| For horse lovers, one of the most frustrating | | | | over time because he knows he's getting something |
| experiences is trying to catch a horse who doesn't | | | | good as soon as the halter goes over his head. |
| want to be caught. Maybe you've had a long day at | | | | The Metal Horse Personality |
| work and are eagerly looking forward to a relaxing trail | | | | The Metal horse is one of the most challenging horses |
| ride, or perhaps you need to catch your horse to haul | | | | to catch. Because Metal horses value their solitude |
| him to a horsemanship clinic. Either way, if you can't | | | | above all else, they avoid being caught at all costs. |
| catch your horse, chances are that you'll feel angry | | | | Many a person has been known to expand their |
| and upset when your horse runs from you and | | | | vocabulary of curse words while trying to catch a |
| refuses to be caught. | | | | Metal horse. Luckily, once you do catch a Metal horse, |
| So how do you catch a horse who won't be caught? | | | | he will work for you until you tell him to quit. His |
| As always, there's no pat answer that will apply to | | | | avoidance of being caught isn't about dodging work, it's |
| every horse. Some horses avoid being caught | | | | just a manifestation of his solo personality. |
| because of past trauma, while other horses simply | | | | To catch a Metal horse, you either have to find his |
| enjoy a good game of chase. In general, though, the | | | | weakness, or drive him into a smaller area where he |
| way to successfully catch horse who runs from you | | | | knows he can't run from you. For instance, if your |
| has a lot to do with his personality type. | | | | Metal horse lives on a giant pasture, you might have to |
| How to Catch a Horse Based on his Personality Type | | | | drive him into a corral before you can catch him. But a |
| If your horse is healthy and happy, meaning he isn't | | | | Metal horse isn't all that easy to drive, so you might |
| suffering from some physical problem or the victim of | | | | have to catch and lead another horse into the corral |
| some past trauma, he still might run from you when | | | | first. Your Metal horse will most likely follow this other |
| you go to catch him. To minimize the amount of time it | | | | horse, though at a distance. When you've tied the |
| takes to catch your horse, you have to first | | | | other horse, also known as a "Judas horse," in the |
| understand why he's running from you. You can figure | | | | corral, you can more easily drive the Metal horse into |
| this out by determining his horse personality type. Learn | | | | the corral. Once trapped in a small enclosure, your |
| more about personality types at Horse Harmony and | | | | Metal horse is most likely to turn and face you, |
| Horse Harmony Test. | | | | knowing he's caught. |
| Like people, horses have distinct personalities, and | | | | The other option is to find a Metal horse's weakness. |
| each type avoids being caught for different reasons. | | | | For instance, I know of one Metal horse in a dude |
| So let's take a look at each type, as well as the | | | | string who easily eluded wranglers for weeks, but had |
| reasons each type might refuse to be caught. | | | | a weakness for carrots. If you brought a large bag of |
| The Fire Horse Personality Type | | | | carrots with you into the pasture, you could catch this |
| These horses love to be at the center of attention, | | | | horse within 15 minutes. Another Metal horse loved to |
| and need a lot of love and grooming to stay happy. | | | | team rope, and allowed himself to be caught only if |
| They need daily contact from their human, even if it is | | | | you carried a lariat into the pasture along with his |
| just a few minutes of petting and scratching out in the | | | | halter. |
| pasture. If your Fire horse runs from you, chances are | | | | The Water Horse Personality |
| that you haven't been spending enough time with him, | | | | Being the most fearful of the five horse personality |
| and he is pouting. Fire horses do hold grudges, and | | | | types, the Water horse tends to run because of fear. |
| tend to "make you pay" for any lack of attention. | | | | Your Water horse may not fear you, but he may fear |
| To catch a pouting Fire horse, be patient but don't give | | | | what you will do to him once he has been caught. For |
| up. Follow him slowly and avoid getting angry. When | | | | instance, if he is overwhelmed by his training program, |
| you do catch him, offer him a treat or two as a | | | | he'll avoid being caught so he can avoid those fearful |
| reward. Pet him and reward him lavishly with your | | | | experiences. And on some days, he may just be stuck |
| affection. And, in the future, to avoid this kind of | | | | in his "fight or flight" reflex. For example, if you try to |
| pouting, try to spend some quality time every day with | | | | catch a Water horse on a windy or stormy day, he |
| your Fire horse, even if it's only for 10 minutes. You'll be | | | | might run from you just because the whole day is |
