How to catch a horse

You've probably already tried catching your horse by offering him tempting treats, hay or shaking a bucket of grain. You also know better than to go into a field or paddock full of horses with goodies--that's a way some people get trounced on or kicked by a mob of stampeding horses fighting over the treats. Not a good idea.

If the field is full of horses, and your darling mount won't come nicely up to the gate to be haltered and caught, you may have to "divide and conquer," that is, catch any of the other horses that will come up to the fence and allow themselves to be taken out of the field. Try to get as many out as you can before you go in to catch your shy friend. Horses have a tendency to bunch up in a group, making it harder to single one out.

Once your horse is alone in the field, try luring him to you with treats and food again. If he still won't come, get yourself a longe whip and summon all of your reserves of patience. Resign yourself to the fact that you probably won't be riding, but that today will be a groundwork lesson for your horse. He is learning how to allow himself to be caught. This may take several lessons.

Keep a positive attitude. The horse is a good boy, not a bad boy. He just doesn't know how he should act. You are going to let the good boy have some exercise till he is ready to quit and stand still so you can put his halter on. Hopefully, your paddock or field is small, otherwise, you are going to have some exercise too!

Have your halter and lead rope hung on your shoulder. The idea is to keep them with you and have them ready in case the horse decides to stop and stand quiet, but to be sure that you, or the horse won't get tangled in them. Also have your longe whip.

Approach the horse, and the minute you see that he is going to trot or bolt away, crack the whip and ask him to canter, (or trot, if he is slow). Keep him going. If he whirls around to go the other way, praise him and encourage him to keep going. Keep your distance from the horse, because many will try to kick out at you as they run. In fact, you should be wearing a helmet, some non-slip boots, and if you have one, wear an equestrian safety vest, just like the guys who work at the race track.

You are conducting a free-longeing lesson. Keep the horse going nice and fast. If you see that he wants to break stride from a canter to a trot, say "Trot" and praise him when he breaks into a trot. Keep him going and don't let him stop to eat, drink or rest. If he starts to tire, and you see that he is planning to walk, say "Walk" and praise him if he walks,--otherwise, keep him going. If he decides to stop say "Whoa," and let him stand for a minute before you hold your whip behind you and approach. But, if he starts to walk or trot again, encourage him to go faster. If he turns his butt toward you, snap the whip and ask him to trot or go faster. Praise him when he goes faster and keep him going till he begins to tire and wants to slow down. You will again command him to "walk" when you see he is slowing to a walk, and praise him when he does so. If he stops but turns his butt toward you again when you approach, back up away from him, crack the whip and get him trotting or cantering again. Be sure to say "trot" or "canter" when you ask him to go, so that he will be acting as a good, obedient boy, doing as he was told. He needs to learn that turning his butt toward you means more exercise for him. The goal is that he stops, stands and does not move when you approach with your halter and lead rope. Just be sure that your longe whip is in a non-threatening position as you approach the standing horse. It should be behind you, not pointed at the horse. Keep your movements slow and confident, not jerky, nervous or angry.

The idea your are trying to teach the horse is that the nicest, most comfortable thing for him to do is the thing YOU want him to do. Everything else is a great deal of work. He's not bad when he does what HE likes, he just has to work very hard, and you are happy to make him do so.

NOTE: The key is to be sure that you are consistent in your commands and actions so that the horse will not be confused about what is being asked of him. For example, don't raise the longe whip toward his flank unless you want him to go faster. The whip should be down and inconspicuous when he is standing as he should.