Any professionals in Essex that can help with loading?!!

bonbeau

bonbeau

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Hi,

I am at the end of my tether, my mare will not load!
I have tried every trick in the book over the years, the only way I have loaded her in the past is by completely blocking the sides and behind her and she has given up and gone on, I have only done this to move yards so just 1 way trips, the shortest time she has loaded was just under an hour, this also involved a fair amount of man power.
The problem is I need her to be loading happily as I don't always have the option of blocking all escape routes and having 3extra people to hand especially as I want to take her out to compete so if I'm at a show in the middle of a field I'll be stuck!
I have been trying every evening this week for 2-3 hours, I'm afraid I'll do more harm than good as she'll just think she doesn't have to go on (although I have made sure she goes away from the box on my terms not hers when I've had to give up due to time/light going)
I've finally got myself a small box and the loading's the only issue stopping us from going out, if I can't get her loading happily I will have to consider getting another horse as I am putting so much time and effort into her and I want to go out and compete now, I've had her for 5 years so its not as if I haven't tried over the years.
So does anyone know a professional I could have to come out and work with us on this issue? I am in North Essex.
HELP!!!! :(
Thanks in advance.
 
dumbnag said:
Try Richard Maxwell, will cost but he will get it sorted!
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Thanks - yes prices start from £300 :s ....may have to see if there are any other options first as I have just spent al my money on the horsebox so don't have much spare at the moment!
 
Hi,
Not sure if you have tried this but recently sold my horse and we tried for ages to load him,all the usual tricks, as a last attempt we moved lorry on a slight hill so ramp was not as steep (was a big lorry/steep ramp) and covered ramp in straw..especially at the lip of the ramp..horse literally walked straight in..I couldn't believe it!
Obviously you don't want to be doing that at shows but maybe if it worked at home and gave dinner in box it might get her going in?
Hope it works for your horse!x
 
Hi yes there's a slight hill I've parked the lorry on, have tried straw years ago she's more stubborn than that!
I'm thinking I might take it to my parents yard as they have a very small steeper hill in the yard and if I parked next to that it will make the ramp fairly flat...but then I have to ride her there to practise and then if it's back to normal I don't know if she'll just refuse to load again, worth a try I guess.
My main worry is the more I try and fail the more she thinks she's winning!!
 
I would suggest serching for a local NH person to come out and help. They would help you to get your mare listening to you on the ground so you can control her feet and therefore her.
I met a new friend who has NH skills and she has worked wonders with my bolshy WB. She uses pressure and release - timing is everything for that and if he doesn't load or move forward she backs him up until he submits - doing this over and over. You need time and patience and good timing for the pressure release. It really works, but I would say pay someone to assist you.

There was a fab link on here to a Swedish NH lady who was just brilliant at loading and ground work let me find it.....
 
Thanks, I can get her up the ramp with pressure release I've done a lot of backing up, and forwards backwards, she's been great with it untill the next move is to put her back feet on then she just rears up and off the ramp.
Another person to assist will be great, someone professional rather than a horsey friend even though experienced some people try and do what they think is best and it doesnt work I just get frustrated hence why I want to be able to load her alone - we're missing out on so much becuase she won't load!!
 
Thanks everyone, much appreciated, I have a few numbers to try now so hopefully I can get some help and get this issue resloved and finally start enjoying my mare!
I will keep you updated!!
 
If she will do NH groundwork then I think you can persevere with your strategy, ignore bad actions and reward good ones with feed when you are on the trailer, otherwise reward with a stroke on the front of the face.
I got mine loaded with a bucket of oats, this was after quite a lot of feeding, but only feeding to reward forward thinking, I took two weeks [ten attempts] to get him to put four feet on the ramp. I did not try too hard, had a small, very small ambition each day, and I have to say it worked.
He had been moved several times from one place to another and in the end decided loading was a no no. I am confident I have overcome the hurdle, but he was never frightened, just stubborn.
Always use the same bucket for your oats, this replicates the "touch" and "reward" system. Be confident that it will work in the end. I used a deep bucket so he had to stretch out and in, with a small bucket he tended to try to grab the nuts too quickly.
She must always load straight on the ramp and not tripod the hind feet, if not straight or tri podding, you need to re-present. I did have a bit of "head up and run back", but I had him on a long rein, so I stood where I was and let the rein run out, when he walked forward again, I rewarded, and prepared to re present, make sure you never have an argument.
 
foraday said:
Get Max out!

He is in essex so won't cost a huge amount!

Totally worth it!!!!
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O I didn't know he was so close! Maybe I'll call and see how much he will actually charge, I know it will be worth it but I only have so much spare to play with at the moment!
 
I had Richard Maxwell out for £350 and its the best money I ever spent.

Whats the point of having your horse ready to go places and it won't load. Thats the situation I was in. Go for it. :)
 
Been here. With us it was basically (if I'm honest) down to her pushing my buttons and me allowing them to be pushed. I got a friend to help and she sent me off to do jobs while she dealt with the horse. In our case girlie would load after arsing about but then created when on board. I found it so stressful as I was afraid she was going to hurt herself that I was caving in and running back to her. My friend was cool as a cucumber and broke the cycle. If that hadn't worked id have been calling Richard Maxwell and I'm in Devon so it would have been v expensive. I got panicked by thinking if we needed emergency visits to horspital I wouldn't have been able to get her there etc etc.
Get a capable, strong willed friend and leave them to it!!!
Good luck!
Rx
 
MickeyMoo said:
I had Richard Maxwell out for £350 and its the best money I ever spent.