| richly rewarded for your efforts with a loving and loyal | | | | downright scary. |
| horse who is easy to catch. | | | | To catch a horse with this kind of personality, your first |
| The Wood Horse Personality Type | | | | priority is to make him feel as safe as possible in all |
| The Wood horse, being mischievous and fun-loving, | | | | situations. Keep your training sessions short and be |
| truly does enjoy a good game of catch. He thoroughly | | | | sure they take place in an environment where your |
| enjoys making his human "work" to catch him, and is | | | | horse feels safe. This ensures that your Water horse |
| especially pleased if he can get his person angry in the | | | | won't avoid being caught because of his fear of |
| process. Wood horses take game-playing to a whole | | | | training. If you can't catch your Water horse on a |
| new level. A Wood horse might also avoid being | | | | particular day because he is stuck is his "fight or flight" |
| caught if he feels he hasn't had enough turnout or | | | | reflex, catch a different horse instead and offer that |
| playtime. Wood horses need a lot of exercise and | | | | horse some yummy treats. Your Water horse, seeing |
| freedom before they are ready to get down to work. | | | | that the other horse is safe and being rewarded, will |
| To catch a horse with a Wood personality, first be | | | | soon come over to investigate. Then you should be |
| sure that he has plenty of room to run and play on a | | | | able to catch him easily. |
| daily basis. Wood horses have energy to burn, and | | | | Because Water horses tend to be fearful and flighty, |
| trying to catch this kind of horse before he's burned | | | | you may also want to consider adding herbal |
| off his excess energy is like trying to hold onto a lit | | | | supplements to his diet to keep him calm and relaxed. |
| firecracker. If your Wood horse has had plenty of | | | | I've discovered that either Eleviv or RelaxBlend work |
| turnout but still refuses to be caught, the next step is to | | | | best for these kinds of horses. |
| go into game mode. If you approach the process in a | | | | How to Catch a Horse - Make Sense? I hope the |
| playful mood, chances are your horse will get a kick | | | | descriptions of each horse personality type shed some |
| out of running for a few minutes, and then reward | | | | light on the reasons why each type avoids being |
| your playfulness by allowing himself to be caught. You | | | | caught. This means you have to approach each type |
| might also entice him by offering him a varied training | | | | of horse differently when he's running from you. |
| program. Wood horses love to do something different | | | | Whether you need to adopt a "games" posture to |
| every day, so by offering him variety in his training | | | | catch the playful Wood horse or you need to bring the |
| rather than repetitive drilling, he'll look forward to being | | | | independent Metal horse into a smaller space, hopefully |
| caught and going to work. | | | | this article gives you some ideas for catching your |
| The Earth Horse Personality | | | | horse... and reduces your frustration when your horse |
| Food, food, and more food. Food is the currency of | | | | does run from you. |
| choice when you want to catch a horse with an Earth | | | | Horse Personality Typing Resources |
| personality type. Most of the time, Earth horses are | | | | Ever since I developed the Five-Element horse |
| quite lazy, and will only run from you if they perceive | | | | personality typing system, I continue to be fascinated |
| that being caught means less food. For instance, if | | | | by the amazing differences among the types. |
| your Earth horse is turned out on a lush green pasture | | | | Experiences that stress out one type are manna from |
| and you want to catch him so you can ride him in | | | | heaven for other types. For instance, the Wood horse |
| endless 20 meter circles, he's going to run because | | | | loves the varied experience of doing something |
| there's no food in the dressage arena. | | | | different everyday, while such a varied program would |
| To make it easier to catch an Earth horse, make it a | | | | totally stress out a Metal horse. Fire horses tend to be |
| routine to offer him a significant food reward every | | | | a bit vain about their looks, while an Earth horse could |
| time he allows himself to be caught. For instance, if he | | | | care less what he looks like. He only cares about what |
| is already turned out on a green pasture, be sure to | | | | his food tastes like! |
| offer him a handful or two of sweet feed after you | | | | There is so much to learn and I continue to delve |
| have caught him. The Earth horse has a tremendous | | | | deeper into the whys and wherefores of each |
| sweet tooth, and will do almost anything for a sweet | | | | personality type. If you'd like to discover your horse's |
| treat. By making the sweet treat a routine every time | | | | personality type or just find out more about horse |
| you catch your horse, he will become easier to catch | | | | personality typing, check out the resources below. |