Am I doing something wrong?

[ogdad]

I can never seem to calm a wild horse or even that veterans horse that ran off. Whenever i get to lasso one no matter how much I spam the calm button all of my stamina drains. If I dont hold down the right click button the lasso comes off

[HerculeHolmes]

Don't waste time calming it. Just approach the horse while lassoed, preferably from a distance your stamina meter can reach, and hop on.

[Porkhammer]

I never use my lasso to tame wild horses. I just walk towards them and call for them, and keep walking towards them, only pressing the calm button when their scaredy-o-meter starts draining. If possible I give them a pat before mounting them and taming them, but it's not necessary.

Then it's just a matter of holding left when they struggle right, and vice versa. Easiest thing ever.

[D.o.G.]

I've always used the "spam Calm" approach as I inched forward because the "meter" can fill pretty quickly. I completely stop when the horse goes un-calm and wait a bit before moving forward again. I'm probably too cautious but almost always get within "pet" distance. Even then there can be additional "Calm" needed.

Got the white Arabian on first-wild-horse try. So I'd say be overly cautious and "calming" until you get a few successful mounts. Then (on PC) I keep spamming calm. Never bothered trying to counter the direction and never bucked off.

Btw, if you lasso a real horse that bolts you'll either let go or get dragged. A 1/2 ton horse that can gallop pulling a wagon isn't going to magically be stopped from using you like a feather duster.