Whats the point of having your horse ready to go places and it won't load. Thats the situation I was in. Go for it. :)
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And does your horse still load fine now? I'm just worried I'll spend loads of money then a few months down the line I'll be back in the same position.
I tried again tonight and she was so much worse, I just get so frustrated and upset afterwards and starting to wonder what the point is!!
 
Get Max out, she'll only stop loading again if you don't do your homework! It will involve a lot of repetition on your part in the days after he's gone, 100% worth it. Cannot recommend him enough, there's a reason he has such a good reputation.
 
LouS said:
Get Max out, she'll only stop loading again if you don't do your homework! It will involve a lot of repetition on your part in the days after he's gone, 100% worth it. Cannot recommend him enough, there's a reason he has such a good reputation.
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Thanks, I spoke to a lady and she's sending me an email with prices and dates that he's available to come out and help us!
 
Hi all,

Little update - I didn't have Richard Maxwell out (mainly due to financial reasons, I know it would be worth the money but I don't have that much - especially as I have just got a new lorry!)) but I had a lady recommended to me and we managed to get her loading which was hard work and involved a lot of patience, then she was going on and off many times even loading herself. I practised afterwards on my own and she still loaded.
I was then very busy and didn't practise for a week and yesterday I tried and she was even worse than she was before!! Ok so maybe my fault for not doing it every day but I'm very busy and swapping lorries so didn't have the lorry at the yard etc etc.

Someone said perhaps I should try someone different, more of a natural approach (which is what I was expecting) although I'm feeling right at the end of my tether and wondering if this is just going to keep on happening if I can't practise constantly.
I went and got a new lorry at the weekend and instead of being excited I'm now feeling very down about the whole situation (and before anyone says - it really isn't the fact that it's a different lorry I'm trying to load on)
I had to empty my PM box but if anyone could send me some details of someone with a natural approach that can come out fairly soon and not cost the earth please let me know!!

Thanks!
 
You have answered your own question which is that you really need to be able to make the time to load your horse each day and every day for 3 months to sort your loading problem out once and for all. In other words feed your horse in the lorry once a day every day. It will eventually become routine and your horse will always happily and enthusiastically walk in.
 
No method will work if you aren't willing to put the time in after the visit, this lady has already helped you 'fix' the problem, but you have to put the homework in, it'll be the same with anyone else.
 
Another vote (all be it a little late) for Richard Maxwell, I had him out to quite honestly a horse that I thought was unloadable (think 5 hours after a lesson one day and even then we had to bring another lorry over that didnt have tack lockers). My understanding of his method is that after you have done your 10 day homework you shouldnt need to be loading every day, I certainly wouldnt risk leaving it months between loading mine now but we have managed (touch wood) with loading mostly once a week or so.

I am also Essex and was £350, quite honestly the best money ever spent the whole experience was enlightening.

Good luck - I know how frustrating it is!!!!
 
I am more than 'willing' to put the time in but sometimes there aren't enough hours in every day and I end up being very busy!
I would like to think that I will have time most days but its those days I might have to miss with the practising and its back to square one.

Thanks Prince and Pauper, I definitely want to go down the natural route, someone has pointed out that the lady who helped used a lunge line which left rope burns on both her back legs which probably hasn't helped as she's still associating that session with pain afterwards and not a nice experience!
If we get to the point where she is happily loading we will probably going out at least once a week so she will then have regular practise anyway and fun experiences.
 
I feel your pain, there's nothing worse than feeling like you're stuck at home and dreading even trying to fix the problem.

My boy loaded completely fine when we went to pick him up from the dealer but we had to take him to horsepital 3 weeks later and it took us 2 hours to get him on the box. He loaded fine on a loading ramp but for ages I was too scared to try again.

He needed to go to Liphook again a couple of weeks ago and I hired a horsebox and driver who was experienced in using IH methods to load. My boy's senstive but also has a willful streak when he wants to so I didn't want to just 'threaten' him on. Using a Dually halter, Jo got him on her box within 15mins going and 5 mins coming back, it was really calm and not stressful for either of us.

I'm down to go to Riding Club camp in 3 weeks and will be hiring a self drive. Jo's coming out the weekend before to do 2 hours of loading practice with us and fingers crossed we'll get on ok.

This is her details, not sure how far she covers but she charges £20 an hour for loading practice and then travel costs on top. Can't recommend her highly enough

www.neddystobbart.co.uk
 
ReggiePerrin said:
I feel your pain, there's nothing worse than feeling like you're stuck at home and dreading even trying to fix the problem.

My boy loaded completely fine when we went to pick him up from the dealer but we had to take him to horsepital 3 weeks later and it took us 2 hours to get him on the box. He loaded fine on a loading ramp but for ages I was too scared to try again.

He needed to go to Liphook again a couple of weeks ago and I hired a horsebox and driver who was experienced in using IH methods to load. My boy's senstive but also has a willful streak when he wants to so I didn't want to just 'threaten' him on. Using a Dually halter, Jo got him on her box within 15mins going and 5 mins coming back, it was really calm and not stressful for either of us.

I'm down to go to Riding Club camp in 3 weeks and will be hiring a self drive. Jo's coming out the weekend before to do 2 hours of loading practice with us and fingers crossed we'll get on ok.

This is her details, not sure how far she covers but she charges £20 an hour for loading practice and then travel costs on top. Can't recommend her highly enough

www.neddystobbart.co.uk
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Thank you very much I will have a look at her website. Do you know what area she is in? I have a Dually halter which seemed to help at first but yesterday she was just awful. People can't believe how stubborn she is, the lady who helped before said she had only had 1 fail before and she thought she may well be her second...I am up against a tough one which is all the more reason I want to do it nicely and have her being happy about it and not bullied on with any bad experiences.

Good luck with your practise!
 
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