At wits end with hard to catch filly

[KKT]

Hello again, I posted earlier about a hard to catch filly.
It seems I did every thing right as all was going well. She was coming to me to get petted, brushed, treats and for the a.m. and p.m. feedings so I let her in the pasture. About 7 acres.
For the first 2 days all was fine, still coming to me or letting me walk up to her. On the 3rd day however, off she went. Wouldn't even come near at feeding time so she lost out on the grain. The next day it was the same thing. Finally got her back into the lot she was in by leaving the gate open and waiting until she entered on her own. Now it seems we are back to square one with the catching. She isn't a stupid horse. For a bit she was shy about having anything higher than her head. It took only a few minutes of raising my hand, bucket, lead rope etc. for her to settle down and accept it. This she still remembers and is fine with.
As I said before, I have a lot of time to spend with her but not all day. And please don't suggest the walk around routine in the open pasture as this is out of the question. Thank you in advance for your input. KKT

[KamiBrooks]

Sorry to hear that you're still having problems in pasture.

Maybe just repeat the same process again? Get her going well (comming up to you) in small space, then let her into large space again?

Did you set up a 'come' que? Mine is a specific clap I use to call the horses for food. If you get her solid with a cue that can be used in pasture, that might help. I have an 8 acre pasture that I can walk into and the horses don't always come running just because I walked in... but if I clap they do come running... so it maybe that she isn't solid on the cue? I use clapping because I can't wistle, but can manage to clap pretty loud if needed.

Can she be paired up with a pasture mate that comes running or responds to a cue? I think all my recent horses have learned the habit from each other, so I don't actually train them.

I also use a blue 5gal bucket to feed, so all my horses will follow a blue bucket anywhere... not really a catch, but if it lets you lead her into a small space, might be a bridge that you can use till she's older if she's food motivated (sounds like she might not be). Its large enough they can see it from a distance and makes a distinct sound if I slap on it.

It sounds like she's independent with mind of her own... probably a good thing in the long run, even though its frustrating right now.

Our temps have just started dropping near freezing here and all the horses are a bit more wild than normal... maybe that's part of it too.

Kami

[KKT]

Yes I do have a cue. I whistle and all of our horses come to that. We have 2 geldings, 2 mares, 2 foals, a pony and this filly. I can walk up to them anywhere any time with or without a bridle. We use cues for everything on the farm. The cows come to c'mon girls and my bottle raised steer comes when I pat my legs. Chickens and pigs have cues also silly as that sounds. Anyway, I use the same whistle everytime I walk in with the filly. Today we went through the round pen running all over again until she finally stopped and let me put the halter on her. I led her to the post and then spent a large amount of time brushing her, talking to her and giving her treats as a reward. An hour later I had to pass her pen on the way to the mail box and when I got close off she went to the other side. And sometimes when I start to brush her she acts like I'm about to beat her to death even though I've never been harsh with her. I had a pony that acted this way. I sold him after 6 months of working patiently with him because he never did come around. It was like every day he woke up in a whole new world.
As for this filly---I just can't figure her out. Do you think it is worth spending more time with her? And how much time is enough before saying to heck with it?
Thank you so much for your time. KKT

[KamiBrooks]

I just re-read the original post and realized she is only 5-6 mos. I was thinking you're dealiing with a yearling or more. I really appologize for not noticing the age earlier. I'm impressed with the two days of success that you did have! I can't imagine cue's have a lot of impact on a foal of that age.

You might have the best luck getting her to bond with another horse (maybe put a playmate in the lot with her) to get her in and out of pasture and just focus on having fun with her. Probably the only things she's interested in anyway.

I've had only one foal and when she was around 6 mos, she was like a balloon... came and went according to what got her attention at the time. Human, butterfly, cloud, chicken.. made no difference, she was completely ADD. Even her dam had little control over her.

The only things I remember her liking at that point was body rubs and playmates to run and kick around with. She didn't care about food, brushing, treats (actually wouldn't eat them)... and got bored really quick.. like at 2-5 minutes I was forgotten and she was off looking for someone to run and play. Her favorite playmate was a yearling and she'd follow him around as much as her mom. I never pushed it and now she is among the first to come up and is a very easy catch.

You mentioned spring, I would imagine things will be very different by then, more attention span and learning ability. But I've never delt with a weanling at that age that wasn't with it's mom.

