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Post by Norty pony on May 25, 2010 13:36:44 GMT
For the past few months one of my ponies is refusing to come in, he is not just bogging off, he is running around me in small circles turning his ar$e into me and snapping with him teeth, it often takes several attempts to catch him and the field is 10min walk from the yard so its a real pain when we've got 3 others to do, one of whom is just being backed so I can't leave my son to just ride on his own whilst I trek down the field yet again! The pony is never worked after coming in, he comes in to a nice bed, big net and his tea. So far I have gritted my teeth and given him a pat, but last night I lost the plot and gave him a bloody wallop with the rope, dragged him up the lane at a fast trot and flung him in with no tea Ok this may not have helped in the long term but balls to it, the d**n thing won't be going out for a good while anyway, he can stay in and get worked and besides, if he could've gotten close enough while he was running rings around me in the field, he wouldn't have thought twice about giving me a booting. I don't have time to follow him round and round until he gives in, can't corral him and not got time to sit in the field with a book until his curiousity gets the better of him and he comes to me, he is out with about 20 other geldings, some of whom stay out until about 10 at night so leaving him until he is on his own isn't usually an option although I have done it once and he didn't give a d**n. What to do with him? He is a big lad (14.2 sp) and eats like an elephant and craps like one, is going to cost me a fortune having him in all the time. I'm out of ideas with him.
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Post by Norty pony on May 25, 2010 13:39:29 GMT
Forgot to add, he doesn't like treats, carrots or apples, besides if I take these into the field, it attracts the attention of the rest of the herd who are big and bargy, I have been double barrelled before off one of them so I'm wary.
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Post by suprisepackage on May 25, 2010 13:43:24 GMT
can you section the field off to make it smaller and I know with my horse sometimes she won't be caught straight away so I stand there and chase her on and she just circles around me eventually she stops and I can then walk straight to her and put head collar on. Once I go to field to get her I never leave the field without her sometimes it can take ten minutes but she is only like this every now and then.
Good luck
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Post by Trot-on on May 25, 2010 13:44:08 GMT
Is there no chance of individual turnout fo rhim (with a headcoller on) in a smaller paddock until her realises you are the boss and what you says goes. Dont spoil him and ignore his behaviour however had it is, even when he is in the stable etc. Think it may just be a waiting game otherwise, as he is out with a huge herd and as you say you dont really want to attract them over. Good luck
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Post by suprisepackage on May 25, 2010 13:44:28 GMT
Just read your second bit and I would try and fence a small section off as it can be frightening with all the others barging around too
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kk
Full Member
Posts: 280
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Post by kk on May 25, 2010 14:23:16 GMT
Is there anywhere he can go out on his own? or with less than 20 others? I assume you turn him out in a headcollar? When my horse went through a day or 2 of this I stood in his field and ate his carrot which he couldnt quite deal with so came close enough to grab. However the horses he was out with, all of who live out, are not nasty.
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Post by sageandonion on May 25, 2010 14:41:38 GMT
Out with 20 others! Boys having a great time with plenty to eat. I am the type who would normally say get the behavioural expert etc. However, on this occasion, sounds like he is being a toad. Well worse than that, but I can't swear.
Threatening for me is a big no no and he would be out of that field and on individual turnout, even if that means moving yards, straight into a strict routine with daily work.
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Milliesmum
H G Addict
COCKERP00S RULE!!!
Posts: 23,901
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Post by Milliesmum on May 25, 2010 14:58:18 GMT
First of all I would use a field safe headcollar, with a few inches of plaited string to make it easier to catch him. Then I think you have to think about alternative grazing for him. If none of the usual tricks are an option, then you might have to think about having him somewhere where he can have individual turnout, or at least with just two or three others. At least then you'll have a few more options to try till you find a way that works with him.
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Post by sophieandcallum on May 25, 2010 15:45:00 GMT
I could be completely wrong but 24/7 turnout could help? Possibley a mix of spring fever and being a complete brat? Definately a field safe headcollar (I use a supple leather one, I prefer them anyway and they do snap if they get caught ) with bailers twine, I used to have a pony that used to do this (when I was 10) in spring, I realised if I chased them all round for a few minutes they would soon get bored and settle and hey presto pony would be caught no problem....that was a 10 yr olds tactics though probably not the most intelligent way of doing it
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Post by amumwithapony on May 25, 2010 16:27:02 GMT
give him 5 mins of your time to be caught. If he wont be caught in 5 mins leave him out with no big net and no nice warm stable and no tea! and when the others come in, no buddies to play with.
£5 says after a night or 2 in the cold and dark all by himself he decides in is better!
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Post by dontagree on May 25, 2010 16:37:31 GMT
Sorry, but i do not agree with the last piece of advice. Not at this time of year! what is there to miss about being in a stable? Warm nights, grass growth? He will just begin to think, being out is his new routine! You need him out of that herd situation, if he is going to be a brat to catch im afraid. If it means all the other owners have to help out and bring theirs in, to enable you to get to him, so be it. And im sorry, but dragging him in, whalloping him with a leadrope and giving him no tea, is only asking for trouble the next time he does go out, do you really think, he is going to want to come in for that treatment? Yes it is infuriating, but, given the situation, you as a horse owner, should keep calm and make coming in, worth while! Or on your own head be it!
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Post by sageandonion on May 25, 2010 19:08:16 GMT
Just thought of something else I would do certainly until I could obtain individual turnout. I would put a muzzel on so he is not getting loads of lovely grass out there and is interested in coming in for food. It also means you only have to watch out for the back end.
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Post by Welshy86 on May 25, 2010 21:01:19 GMT
my friends ex racer did this last year. we spent hours in the field with buckets of feed, lunce lines the lot and he would come up to you slow down then go galloping off tail in the air!! he spent months living out because he would not get caught and he wasn't bothered about being on his. She has now built him a post/electric fenced paddock within the field so he is still with friends but he has no where to run and now understands that he comes in at night!
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