head turns away the body generally follows |
| Horses that like to be with their owners are ok with | | | | and the horse moves away from you. Horses move in |
| what happens to them when they go with that person | | | | arching paths. Walk a "rainbow" that arches away |
| are willing to be caught & will often come to the | | | | from her head and towards your horse's shoulder. |
| person ... no catching necessary. | | | | Horses read your entire body so be aware of your |
| Pay attention to the word we use when talking about | | | | body alignment so that there is no push from your hips, |
| getting our horses ... "catch". Predators catch their prey. | | | | core or shoulders towards the head or hips. |
| But, prey animals' avoid being "caught" as their survival | | | | 3. Analyze your relationship with your horse. If your |
| depends upon their ability to get away. Are you hunting | | | | horse enjoys your company and feels good about |
| your horse? What we ultimately want is for the horse | | | | being with you, she will leave her herd mates to come |
| to willingly come to us because he wants to be with | | | | to you. If your horse does not enjoy spending time with |
| us. | | | | you, then you need to take a hard look at how you |
| Here are three tips to apply if you have difficulty | | | | are treating your horse when you are handling, |
| getting your horse from the paddock. | | | | grooming and riding her. Is she engaged with you in a |
| | | | positive way and being a willing partner both on the |
| 1. Push her away. If your horse runs away when you | | | | ground and in the saddle? Or is she stressed, angry, |
| walk towards him or her, push her around. Separate | | | | resistant or shut down? |
| your horse from the rest of the herd by pushing him or | | | | Developing a relationship with your horse based on |
| her out of the group, Put yourself between your horse | | | | mutual trust & respect creates positive, lasting |
| & the rest of the herd. Horses understand that | | | | results but requires consistent awareness, good body |
| being sent out of the herd is a punishment for | | | | language, and empathy. The real diagnostic question is |
| inappropriate behavior. A rude horse will get pushed | | | | "Why doesn't the horse want to be caught". The |
| out of the herd by a higher ranking horse and kept out | | | | reason is ultimately about the relationship between the |
| until she shows signs of respect. The horse will stop | | | | owner and his/her horse. Horses that like what |
| trying to run back into the herd, face up, stand with | | | | happens to them when they are with you (i.e. how |
| front feet square (a sign of not needing to move) and | | | | they are handled, led, groomed, tacked, ridden) don't |
| give a bow. This tactic may take a lot of effort on | | | | need to be "caught". They give themselves to you. |