Dangerous, Hard to Catch Lesson Horses

[Gloria]

OP, you seriously need to find a ground person to teach you in person if your interest is “how to catch this particular mare.” It doesn’t matter how many horses you have caught. The reality is that this mare has you numbered. It isn’t that we don’t want to teach you how. The issue is, the solution is highly dependable on the mare herself, you yourself, and whole slew of other things involved.

For example, if your energy is too high, because you try to “dominate” her, she might decide to dominate you back. If your energy is too low, because you try to be nice, she might decide you are a sissy, and dominate you back. Or your position might not be perfect, and she gave you a finger. All of these will be expressed by her through body languages, many times very subtly if you are not accustomed to detecting them. You need that ground person to point out that signs, and teach you how to respond accordingly. No one method will work with all horses.

Most horses aren’t complicated, and that is why you have never had issues before. But this mare is complicated, for you at least.

Please do not underestimate horses. They are not machines.

[jump_pony]

Try watching some natural horsemanship videos on you tube.
Break it down in your search to the different issues, first find a video that addresses having the horse face you, and when you have that under control move on to the other issues that you have catching this horse.
There. Are all sorts of instructional videos on all sorts of training issues.
i know you don’t want to bring treats into the pasture( I agree with you) but consider leaving them outside the gate and give them to her when you are on the other side.
I do agree with everyone else that this good be a dangerous situtation so be very careful.

[SuzieQNutter]

Natural horsemanship, which is only hosemanship will ONLY work if you have the correct timing. If you have the incorrect timing you will teach the horse to never come near you again.

OP a story from hubby this week. An experienced horseman sent a horse to be gentled (which is not a term he or I have ever used so I presume we are talking western, but I can ask) as they were having problems with it, so they sent the horse to his property. He went in to get it and it attacked. Broken bones and a black eye. He is lucky. He could have been killed. Believe me this is not something to play with.

[oddoda]

New here to this forum but not to horses.

Everyone, to paraphrase the OP question so you understand it better:

“I am a pilot with some experience but not a mechanic. I have an airplane that I know has mechanical problems but I am going to fly it anyways. What I would like to know is - what do I do when it shuts down on me at 10,000 feet and I smell fire. No, I am not going to get it fixed and no, I am not going to get another plane. How rude of you to suggest that?!? All I want is for everyone to get past how crazy my question is and actually give me the schematics of fixing this and the list of tools necessary to do it, mid flight, like those Hollywood movies where the guy is hanging off the wing in air and doing stuff. Sorry I am cranky and rude when I reply when people tell me I am crazy for putting myself in this situation, that’s just life and that’s just me and you have to move past that and answer me, damn it”…

[red_mares]

You’re going into a pasture with 20 horses without a whip?

For the love of God, why???

I won’t say every time, but 90% of the time, I go into a field of horses I carry a 5-6’ whip. No dinky dressage whip, but a driving whip long enough that the horse isn’t on top of me before I can hit him.

Here’s a conversation starter for you:

YOU - Hey, do you have a whip I can take with when I go get Maresy? I don’t trust her. She either tries to kick or run me over.

THEM - Oh, she’s no problem. She won’t hurt you, she’s just playing games.

YOU - Great, then you bring her in because I’m not paying to be kicked in the head.

[S1969]

@red mares

You’re going into a pasture with 20 horses without a whip?

I think any boarding barn that would give a whip to a student and let them go into a pasture with 20 horses to catch one should just close their doors now.

I can use a whip in my pasture with my horses, but I know them very well. I know, for example, that if I crack a whip within 100 feet of my TB mare she will turn the entire herd into a bucking, farting, stampede. This is why I don’t let anyone take a whip into my pasture but me.