Major problem please help!!!!!

Crazy4Tomater&Sapphire · 11-01-2008, 07:14 PM

Long story short This guy just brought me a wild mustang that had never been touched and I don't have a round pen or a small pen so we let her go in the field. Well we can't catch her or even get close. Anyboby have any advice?

cemar1985 · 11-02-2008, 06:43 PM

Does the horse have a buddy yet? Sometimes it helps to kind of use the buddy to get them to start following you and the buddy.

Act like you don't want to catch the horse and then wrap a lead rope around the neck(this gives a I'm caught feeling) before getting the halter on.

Feed while holding the halter and lead rope in hand, and every time you check on the horses bring the halter and lead rope in hand to get him used to the sound.

Does he come up to you when you rattle a feed bucket?

I'm still trying to remember what I did when I bought my mare a long time that wasn't halter broke and abused. If more pops up I'll send another post.

BabyMay · 11-02-2008, 06:46 PM

Well, you may have to have a Vet out to tranq her. Is the fencing good enough that she cant go over or through it? Why did he turn her loose in a big field? Is this your first horse? I thought it was required to have a round pen and stall for the mustang to be adopted.

EquineAlberta · 11-06-2008, 10:57 PM

Pack yourself a snack and grab and book and sit in the feild reading aloud until she gets used to the sight, sound and smell of you. She will eventually get curious. Have the halter just sitting there too, but don't try to put it on. Take some feed with you, and put it near the halter. Don't change what you are doing if/when she comes to eat.

If she sniffs you, just stay where you are.

Eventually she will find you curious, and you may be able to pet her. Next is to pet her with the halter in your hand and so on.

Just take time. Be a curious object that comes with food.

Karen

HAYHAYSTABLES · 11-06-2008, 11:09 PM

All i can say is " GOOD LUCK"

roberts617 · 11-06-2008, 11:13 PM

Time is your best friend and be prepared to spend lots of it! Mustangs have a very high flight drive, you push her too hard, she's going to run every time. Take your time, with her! I ditto what EquineAlberta said, it's a great beginning to the bonding process.

Carri · 11-07-2008, 07:29 AM

I agree with everyone else- Lots of time!

When I was younger (early 20's) someone dropped off a mustang at a boarding facility where I worked, and said they would be back the next day with feed, etc. We never saw them again, so eventually the BO got ownership of him and gave him to me.

I spent about two hours every day just sitting in his paddock reading a book, and let him get used to being around me and realizing that I was not going to hurt him. It took weeks, but he got used to me. Once he was bonded with me, it was one of the best horsey relationships I have ever had, and it was so worth all of the time it took. He never really trusted other people, but I could do anything with him.

bbryant573 · 11-12-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EquineAlberta

Pack yourself a snack and grab and book and sit in the feild reading aloud until she gets used to the sight, sound and smell of you. She will eventually get curious. Have the halter just sitting there too, but don't try to put it on. Take some feed with you, and put it near the halter. Don't change what you are doing if/when she comes to eat.

If she sniffs you, just stay where you are.

Eventually she will find you curious, and you may be able to pet her. Next is to pet her with the halter in your hand and so on.

Just take time. Be a curious object that comes with food.

Karen

I like this suggestion

Duckie0370 · 11-12-2008, 01:05 PM

If you have the means, start making the dimensions of that pasture smaller. You're not going to be able to halter the horse and lead it for while. The mare's fight or flight response is in over drive, and it's going to prevent you from being able to get close enough to do anything to her.

If you have access to one, put up a portable round pen in the pasture. Make sure the sides of the round pen are at least 6-8ft high. If you are able to, drive the mare into the round pen. You'll be able to tranquilize her in there before moving the horse to a better set up. The horse should have access to a run in shed in a small paddock with very high fences to prevent her from getting out. Is this mustang one from the BML? You didn't say, but they normally have very specific set up requirements that you must have before allowing someone to take a mustang.

2manyminis · 11-12-2008, 01:16 PM

Certainly not trying to poo-poo anyone's ideas here, but food may be a foreign object to the mare & as long as she has grass in a big field, she isn't going to come up.

Sitting & ignoring is a great idea, but only if she's ever been caught & handled at one point, though I do like the suggestions made of just petting her with teh halter in hand & not putting it on till she's ready for it- but she isn't going to just lead, either.

My suggestion would be to get her up in a smaller pen- round pen or a small run in with a stall attachement & stop her access to free grazing- I am NOT saying starve her- but make yourself the source of her hay & grain. She will soon associate you with food & figure out you aren't evil, but as long as she has a big field to get away & food, she's not going to be interested in what you do. She has no reason to be interested right now. In the smaller paddock you can try sitting & reading, singing or whatever it takes, but it certainly will take time.

She may have to be tranq'ed to be brought up into the smaller pen.

I also thought that in order to adopt a mustang that there were certain fencing requirements, but if she was given to you by an individual, that makes sense. I would call them back & ask how they were able to get her loaded & bring her to you- they may be able to help with ideas of how they were able to catch her.

