7 Month Filly Hard to Catch

Question
I just purchased a 7 month old Reg. QH filly who came from a place where they did nothing with her.  She had the same halter on from the time she was born.  I know she's going to be great but I brought her to her new home and didn't want her to be stalled and alone on her 1st night so I turned in her loose in a large paddock.  She does have a new halter on - that fits - but now I can't catch her.  It isn't' that she's doing out of being mean or nasty, she just doesn't understand.  Although the field is a paddock it is very large.  We are keeping her quarantined for 2 weeks from other horses just to be cautious so I can't put another horse with her right now.  Any idea on what steps I can take to catch her?  She has grass, water, and a salt block and now she doesn't have use for me.  Since she wasn't on grass before she has more interest in that than any grain.  Luckily the grass is only in small portions so I think she'll be alright.  But, I need help on how to catch a little baby in a large paddock.
Thank you!

Answer
Hi Nicole!

Believe it or not....you need to ignore her!  I know that sounds strange but, it's true.  The best way to introduce yourself into her herd is to do it in the language she understands.  In horse-herd talk.  To her, chasing her means she should run because you are angry and establishing dominance....telling her to say away or she will get a kick she won't soon forget.

So, what to do?  Establish a daily routine of slowly introducing yourself to her through just being in her presence.  Do not look directly at her ever.  Keep your eyes averted from her, your body fully relaxed and turned always slightly from her as if she is not even there.  Walk into the paddock and just walk around the edge of it slowly but, with a purposeful walk.  Don't attempt to interact with her but, don't avoid her either.  

Treat the paddock like it is your territory and you are "allowing" her to be in it with no threatening from you.  Do this for 5 min the first day.  Then, 10 min the second day and so on.  Begin to just lean on the fenceline and put up a foot and relax like you haven't a care in the world.  

One day she will begin to approach you.  Do not acknowledge her in any way...until she actually touches you first.  Then just gently bump her back with whatever part of your body she touches to let her know it's OK.  Things will go quickly from there.  You are now herdmates and the thread of trust has begun.

I suggest you read up on the Internet and Tack shops have books too about how to correctly interact with babies and then how to move them into ground training.  She is almost starting too late.  But, better late than never!  :-)

You did a good thing giving her a new home with a better life.  Allot of old-fashioned people would say "Just grab her and make her do it!"  I believe that we have better ways of communicating with horses now and that by speaking to them correctly we get far better long term results than by just using force for a moment of obedience.  Spending a little time and money now to correctly train her will give you both 20 years of a wonderful riding partnership!

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange