At the end of my tether!

Hormonal Filly

Hormonal Filly

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If you have some time please read - (sorry its so long!)

Owned my 14.1 coloured cob nearly 4 years now. When i bought him he had no fitness whatsoever, unbacked, unbroken but always loaded lovely, would walk in without a headcollar and this continued for the next 2 years of owning him. Not to sure of his past, but he did have a 'side' and when he disliked something, eg, the farrier he would rear and show his 'power' but we have got over that with treats and paitence. He got stronger, fit and grew up alot, hes now 8. If you start getting loud or physical with him he'll turn into what seems a crazy, unhandled beast. My farrier has never met a horse like it and to shoe him the ONLY way we got around it (after lots of sedation and other ways) was treats. If i treat him, he stands like a diamond. - hes improved over 4 years but i still need to be with him and treat him every often, literally feels like hes taking the p*ss but at least he stands still. He was the same to be clipped but thats been sorted with ALOT of time and paitence by myself i can fully clip him out with no sedation. We have a strong bond, he'll groom me for hours and not want to leave my side. I honestly like to think he trusts me. Hes the best horse i've ever owned except these problems.

In the last couple of years he decided to 'try it on loading' he'd rear, throw his weight around. He would always go in the end. It may be due to me once travelling him in a old rice trailer which is noisey, but hes never had a accident so to speak. At events people would say oh, smack him, beat him, use a white drain pipe on his ass but we were NEVER were hands on, never beat him etc. I got him fully x-rayed by the vet (thinking it may be physical) whos said its just his behaviour, she actually came out a few times and worked him up, not lame after long flexion tests etc and she tried everything as well as xrays. I got him seen by multiple physios and nothing came out wrong. I mean this horse will jump a 3'3 cross country course clear and rides like a dream so nothing stands out. On the ground in general he is a pleaure to handle, is not bulshy in any way and has alot of respect (bar his few issues)
I asked for the help of a professional, practiced for months loading. The 'nice method' was not using lunge lines, just waiting on the ramp and letting him have a paddy, then after a hour he'd walk in. Making him go back and 'give and release' pressure. He got slightly better, i mean he'd walk in but always after a 20 min paddy first. We tried taking the partition out and i bought 2 long bars so he has more room (506 ifor williams trailer. fully checked by professionals yearly etc) but it seemed to make no difference. I actually think we have tried EVERYTHING. Dually headcollars, with another horse in the box/without, it makes no difference whatsoever, my trailers bright inside anyway, a big mirror, travelling backwards, forwards. He currently wears a rope headcollar as that worked best. Hes no better with a lorry either, if not worse. I have stopped using my front ramp as he use to try and get over the breast bar, so now i back him out the same way and he is 'better' slightly.

Today was the day we actually went somewhere to ride at the end of the journey.. journey was only 20 mins long as i know what hes like. Loaded him within 5 mins, had a little moment but great - i was chuffed. Got there and he went absolutely lovely around the cross country course, didn't go mad just steady over a few jumps for 40mins. Cooled off and after 20 mins we tried to load back home. Well, started nicely but after 10 mins he decided dragging me across the field at full speed (i amanged to hold on, imagine ice skating in a field feeling the rop being pulled off your hands!) add in rearing vertical and being a absolute **** was the best idea! I forgot my gloves (total ouch) so after a couple of nasty rope burns, yes, I did (for the first time) lose my temper at him after being dragged and yes he got a smack and was shouted at very loudly by myself. He was shocked I think, i wouldn't let anyone else tell him off but because it came from me I think it mean't something to him so think it was a shock to his system. I really just can't stand rude impatient horses. I'm always the kind and 'soft' type but by no means a push over. After about 10 mins, he carried on fighting yet didn't drag me again, then he started to give up, we let him stand still just looking at the ramp. Suddenly, while i'm stood there with a loose lead rein with blood all down my hands and a black swollen finger, he literally gives in and walks straight in.

After a paddy to get him in, he always has a little rear on the journey back, ONLY on the way back does he do this as if its a 'protest' we stopped as we could see him jumping up and down and hes just stood there looking at us. I left him on the box for 10 mins when we got to the yard and then backed him out. Cool as a cucumber, got in his stable and was happily eating.

