How to win a man's heart

[Minouri]

Yesterday Tony was home during the morning. He let the boys have free run of the backyard till noon when he had to go to work.

At noon he was chatting with our neighbor and they both went to put the horses back into the round pen. The boys were way in the back. He opened up the side panel to the pen.

I heard the first version of the story from my neighbor who was so impressed. He came over to tell me that Tony was incredible with the horses. Said he had seen plenty of people chase their horses around...but Tony just called them and they came running.

This is only amazing to me and Tony. We've always boarded our horses and they never ran from us but they never ran TO us either.

Tony had a big smile on his face last night when he told me how cool it was to see them run over when he called them.

I think that sold him on having the horses in our backyard.

I didn't think there would be a big difference in how the horses treated us since I spent a lot of time at the barns we boarded at anyway. But our relationship with the horses is definately changing and I am always touched by the little ways they show us how connected they are becoming to our family.

I definately want to support their new habit of coming when we call. I know it's likely tied to food. Do you have little tricks to getting the horses to come when they have a field of grass infront of them? Would you do treats?

[CarolU]

I do treats. Some people worry about the horses getting mouthy, in that case put the treat in a specific bucket for them. They'll get used to it and come anytime they see the bucket.

I went through a period where I boarded at an ol' cowboy's place. He'd give me POOP about treating my horses, but I can't count how many times I'd have mine caught and groomed, and the one I was planning to ride tacked up and ready to go, and he was still chasing horses. LOL

You can also add a whistle if you want...people with large places do this or a dinner bell. The horses learn it very quickly.

[Carol Nelson]

Heck, yeah, I do treats too. All of our horses come running when we call ...all 21 of them. And all of them know their names...from the babies to the oldsters. It amazes folks who come to the farm. I don't give them treats every single time I go out there...but they never know when there might be something in my pocket.
I guess I've almost ceased to think of these animals as animals. When you live around and amongst them, you learn their habits and their personalities, and they really do become part of the family, and you of theirs. Back to your post about the party around the pool...you really are a part of their herd. :D

(an important part, I might add...you are the leaders!)

[dana]

You bet i treat! fleet farm's apple wafers. haven't seen a horse yet that can turn one down. and there is NOTHING worse than a horse that is hard to catch. Ughh!

dana

[Linda Y]

Treats!
Mine all come in from the field when I call, too. And I ALWAYS make sure that there is a treat of some kind in their feed bucket when they come into the stall.
I also treat them when I load them in the trailer. Catch plenty of flak about that, but so what?

[Terry Wallace]

I'm a whistler... but I bring apples if there are some on the tree.... sometimes I bring horse cookies...but mostly I just call or whistle them up without any food treats, to be petted or massaged in a favorite place.

[DebbieS]

When mine are in the big hilly pasture, I take treats out on the ATV in the evening just to make sure everyone is accounted for. The only problem is, Chex will RUN after an ATV when he sees one. Makes it kinda scary for my son and his friend if they are riding around in the pastures :roll:

I always give mine a treat when they get in the trailer, after I catch them and put on their halter, and right after I take off their halter when I turn them loose. Keeps them from turning and running off, which can be dangerous for the person.

[paintedhorizon]

That's so cool!!!

Yep, treats.

[TrueStepPaso]

Okay, all the horses at the barn I board at run to me and the two other boarders if we yell: " come on Boss, here Boss..."
It means they are getting dinner and its time to come in. The old farmer that owns the barn starting doing this 50yrs ago when he had 20 head of cattle, and they broke through his fence one night out of his 15 acre pasture. It was a nightmare to get under control he'll tell you.
Anyway, he decided that he'd condition them to a certain call, that way if they ever get loose again (which they did..yrs later), they'd come a runnin (which they did..minutes later). So, since the horses and cows are together...they ALL come a runnin.
Kira, my Morgan, recognizes my truck :shock: ...and she has come runnin heck bent for leather to the gate from across the pasture from the herd, for me. Gawd, I LOVE that horse! In my other barn I boarded at, I used to call her, and she'd come runnin from across three acres and leave her buddies....she just started doing that one day. It is always the greatest feeling.
I can't wait till my Paso loves me that much....*sigh*.... :roll:

[echo]

I take a handful of grain out in a bucket. Everybody EXCEPT General falls for this. For General, it has to be HIS bucket. When I dole out the meals, I put them in small buckets that are different colors so I can keep straight which horse eats what. I always take General's feed out in a green bucket at mealtime. If I go out to catch him any other time of day with a different bucket, forget it. If I take the green bucket, he will come. Everyone needs a smarty-pants like General your pasture to keep you humble and on your toes. Yes, I realize, I could change the buckets at mealtime. I do not, however, do mornings well, and if I change my pattern with the buckets I would have to put tape on them or something to identify them, or I would be feeding the fat horses the nursing mare's feed. :roll:

[Serendipity]

My horse are stalled most of the time they get turn out and when out the and its been awhile just come up to the gait there ready to come in.Calso out stallion does not matter where he is when I yell for him he comes running,They know its time to come in and dinner is in there buckets,Calso knows we alway go for a walk down the road and he look forward to that.