a question for non-horse people....

[lagilman]

How would you, faced with a horse loose outside, think to coax said horse into a stall, assuming the necessity of doing so?

(I know how I'd do it, but my character doesn't have access to my equine experience, which is making this tougher than it should be)

The method need not be simple, elegant or particularly graceful -- in fact, points if it's not, but it does have to be a) plausible and b) require only the one person to pull it off.


Anyone?


Thanks, folks. I think I've got a handle on how to work the scene now. How? Well, you'll have to read the book to discover that now, won't you? *innocent look*

Comments

[marinarusalka.livejournal.com]

My first instinct would be "bribe with food." Don't horses like sugar cubes and apples and stuff?

If it works for cats it ought to work for horses, right?

[thecityofdis.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't - I'm allergic to horses. ;)

[atimson.livejournal.com]

I'd also try to bribe it with food. That failing, well, if brute force didn't get it in the stall then I'm just not using enough. ;)

[(Anonymous)]

If it's outside its own regular stall shaking a bucket of oats will always do the trick

[equesgal.livejournal.com]

Just shake a bucket full of oats. Works every time.

[signeh.livejournal.com]

How loose is the horse? By that, I mean is it in a paddock, on a lawn, about to run onto a road or into a wood? How urgent is the need to get the horse stalled again? I don't know a thing about horses beyond reading Dick Francis, but I'd try the food thing first, if I had some. If that didn't work the other factors would come into play: I'd probably try to approach it from a direction that would urge the horse toward the barn, maybe even try to set up a few barriers first so that the bolting options were limited. If I had the time and materials and the horse was fairly tolerant, I might even barracade an erzatz stall around the horse while it ate whatever treats I could find - bring the shelter to the horse, if I couldn't get the horse to the shelter. I have no idea what I would do if the horse was determined to get away at all costs.

[kefiraahava.livejournal.com]

Not being a horse person, I'd be afraid to try anything physical with the horse that might get me stepped on, kicked, or bitten. Thus another vote for food bribery here.

[lagilman]

you, m'dear, are banned frorm answering this one... :-)

[jlassen.livejournal.com]

I'd search around for a big salt lick/oats/carrots/food of some sort, and make cooing/clicking noises, with a soft, anxiety free voice.

If that didn't work, I'd consider a shovel.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

I'd offer it a slice of pizza....

Okay, maybe not, but since my nearest encounter with an uncontrolled horse was when I watched a commercial for THE HORSE WHISPERER, I'd walk up to the horse carefully and quietly, giving off as relaxed a vibe as I could. I'd talk in a low soft voice, pet it if it didn't seem too nervous, and once it seemed calm enough, I'd try to gently take the face ropes (those are probably the reins, right?) and lead it back to the stall.

I have to say, I'd be afraid to feed it by hand. Horse have big teeth, don't they? I wouldn't want it to become an accidental carnivore. (Seriously.)

[jacob-day.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking try to lure it into the stall with a horsey treat (sugar cubes?) and then close the door behind it?

[lenasawyer.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid of them, have no real knowledge of them. Yes, afraid of horses. What? They are big! And I'm sure one will bite me, if given the chance.

That said, allowing for circumstances you described, I'd take a good look for some thing like a rope or reins hanging from the horse. Food, even grass if that's all there is, could be a bribe. A stick of gum from my pocket not so much, as it is small and much potential for biting is there. Hmm. Getting sort of behind it and making moving along gestures, while waving my hands, of course. Talking loudly, like that would be of such help, but still, has to be tried. As a very last resort, I would go up to it and touch it gently, talking softly, sort of try to get it to come with me - and probably get stepped on and my foot broken.

[bill-leisner.livejournal.com]

Does this method actually have to, like, work? Because my first instinct would be to just wave my arms and shout things like, "Hey, horse! Get in here!"

