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  Discussion on Unable to catch 12 year old gelding
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Posted on Monday, Dec 31, 2001 - 3:43 pm:

I acquired a 12year old gelding in May. He is a Morgan and had never been around other horses. His owner died this past January, and from then until I moved him to my dry lot, he had been cared for by two elderly people who were afraid of horses. This horse had terrible feet, and that was the reason for moving him off the pasture, to the dry lot. He has a history of chronic laminitis. Needless to say, when I put him with my other horses, he was extremely happy. He was never easy to catch, but once I got hold of his halter, he was easy to lead. All during the summer, he consistently improved with his behavior, and was soon coming towards me and letting me catch him without any problems. In fact, he was a sweetheart. He stayed with about 14 horses until the end of August. At that time, my veterinarian told me his feet were not improving and he needed to be off pasture, back in the dry lot. I moved him back, but put him with another horse, so he wouldn't be alone again. I didn't get to spend as much time with him, only at feeding time in the morning and evening. He gradually became impossible to catch, turning his butt to me whenever I tried to rub my hand up his back to his halter to catch, which was the way I had to catch him when I first brought him home. I've tried to hold his feed pan and grab his halter like that, but he's too smart and quick for me. He also has a bad habit of nipping at me--twice he's connected with me, and I don't want him to do that again. His former owner's son had warned me that this horse would bite, but the horse had never displayed any aggression towards me until after I moved him from the other horses. I'm at a loss as to how to handle this horse. I put three other horses with him that he enjoyed being with this summer in the hopes that that would help him lose the aggression. It hasn't helped. My husband says to send him back where he came from. I'm afraid doing that will hurt this horse more than his nips hurt me. I need some advice. I've been trying to just brush him whenever he'll let me get near enough, and talking quietly to him, and praising him whenever he looks at me. But, I'm at a loss as to how to get any closer to him. The farrier is coming in two weeks, and I need to be able to catch him by then. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Posted on Monday, Dec 31, 2001 - 6:27 pm:

Hi, Judy,
Good idea to take a leaDrOpe into the pasture whenever you are dealing with an aggressive horse. When he turns his behind to you, throw your arms up and wave the leaDrOpe at him. Then wait. If he scoots off and turns to face you, then you have accomplished a good thing. If he runs off, then just follow him and whenever he gives signs of stopping, stop walking toward him and take a step backwards. It may take awhile for him to figure it out, but you can probably push him all over the pasture. If he refuses to move or to turn and face you, then shake the leaDrOpe toward him and give him a verbal cue to move, to get him moving. Walk after him and then when he looks like he is asking to stop, stop and let him have some space to turn toward you. Remember to always stay at least 10 feet behind him. Any horse can kick the length of his body.
Depending on how large your pasture/lot is, this could take awhile, but in a small area, it shouldn't take very long for the horse to figure out that you want him to face you. If he turns to walk off after facing you, then just repeat the above until he will let you approach and pat him. Any biting should be firmly and swiftly dealt with. Don't take any crap from him. Let him have a major whack on the neck or chest or anywhere but near his eyes if he tries to bite. If you are consistent, his behavior should change. From the sound of his past caretaking experiences, he probably felt that he ruled the roost and doesn't like being expected to do what he didn't think of himself.
Holly

Posted on Monday, Dec 31, 2001 - 7:25 pm:

Holly,
You are so right about this horse ruling the roost previously. I think he's done that all his life. Right now, he is the low man in the herd, and I wonder if this is what changed his attitude. I'll try your suggestion. We'll both get some exercise. I'd love to have him back the way he was this summer. I enjoyed riding him, and I know he enjoyed all the attention he got. I've thought he was trying to get attention with negative behavior, so I've tried to really praise him when he has good behavior. Any further suggestions will certainly be appreciated.
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