Hey, I'm for whatever works.  If it takes a treat or saying cookie cookie to get em to not walk/run away, so be it. Although this horse might get wise to the fact eventually, if you don't give her a cookie when you do say those infamous words....lol

All my horses get a treat every morning.  I leave for work at 4:00 a.m.  I make sure everyone is "eating" before I head down the highway.  Their always waiting by the barn door for their early morning treat. If one of them doesn't take one,,,,,,,,well we got a problem.  They get their hay later when the husband leaves for work, but this gives me peace of mind. The husband is less in-tune with the herd than me. I won't know of a problem until he's halfway to work and I'm 45 miles away sitting at my desk. ( I do love him though ) Now do I have problem with horses nipping at me for a treat?   One elbow to the nose gets the message across, and in my case its only taken me one time only per horse to get the message across.   Once in a blue moon one will try me,,,,,,,but that gets corrected quickly. I think they just want to make sure I'm still on my toes.  My herd of seven, have never bitten anyone for any reason I'm proud to say.

Now, you know there's gonna be some folks here that will be against the treat thing................so prepared....

Have a great day!

I wish I could whistle! Most of my horses will come when I call them in corral. It's a different story in a mountain meadow, with lots of grass under foot.

Years ago, when I bought my first horse, he was a beast to catch. As an inexperienced horseman, I left a lead rope on him so I could catch him. An old cowboy came by and saw the rope and took it off. He saught me out and taught me how to catch my horse.

At first I'd take some grain out. The gelding would sneek a bite of grain, but wouldn't let me put a rope around his neck. So we'd take out some baling twine wadded up in my hip pocket. put the grain bucket in front of him and as he ate, just touch his shoulder and nose. Any movement toward his neck and he was gone. As he would reach to get his grain, I would lean back and even move back. The horse had to move forward to get his nose into the bucket.  After a time or two of this the gelding soon allowed me to touch him. I would then feed the grain with the twine balled up in my hand. And slowly slip it over his neck. The gelding was halter broke. He knew when he felt the pressure over his neck that he was caught.

Now days, I just pursue the horse until they tire of the chase and stand for me. A horse or two in my herd my resist getting caught when I pull up with the trailer. They may head off for the far end of the pasture. I just keep them moving not allowing them any rest. Finally they will stop and allow me to halter them.