Kami

[briarhalo]

If she is a nice filly then I think it is definitely worth spending the time on it. I don't think you can set a specific time limit on it though. I have had a few of my own foals and I haven't had any probs because I spend quite a bit of time with them in the first few days. However, I have been at numerous farms that have had foals and there have been a few that have been near impossible. Because I just adore the babies I quite enjoyed taking on the task of making them friendly. It was just my persistance in approach and retreat that paid off. Some took much longer than others but the persistancy is the key. Get close and then back off.......they get curious. Alot of time times I would either go into stall, or pasture and just sit until curiosity got the better of them. Good luck. Claire

[madelyn]

KKT, I too had a pony I had to give up on, exactly as you describe and as a 3yo. After months of patiently working, and again he would act each day as though nothing had happened the day before, he actually trampled me in a stall and the next week I sold him. I believe he was retarded or something.. maybe a torsion baby.

HOWEVER. With a weanling this young it would really be worth just leaving her alone till she gets a bit older. Every horse is different and just like humans, they develop at different rates. What are her parents like?

[knightsstar]

Hi! I too had a problem weanling...He is now a yearling and have had success in breaking through to him...Mine would refuse to be caught and turn his rear. He's come a long way. I suspect it may be a respect issue...I found that in establishing a routine and work, work, work in the round pen to gain his respect. Hope that helps...

Warm regards.

[Inyureye]

Do you think it is worth spending more time with her? And how much time is enough before saying to heck with it?

Gosh, she has a baby brain. Do you really think she's going to learn like an adult horse? Enough time is as long as it takes for her personality and age. Its probably something which will become set for her age 1 to age 2 because its routine. maybe earliers, but just leave her will all the cues and routines to latch onto it. You're not one of those types who think weanlings should act like a 3 year old, are you?

[Roguelet]

Something I've noticed over the years... it seems that most of our babies go through what I call a "skittish" phase. Not all of them, but enough of them that I have noticed a trend. As babies, they are in your face. Then, for a short time, they're suddenly skittish. Before you know it, they're in your face again and stay that way. At least, that's what I've noticed with a lot of ours. Maybe your baby is going through a skittish phase. Our most skittish weanling of last year, who is now a yearling, is definitely over it. She follows you around almost to the point of being a pain... you can't get rid of her!

[KKT]

RE: INYUREYE
Nope--not one to expect a weanling to act like a 3 year old. I have never had any foals other than those I have raised. They started at age 3 days in learning how to accept a halter. They are then led around with the mare and in no time have the leading process down pat. All that I have raised came when I entered the pasture, were all friendly and easy to halter, allowed their feet to be lifted, ears to be touched and mouth to be opened.
We have a 3 month old with the above manners and an 8 day old that is learning them. Would have kept one of these except for the fact that they were sold before they were even born.
Guess I just presumed everyone spent the time working with foals that my husband and I do.

[WarHorse]

For now, I'll go with the "skittish phase" theory and keep being patient.

It still appears to me that she is very intelligent.

Best of luck,
WH

[ragsdaj]

you might consider a herding dog to go and bring her in after the other horses come in if the problem persists.

[BenB]

KKT
I know there is always the possibility of one gooiing a different way than the others around
I,ve had one myself that took quite a while but the time will come this winters that they actually needs you for whatever.
My former racing filly, which I gave away couldn,t stand some types of mankind, and always try to kick, or bite them since she was a foal,
her dam was dangerous to mankind really trying to murder them
Specially when she was having a foal at feet.
My kids and wife couldn,t pet her my former racing filly,she was always trying to bite ,gentle but biting.
Now she seems to be the most relaxed filly in the world according her
new female owner, out of training and racing.
So be patience, do your daily programs and habits and wait.
There is no need to jump upstairs a step up once and a while give the same results.
Try to find out, for which feed or pellets she likes very very much and take advantage of it.
Get on with it, both of you will manage
Don,t quit not now at least.

[Tucumcari]

What do you do if you are unable to catch her? Do you then leave her out for the night, and just give her feed and water outside instead of in the barn? Does she not miss her friends (sorry I haven't seen the original post...)? Do you have a smaller enclosure you can keep her in until she does some mental growing up where getting "caught" is concerned...?
If you can't catch her, and you feed her outside you are kinda reinforcing the behavior. I'd make sure she had water, but as for food (reward) I'd feed her in the barn, and if she doesn't want to be there... that's her call...

[RainbowspringsTB&QH]

I found that the best thing to do with a hard to catch horse is to put it in a stall or round pen ( or smaller incloser) where you can keep a distance but you are close enough that she cannot avoid the fact that you are there. First of all try keeping her halter on if possible, take a lead rope with you into the encloser and whenever she turns away from you to not be caught wack her in the hind end with it evntualy she should come in to you. if that does not work then do lunging for respect i start this on my 4 month old filly's, keep her moving foward with no lunge line or anything untill she relaxes and lowers her head and begains to chew , then tell her whoe and calmly give her the stop command , turn your back to her and wait if she does not come in proceed to do it again. This done daily i have found out not only makes a horse esier to catch but teaches the horse to respect you. -michelle