365 Days in Horse Country – Catching Runaways
When horses
break free from their confines, whether it be busting out of their stalls or
pulling back when tied, all hell can break loose. If other horses are around, they all react
with great excitement. It’s as if they
are all cheering the delinquent horse on with encouragement.
Most horses will quickly give up their newfound freedom for a bite to eat. The hay stack is usually the first and only destination once a horse realizes he’s free. Occasionally however, a horse decides to make the most of his freedom by galloping around the property like a creature possessed, tail aloft and hooves flailing.
Catching a loose horse isn’t usually hard. If the horse stops to eat, just quietly approach him with a halter and lead rope and slip the rope over his neck while he is munching. Horses that run from you are more challenging, but eventually a calm approach yields success. Get help if you can, and ask people to form human barriers so the horse is cornered and can’t run away. Once most horses realize they are surrounded, they quickly give up.
Whatever you do, don’t punish the horse once you catch him. If you do, you’ll have a much harder time rounding him up next time because he will remember the punishment and decide it’s in his best interests to stay away from you. Never run after a horse either. The horse can easily outrun you and will be happy to prove it if you start trying to chase him down.
Michael