Question:
How to catch a mule/horse that's very hard to catch?
olivia
2014-11-27 05:21:54 UTC
Well I got a mule as a training project and I've never had a situation. Like this. I got a call from the person I'm keeping it at that he got out she's not sure how, and I don't think she's lying but he's not running the streets or anything he just went up onto a large like acre and a half pasture. I have another horse on the premises and have decent roping skills but i don't know if that the best way to go about it. He dosent come to grain either he runs the other way. I had him for lie two weeks and he's been in a box stall the entire time.i just need some ideas.
Seven answers:
george
2014-11-27 15:25:12 UTC
I think I would of gone run about if I had been kept in a stall for two weeks solid ! You just can't do that. It's asking for trouble. If it's normally happy to be caught and wear headgear, you are going to have some walking to do. If it's not keen on grain you will need to take something more tempting especially if there's plenty of grass out where it is. Maybe carrots would do it. What I had to do with my horse when I first had him was follow him around the field for 45 minutes. This eventually came down to 30 minutes and reduced even more over time until he realised I was not giving up and I had no more problem then. But once you start walking after them you must not stop or give up. Pick a nice day weather wise and loads of time.
Snezzy
2014-11-27 11:09:21 UTC
Catching is a skill that requires unconventional thinking. If you chase after your mule he will go away. If you approach him with a rope for catching him, he will go away even better.



Here are some steps for catching:

1. Do not carry your rope. Instead hide it under your jacket or loop it around your waist.

2. Walk some other direction. Walk around the mule instead of towards him. Maybe walk around and around and around. Try to avoid catching him, and instead let him become curious enough for you to get right up to him.

3. Scratch his neck or pet his nose or something like that. Get him used to having you standing there. Only then, slowly produce the rope and put it around his neck. (Don't leave it hitched around your waist!!!)

4. Once you have caught him, take him directly to a feed bowl with a handful of grain (no more than a handful) that you have prepared beforehand.



Keeping him in a stall might not be such a good idea. Equines do like to be able to get out and run around.
Amazing Grace
2014-11-28 13:38:09 UTC
You can pretty easily build a trap out of 5-8 cattle pannels and have that trap open on to the paddock your mule has escaped into.

Put his water in the trap. No other water in the paddock. Leave, come back and check for hoof prints near the water. When you see hoof prints add a low pan with some grain.

Come back to check, feed will most likely be gone

After a little bit (day or two) of this you should be able to drive him into the trap and shut the gate.

Mule will now be in a much smaller enclosure and much easier to catch.



At this point it would be wise that you begin with advance and retreat before you just toss loop on him and drag him back to solitary confinement.
JoAnn
2014-11-27 17:23:18 UTC
Whatever you do, don't rope the mule. He will remember and not trust you again. Mules and donkeys have a different way of responding to the world than horses do so your training methods must change if you want success with them. You must earn and keep their trust. Mules in particular are very suspicious until you have proven yourself a suitable and safe leader. They can't be intimidated into things the way horses can be if you expect good results.



This mule may have been used for roping practice, in which case it will be difficult to recover his confidence, but probably not impossible if you are dedicated.



Start by reading up on clicker training, which is very useful for training mules and donkeys. Don't assume you know how to do clicker training unless you have a good grasp of the psychological theory and are willing to follow the guidelines closely, or you will wish you never started on it.



Once you have done basic target training with your mule in the stall, start leading him around in the stall with the target. When he is good at that, advance to having him face you on command when you are in the stall. When he gets that down, get him to come to you on command while still in the stall. Be satisfied with the slightest try at first, building to having him follow you around while you are in the stall. When he has that down take him to a round pen with a longe line, and repeat the following exercise without using the rope. The rope is there for a fail safe in case he reverts to old behavior of running away. Ditch the rope as soon as he has the following exercise down in the round pen. When he is solid, take him to an arena with a rope and repeat. Whatever you do, don't try to force him to follow you with the rope. Just use it to keep from getting kicked. When mules kick they don't generally miss unless they want to just warn you, and they will wait for an opportunity to prove their point when you are not expecting it. When the mule is solidly and regularly following you around calmly and willingly in the arena on command, then advance to a small pasture with the rope and repeat. You want him to enjoy the experience on your terms without mugging you ever.



Once you get your mule coming to you on command in pasture and you move on to riding or driving, whenever you bring him back to a barn after a workout make him stand tied for a couple of hours so that he gets good and bored. You don't want him looking forward to coming home, but you don't want to make him hate it either. While you are on your workout be sure to give the mule a treat for good behavior at every opportunity, and don't even think about doing endless circles or other boring stuff that horses love and mules hate. Once or twice is enough for a mule, and then move on. Keep your workouts challenging. Be a leader with your mule but don't micromanage like you might with a dressage horse. Give kudos at every opportunity and be your mule's cheerleader rather than slave master. Your mule will make you a much better, more sensitive and humane trainer if you let him.
anonymous
2014-11-29 17:30:25 UTC
Check out Rick Gore's video on YouTube, very helpful
CDog
2014-11-27 08:12:20 UTC
I would try using the other horse to lure him. If that doesn't work, resort to roping him. Good luck. Mules are very intelligent, and if he doesn't want to be caught, you will have quite the challenge on your hands. If it were my animal that was loose, I wouldn't be on the computer!
anonymous
2014-11-27 07:00:29 UTC
If he runs your going to have to round him up, its like a cow that runs, only one way to do it unfortunately..... Unless u got a thank gun☺(jokes)


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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