FoxTrotx
Well-Known Member
Finally managed to get my trailer out today as the ground has dried up sufficiently ( I got my car stuck on the grass last time I tried 
) to do a bit of loading practice.
I don't think my girl has ever been the easiest to load and finds the whole thing a bit of a ordeal, it doesn't help as she's generally a 'stressy' horse at the best of times. Before today I'd got her onto the trailer twice, the first time it took 3 hours, I let her have her dinner on there then got her off. The next time took about 45 mins we went to a local show, had a whale of a time and got back on the trailer within 10 minutes. I tried to load her a couple of weeks later but she just said no. The end result was 3 removed shoes, a snapped leadrope and rope burnt hands even through gloves. I didn't try and load her again after this as I don't like seeing her in such a state.
Until today
. She clocked the trailer as soon as I pulled it out so pranced about the field like a mad thing. She normally comes over and puts her head in the headcollar, she walked away from me today so obviously knew my cruel plan. I caught her and she pranced alongside me snorting like a 20hh dragon (she's 17hh so big enough without such antics). We had a look at the trailer, decided it was still scary, but then the most unexpected thing happened.....
I walked her up to the ramp and she walked straight on with me! I walked her on and off (off the front ramp, so lead her through it really) a few times then put the front ramp up. She was just as good. So I decided to try her with no rope. She promptly ********d off at a gallop and proceeded to race up and down the fence like a maniac (on grass, thankfully). Think she just wanted to blow off a bit of steam because she came back calm and ready to load with no rope, just by following me up the ramp
We loaded and unloaded many times without me even touching her, she just followed me. Bit of a pointless post but I'm really proud of her.
) to do a bit of loading practice.I don't think my girl has ever been the easiest to load and finds the whole thing a bit of a ordeal, it doesn't help as she's generally a 'stressy' horse at the best of times. Before today I'd got her onto the trailer twice, the first time it took 3 hours, I let her have her dinner on there then got her off. The next time took about 45 mins we went to a local show, had a whale of a time and got back on the trailer within 10 minutes. I tried to load her a couple of weeks later but she just said no. The end result was 3 removed shoes, a snapped leadrope and rope burnt hands even through gloves. I didn't try and load her again after this as I don't like seeing her in such a state.
Until today
. She clocked the trailer as soon as I pulled it out so pranced about the field like a mad thing. She normally comes over and puts her head in the headcollar, she walked away from me today so obviously knew my cruel plan. I caught her and she pranced alongside me snorting like a 20hh dragon (she's 17hh so big enough without such antics). We had a look at the trailer, decided it was still scary, but then the most unexpected thing happened.....I walked her up to the ramp and she walked straight on with me! I walked her on and off (off the front ramp, so lead her through it really) a few times then put the front ramp up. She was just as good. So I decided to try her with no rope. She promptly ********d off at a gallop and proceeded to race up and down the fence like a maniac (on grass, thankfully). Think she just wanted to blow off a bit of steam because she came back calm and ready to load with no rope, just by following me up the ramp
We loaded and unloaded many times without me even touching her, she just followed me. Bit of a pointless post but I'm really proud of her.
