Pony bad tempered to catch

[SA rider]

Does anyone have any advice on how to catch a very bad tempered pony in her paddock. During summer time she seems fine but during our (very mild) winter she becomes increasingly grumpy, chasing grooms - including me - across the paddock attempting to bite and kick, and will even leap up and try to bite over the fence! She's always been well treated in her life at the riding school, although apparently her mother wasn't a very good mum - a bit of a bully..... Any thoughts??

[nakedescapee]

Check out Monty Roberts join up.

The theory is that the alpha horse asserts its dominance and gains the respect of the herd by driving the lesser horses out of the herd. When you drive a horse out of "your" herd, you become the alpha horse. Horses are always looking for a leader so they will learn to respect you, follow you and come to you in the field.

There is a specific technique to it so do some reading before you try it or you could make the situation worse.

good luck.

[SA rider]

Thanks the advice regarding `Alpha female' idea, it was extremely helpful. A few days ago I lost patience with attempting to bribe the pony into behaving so instead thought about what you wrote and went and collected a dressage whip and entered the paddock. She ran at me with teeth bared but when I flicked the whip she ran to the corner looking confused. I trailed it behind her and had her trot around and around the small paddock. She's a relatively old pony so took it very gently with her.
She very rapidly became submissive and eventually trotted to the corner where my colleague stood with a head collar. We slipped it over her head and she seemed releived to be caught.
Ever since I have entered the paddock and had no problems at all, in fact she walks towards me and allows me to put on the head collar. She will still put her ears back at me but with much much less conviction.
Thanks for the inspiration, no doubt it won't be the last time the concept of `showing who is boss' will come in useful.

[nakedescapee]

Wonderful! It sounds like you are making good progress. Keep it up! :D

[curiou_mare]

What I do if it’s not your own horse your catching is be the herd mare. I keep that horse away from all of his friends and if he wants to run he can. You do what the lead mare would do kick them out of the group until they decide they want to behave. Very soon he will get bored of this deciding he doesn’t like running and no support from his friends. He will then come willingly to you.:)

[Harry Hobbes]

no doubt it won't be the last time the concept of `showing who is boss' will come in useful. Careful.

The Monty Robert's Join-Up method is about building respect and leadership through dominating the movements of the horse. It purpose is not to show the horse anything.

Nakedescapee's advice about using Join-Up (or a comparable method) should be followed closely; especially his/her advice regarding: "There is a specific technique to it so do some reading before you try it or you could make the situation worse. "

The method is a procedure, not an experiment, so one needs to learn the prodedure to be fully effective. The continued pinning of the ears is an indicator that you and the horse have more work (and learning) to do to get to respect.

If you wish a list of published material to help you learn this (or other) methods, the list can be provided.

Best regards,
Harry

[horse luver876]

:) good luck with her

[PromiseMe]

its odd that its only during the winter...and not the summer.
most horses who are hard to catch are hard to catch all year around...mainly cause they associate being turned in = work (being ridden) and try to get away from it.

i think monty robert's method could and could not help.
it could help because it helps you develop a relationship with her, so that she will come to you willingly when she sees you.
but i think if your purpose is to teach her who is boss with that join up method, that would probably not be the best method.
JMO!

Oh and is she your horse? or is it your duty to bring her in as a groom? Than it woudl be your duty to bring her in.
or do you ride her in your lessons?
because if you are paying to take lessons and riding her...maybe you should ask yoru instructor for help, so that you can learn as well.

Good luck with her... and be careful :)

[SA rider]

Yes, I do take all the above points, and I understand that "showing who's boss" doesn't really fit in with the Join Up concept.
The situation is this. I work as a groom/riding instructor and it is my duty to bring the pony in.
Once she has been caught she's extremely well behaved and relaxed with me.
From a practical point of view (for me) the situation is relatively acceptable - because I no longer feel afraid of her I never have any problems catching her. (Others still do however).
However, because she is not my pony and because she is getting on in years I don't have any overwhelming urge to develop a particularly close relationship with her. I am fond of her and she treats me with grudging respect and that's good enough for me at a busy stable.
At the same time I very much want to learn about Join Up so that I can call upon the procedure in the future when I return to my own country and purchase my own horse.
I'm more of a bookish person than a television watcher so from your experience can you reccomend a good book for a beginner. I've looked on Amazon but there seem to be a number of Monty Roberts book and I'm not sure what to start with.

[Harry Hobbes]

At the same time I very much want to learn about Join Up...I'm more of a bookish person than a television watcher so from your experience can you reccomend a good book for a beginner. I've looked on Amazon but there seem to be a number of Monty Roberts book and I'm not sure what to start with. Start with Understanding The Ancient Secrets of the Horse's Mind, by Robert M. Miller, DVM. 138 pages. 1999. ISBN 0-929346-45-3. The Russell Meerdink Company, Ltd. (I don't think this is listed on amazon.com, so you may have to do an Internet search to find it.)

This work should be on every equine enthusiast's book shelf, and is based on the author's extensive equine-related expertise, is science-based, behavior-oriented, and provides a well-rounded practical explanation of the underlying genetic drivers of horse behavior; that is, their instinctive drivers. The work also provides specific training solutions which serve to demonstrate how to train within the context of the horse's instincts.

Once you read this book, you will understand just exactly what "Join Up" is, how it works on the horse, and why it is important (as well an the methods of other trainers).

Best regards,
Harry

[floppy]

one of our horses will come to you and let you go to him if you have no headcollar with you. you can cuddle him and everything...but if you go in with a headcollar he will run away the whole time. So we ''join up'' with him everytime. Send him away once of twice and then he will come willing nilly to you and let you put the headcollar on:D

[Crazyhorse45]

Arial Black1Well my instructor always told me when your trying to cacth a horse in the paddock don't spook them or look them in the eye.It makes them mad when you do that . ;)

[Harry Hobbes]

my instructor always told me when your trying to cacth a horse in the paddock don't spook them or look them in the eye.It makes them mad when you do that . What happens if you look at their ears?

What happens if you look at their nostrils?

How about their left knee, or their right rear fetlock? Or any other body part?

Ask your instructor if horses also get mad when you look at these body parts.

If your instructor answers "yes", then do not look at any part of any horse (unless you wish to make them mad). If your instructor answers "no", then ask your instructor why horses get mad (or fearful, anxious, or any other emotion) when you look at their eyes, but not when you look at other body parts.

The most powerful word in any human's vocabulary is "why". Try it with your instructor.

Best regards,
Harry

P.S. If you never look in a horse's eye, then you cannot successfully complete Pat Parelli's Level 1 program (i.e., to standard), because he requires the rider to look into the horse's eye every time the rider mounts and dismounts.

[floppy]

you should avoid looking the horse in the eyes if you want him to come to you. but its the same as dogs...if you meet a dog you dont knw you shoudl also not look them straight in the eyes

[ponylover88]

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[roxycutie]

Try having a bucket of her favorite treats available when tyou try to catch her. And if your horse ever starts running away from you than you may look like a predator to her. Have the headcollar ready and enter the field. Just stand by the fence for a minute and hold out the treats. Make sure she knows you are the Dominent horse in this herd. :D