[jaylake.livejournal.com]

I'm horse.ignorant, and frankly the big bastards scare me a little (and yes, I've ridden a few times). I'd probably go find some carrots or apples and coax with food. If there were fences, gates, etc., I'd be sure to close off everything relevant which i could reach before launching this effort. Open range? I'd go find another plot point to gnaw on.

[kriz1818.livejournal.com]

Is the horse wearing a hackamore? Is it upset, or just wandering around? Has it just spent an hour running panicked through the woods and just found its way back to its paddock? Does it act aggressive, calm, nervous, or what?

I'm just sayin', these details are important. I'm not ignorant enough to try answering the way you need. 8-D That said, bribery *does* seem like the best option.

[hecateshound.livejournal.com]

Is the horse naked, or does it have handles? Because I would try to grab a handle, if there was one.

But you know, food. Doughnuts, a loaf of bread, some apples, a bag of cookies. I would try leaving a trail for the horse. Like breadcrumbs.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I'm voting with the food camp. It's how I was trained--it wasn't till I was an adult that I realized other families didn't summon their wandering dogs by waving slices of lunch meat.

[karolluis.livejournal.com]

Yep, gotta be food. Regardless of animal, I'd go for food first.

[badgermirlacca.livejournal.com]

Yeah, how tolerant IS this horse?

If it's a Dare, all you have to do is snatch up a handful of grass and wave it at him, and then keep moving ahead of him fast enough that he doesn't run you down trying to get it. Throw it in the stall and duck past him before he discovers that it's only one handful.

If it's someone ELSE... well, some horses will stand to be caught and some will take it as an invitation to play keep-away. If it's not wearing a halter and doesn't come running at the suggestion of food, I'd look for a rope of some kind and prepare for what could be a long chase (because someone not used to horses is most likely to try the direct approach, and you know how well that works).

[azang.livejournal.com]

I'd go into the stall and call it like a dog, clapping my hands.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Hat full of oats.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

That's how Lord Peter WImsey did it, anyway.

[merlinpole.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to remember what I tried doing (I have a relative who has horses, and one of them got loose and I was trying to help try to persuade it come back from running around loose, as she tried to prevent other horses from running off, without having it spook/spook more or run further away. I may have grabbed a handful of grass and waved it... eventually the horse calmed down and decided to be approachable and be interested in not running off further/more).

[lagilman]

Hush, you. See my original post -- looking for the horse-ignorant, to see what their first reaction would be. You, and Sue, know the drill already.

[lagilman]

and don't you mock my Dare-baby! :-D

[ilvack.livejournal.com]

Depends on where the horse is. I remember when my dad's horse got out, I tried to lead him in by spooking him with an ATV.

Or you could have the character try to get on the horses back by slowly lowering them down when the horse is near a tree, all the while trying to make sure the stick with grass tied onto one end doesn't fall out of your characters hand. Then, as the horse is wondering why on EARTH this person is on their back, dangle the grass in front of its face.

This works until the stick either slips and gets caught on the ground, promptly snapping the dried branch in two and scaring the utter Hell out of the horse. After about two seconds of crazed bucking, the horse kicks the character, off and runs back into the pen where it feels safest.

[jenosopher.livejournal.com]

I'd use a handful of grass or anything tempting (sweet talk) to get close, then slip a halter over its neck. If I didn't have a halter, I'd use my belt or something similar to fake a halter.

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

I take a handful of sand from my shaman's pouch and make a circle on the ground.
Then I summon dancinghorse from her sekrit desert palace!
Winner?
Yes?
Winner?
No.
:(

-=Jeff=-

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

My last horse experience was, like, 45 years ago. I'd try food, if available -- sugar lump, apple, nose-bag. Some equines _will_ go, if led by halter.

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

Is the horse scared? Is it near a place of danger, like a road?

If it was frightened, and not near a road, I would wait until it forgot what frightened it, then offer a treat, like a carrot.

I don't think I would walk up to any animal I didn't know. Biting, kicking, running further away. All these things come to mind.

Does it have a halter on?