Good luck!

old yella mare · 11-12-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckie0370

If you have the means, start making the dimensions of that pasture smaller. You're not going to be able to halter the horse and lead it for while. The mare's fight or flight response is in over drive, and it's going to prevent you from being able to get close enough to do anything to her.

If you have access to one, put up a portable round pen in the pasture. Make sure the sides of the round pen are at least 6-8ft high. If you are able to, drive the mare into the round pen. You'll be able to tranquilize her in there before moving the horse to a better set up. The horse should have access to a run in shed in a small paddock with very high fences to prevent her from getting out. Is this mustang one from the BML? You didn't say, but they normally have very specific set up requirements that you must have before allowing someone to take a mustang.

this is the best advice i've read on here. be sure you put the corral along the side of the regular fence line, it'll make driving them into it so much easier, as will a 'wing' built off the outside edge to funnel them in. once they are safely corralled it should be easy to catch your tame horses and bring them out, leaving the wild one alone in the pen.

TLCowgirl3597 · 11-13-2008, 03:35 PM

Stay low....when approaching a Mustang stay hunched over, slow movements, lots of patience. Only get as close as they'll let you then retreat(horses learn on release of pressure) if the only way to release pressure is to run....there you go. If you will take hunched over slow quiet steps...as soon as you see the horse thinking about leaving move back 10 steps or more...approach, retreat...until the mustang will let you get up close & rub em' down...NO quick movements... it may take you a week to get close & another week to get a halter on...but if you force anything you get to start all over. So don't rush it...patience is key.

Crazy4Tomater&Sapphire · 12-11-2008, 08:42 PM

Well she's halter broke now. She came right up to me. I sat in the field with a book and she came up andf tried to eat the book. Thanks for all of the advice.

Jess6092 · 12-12-2008, 12:12 PM

Wow! Great to hear it worked! Good job!

michlar · 12-12-2008, 12:38 PM

Wow. That is very cool. I wish you much success with your new wild friend. We had a mustang at the barns where I stable my horses and she bonded with a girl there. That girl could do anything with her, she trusted her completely. That girl trained her and it was a sad day when she grew too tall and moved onto a different mount. That horse still prefers her and seems to merely tolerate the rest of us. It is much like a deep bond an Arabian makes with people. I rescued one and only had it for about three weeks. I went out to see it about nine months later ( it is at the trainers, she agreed to keep him as he is a stallion) and he remembered me and nuzzled me. This is a horse that was living alone for nine years. It is also a horse that had nothing done with it for the same amount of time. He didn't care much about the other people I was with but seemed to remember me. He is doing very well by the way.

cemar1985 · 12-12-2008, 04:02 PM

Congrats! Keep us all updated on the progress!

BabyMay · 12-12-2008, 08:29 PM

Glad to hear she is coming around. Keep up the good work.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
I think I may have a major problem	Princelover101	Hoof Talk	9	06-03-2008 04:35 PM

11-01-2008, 07:14 PM
Crazy4Tomater&Sapphire Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Goodman, Missouri Posts: 16	Major problem please help!!!!! Long story short This guy just brought me a wild mustang that had never been touched and I don't have a round pen or a small pen so we let her go in the field. Well we can't catch her or even get close. Anyboby have any advice?

11-02-2008, 06:43 PM
cemar1985 Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: winnsboro,la Posts: 509	Does the horse have a buddy yet? Sometimes it helps to kind of use the buddy to get them to start following you and the buddy. Act like you don't want to catch the horse and then wrap a lead rope around the neck(this gives a I'm caught feeling) before getting the halter on. Feed while holding the halter and lead rope in hand, and every time you check on the horses bring the halter and lead rope in hand to get him used to the sound. Does he come up to you when you rattle a feed bucket? I'm still trying to remember what I did when I bought my mare a long time that wasn't halter broke and abused. If more pops up I'll send another post.

11-02-2008, 06:46 PM
BabyMay Started Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,779	Well, you may have to have a Vet out to tranq her. Is the fencing good enough that she cant go over or through it? Why did he turn her loose in a big field? Is this your first horse? I thought it was required to have a round pen and stall for the mustang to be adopted. __________________ For the love of all animals.

11-06-2008, 10:57 PM
EquineAlberta Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,004	Pack yourself a snack and grab and book and sit in the feild reading aloud until she gets used to the sight, sound and smell of you. She will eventually get curious. Have the halter just sitting there too, but don't try to put it on. Take some feed with you, and put it near the halter. Don't change what you are doing if/when she comes to eat. If she sniffs you, just stay where you are. Eventually she will find you curious, and you may be able to pet her. Next is to pet her with the halter in your hand and so on. Just take time. Be a curious object that comes with food. Karen __________________ New Hillside Website The Art of Praise

11-06-2008, 11:09 PM
HAYHAYSTABLES Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: cookeville tennessee Posts: 338	*All i can say is " GOOD LUCK"* __________________ www.hayleystables.com living a dream!

