Just in teaching and watching people, I’ve noticed a huge disconnect between their focus and intent when first getting their horse. People chat with others, talk on cellphones or otherwise disengage from forming an immediate connection with their horse upon their first meeting.

The same person will then wonder why it is hard to catch their horse! Here are some ideas and video on how to change that.

First up, is Pandora, a pony I’ve owned for at least 7 years and probably the one that I’ve done the most liberty and game work with. This video shows our obvious close connection as she will come in the same manner whether I have a treat or not. Actually, the time before this video was taken I had called her up for worming!

The key to gaining this type of relationship begins with the Basic Greeting and approaching of a horse. How to do so is detailed in this video about Z:

* Approach a horse close enough in their bubble that they show signs of noticing you.

* Wait to see if they will approach

* If they don’t, approach closer.

* Stop when you notice them moving towards you. Wait.

* Greet horse with a scratch in their favorite place or small snack.

* Turn and walk away, not taking them to work.

NOTE: Carry your halter when you don’t plan on catching the horse, so the horse does not connect it to be caught.

For horses that are more reserved, aloof, or wary, start spending time in their area doing non-horse oriented stuff. I usually go up and fill the water tank, scoop poop, check the hay and just generally hang out with them under the shady oak tree.

This video was filmed in August of last year and Dee was still hard to catch and halter. At this time, when I call she is the first to come. In this video, I take a slow approach of letting her decide when she is going to come to me. If she backs away or raises her head, I let her do so and retreat to my original spot. There is no food reward at this point – we are working on bonding:

* Let the horse choose the time she wants to approach you

* Let the horse decide how long she will stay with you

* She must be polite when in your bubble / boundary (about one forearm or arm’s length from your body).

* Give her a scratch in her favorite place to say “it’s good to hang out with me.”

* Be lowkey, slow and deliberate in your movements.

Some tips  on working in a group of horses and with extremely shy horses:

* In a group environment, don’t use food.

* Use one of the friendlier herd mates, to show a shy horse you are not to be feared.

* Give affection, in a non-threatening, way (i.e. stroke the shoulder, not the head) to the friendly horse so the shy horse can see by the first horse that you are an okay person. 

* Start with the back of your hand, held out to the horses’ nostrils, and let her choose when to sniff (or if she will sniff at all).

* Make your body approach more narrow, by moving sideways with shoulder pointed at her, instead of facing front (wide).

* Keep you movements confident and deliberate; no quick actions or excited voices.

* Your horse, if really skittish, may feel more comfortable if you look down or away. Generally, I just don’t look straight at her but drop a casual, “whatever” stance that is relaxed and non-threatening.

I’ll post an updated video once the weather cooperates. at this point Z and D come trotting or cantering when called.

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