11-06-2008, 11:13 PM
roberts617 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 6,059	Time is your best friend and be prepared to spend lots of it! Mustangs have a very high flight drive, you push her too hard, she's going to run every time. Take your time, with her! I ditto what EquineAlberta said, it's a great beginning to the bonding process. __________________ "The only way to have a friend is to be one."

11-07-2008, 07:29 AM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,647	I agree with everyone else- Lots of time! When I was younger (early 20's) someone dropped off a mustang at a boarding facility where I worked, and said they would be back the next day with feed, etc. We never saw them again, so eventually the BO got ownership of him and gave him to me. I spent about two hours every day just sitting in his paddock reading a book, and let him get used to being around me and realizing that I was not going to hurt him. It took weeks, but he got used to me. Once he was bonded with me, it was one of the best horsey relationships I have ever had, and it was so worth all of the time it took. He never really trusted other people, but I could do anything with him.

11-12-2008, 01:05 PM
Duckie0370 Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 305	If you have the means, start making the dimensions of that pasture smaller. You're not going to be able to halter the horse and lead it for while. The mare's fight or flight response is in over drive, and it's going to prevent you from being able to get close enough to do anything to her. If you have access to one, put up a portable round pen in the pasture. Make sure the sides of the round pen are at least 6-8ft high. If you are able to, drive the mare into the round pen. You'll be able to tranquilize her in there before moving the horse to a better set up. The horse should have access to a run in shed in a small paddock with very high fences to prevent her from getting out. Is this mustang one from the BML? You didn't say, but they normally have very specific set up requirements that you must have before allowing someone to take a mustang.

11-12-2008, 01:16 PM
2manyminis Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 98	Certainly not trying to poo-poo anyone's ideas here, but food may be a foreign object to the mare & as long as she has grass in a big field, she isn't going to come up. Sitting & ignoring is a great idea, but only if she's ever been caught & handled at one point, though I do like the suggestions made of just petting her with teh halter in hand & not putting it on till she's ready for it- but she isn't going to just lead, either. My suggestion would be to get her up in a smaller pen- round pen or a small run in with a stall attachement & stop her access to free grazing- I am NOT saying starve her- but make yourself the source of her hay & grain. She will soon associate you with food & figure out you aren't evil, but as long as she has a big field to get away & food, she's not going to be interested in what you do. She has no reason to be interested right now. In the smaller paddock you can try sitting & reading, singing or whatever it takes, but it certainly will take time. She may have to be tranq'ed to be brought up into the smaller pen. I also thought that in order to adopt a mustang that there were certain fencing requirements, but if she was given to you by an individual, that makes sense. I would call them back & ask how they were able to get her loaded & bring her to you- they may be able to help with ideas of how they were able to catch her. Good luck!

11-13-2008, 03:35 PM
TLCowgirl3597 Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pahrump,NV Posts: 304	Stay low....when approaching a Mustang stay hunched over, slow movements, lots of patience. Only get as close as they'll let you then retreat(horses learn on release of pressure) if the only way to release pressure is to run....there you go. If you will take hunched over slow quiet steps...as soon as you see the horse thinking about leaving move back 10 steps or more...approach, retreat...until the mustang will let you get up close & rub em' down...NO quick movements... it may take you a week to get close & another week to get a halter on...but if you force anything you get to start all over. So don't rush it...patience is key. __________________ Live everyday* as if it's your last, one of these days it just might be....*

12-11-2008, 08:42 PM
Crazy4Tomater&Sapphire Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Goodman, Missouri Posts: 16	Well she's halter broke now. She came right up to me. I sat in the field with a book and she came up andf tried to eat the book. Thanks for all of the advice.

12-12-2008, 12:12 PM
Jess6092 Coming two Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,575	Wow! Great to hear it worked! Good job!

12-12-2008, 12:38 PM
michlar Yearling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: saskatchewan Posts: 589	Wow. That is very cool. I wish you much success with your new wild friend. We had a mustang at the barns where I stable my horses and she bonded with a girl there. That girl could do anything with her, she trusted her completely. That girl trained her and it was a sad day when she grew too tall and moved onto a different mount. That horse still prefers her and seems to merely tolerate the rest of us. It is much like a deep bond an Arabian makes with people. I rescued one and only had it for about three weeks. I went out to see it about nine months later ( it is at the trainers, she agreed to keep him as he is a stallion) and he remembered me and nuzzled me. This is a horse that was living alone for nine years. It is also a horse that had nothing done with it for the same amount of time. He didn't care much about the other people I was with but seemed to remember me. He is doing very well by the way.

12-12-2008, 04:02 PM
cemar1985 Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: winnsboro,la Posts: 509	Congrats! Keep us all updated on the progress!

12-12-2008, 08:29 PM
BabyMay Started Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,779	Glad to hear she is coming around. Keep up the good work. __________________ For the love of all animals.