I feel very close to selling him as untravelable or loaning him out to a home who just wants to happy hack.. thing is, he's got so much talent and he is so great to ride in every way, he could event at a higher level even though hes small, as hes got the potential but i don't want to have a horse I cant take anywhere. My other bay is 5, loads like a dream so know it can't be my trailer etc.
I feel like i've tried everything and have no idea what else to try. We are possibly moving to a local yard with all year turnout (have non currently!) yet no arena, mind the closest arena is 5 minute travel in the box but that will take hours with him.
Has anyone else ever experianced a horse like this? Please no cruel comments, i have spend so much time and money trying to sort this with no success. When do you give up?
 
a friend had a similar horse her horse and was endlessly patient with it. it had trouble loading after a fun ride and spent an hour rearing and dragging everyone around. a neighbouring rider got the end of a fork and whalloped the horse and it's loaded ever since. I get rescues in and im always soft and gentle with them, but sometimes the soft approach doesn't work with some horses, or they will only do stuff when it suits them. I would absolutely kill a a horse if it tried to drag me around or pulled some of the stuff yours does. 7/8 can be a difficult age and even the best ones DO try it on to see what the boundaries are. If physical issues are ruled out then i'd up my game sternesswise with him.

from what you describe you shouted at him, and then he loaded and behaved better. I have no issues roaring or booting a badly behaved cob, some of the need you to up your game so they respect you.
 
Thanks for your reply and reading the post - i didn't expect anyone too as it really is quite boring but really appreciate it! How would you suggest doing it? Give him a chance to load, if he doesn't then give him a good whallop? He gets really assey with any kind of whip near him let alone touching him and starts acting like a kite on the end of a lunge line so don't think a whip is going to help as he'll just fly around.
 
i had a tricky cob to load, and as i was doing it myself at home I wasn't strong enough to stop her if she carted me, and i didn't have an extra set of hands for the lunge line. i left the horse box with ramps down in a small paddock with little grass and i fed all hay and feed in the box. on the ramp at first and then inside. so any feed she got she had to walk into the box. the ramp was down either side so she could just stroll in and out.

the i'd put the front bar in and hook a bucket of feed over it and let her eat from that. gradually she just came to associate the box with dinners. then gradually we moved on to hitching it up and rolling forward slightly etc. then all first journeys were short and fun. now shes perfect. but when i load her i always have a bucket of feed hooked over the front bar and she automatically zones in on that.
 
Sometime you do have to get firm with them. My old mare was a pain to break, and happily carted me everytime we hacked. This was whether or not we were in company or alone.

Eventually one day, she started having a carry on, at the same place as always and took off. I stopped, her, turned her back and lost the plot at her. Pulling the reins, kicking shouting, the lot. She pretty much shrugged her shoulders, and went ' oh, if it p*ss*d you off that much, why didn't you say earlier' and honestly never did it again.
 
When you say you use a rope halter, do you mean a pressure one?

I owned a welshie who had to be led in a pressure halter or with lead rope round his nose. He was good as gold, but always reverted to barging off if I tried to revert to ordinary one.

I hope your hand isn't too sore, and I'd keep gloves in trailer from now on.

Fiona
 
Unfortunately I think your cob is taking the pee. As you have observed, when taken to task he gave in and did as required. I'd be inclined to just take no cr*p, use a lip chain and tap the horse on, several times a day to start with until there is no argument, no hesitation and consequences if he doesn't comply. I'm no advocate of beating horses (doesn't work anyway), but a strong tap on the hind end to ask for forward, a reward when he goes even one step, and a sharp reminder if he tries to take off or go up (this is what a lip chain's for - but get someone who knows how to use it if you don't). It doesn't sound as if he's frightened, just rude.

And ALWAYS use gloves, but I think you've learned that one.
 
Thanks everyone. He has a pressure halter and a rope halter. He ******s off in both to be frank but better with the pressure halter as he doesn't like the pressure applied to his face. I will wear gloves from now on, i don't think hes ever had such a paddy as he had yesterday - its killing today and fingers still black. I have just red a old forum post of someone who said use the forwards and backwards technique with a whip in one hand and if he refuses to go where you ask give him a tap on his hind end. I know exactly what he'll do - rear and run off. Even 2 full grown men can't stop him. Unless i try with a bridle on?
I have a friend whos just got in contact whos willing to help and is use to big shire horses, fingers crossed!
 
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I would use a bridle with a lunge line if his getting away with you and once they are facing the ramp I never turn them away they go forwards or backwards that's it, it's easier if you teach them the backwards forwards method first in hand, just go in the school use the same bridle or halter you would for loading and teach him to reverse and walk forward when you want him to, it's worked on a few bad loaders I have tried it with.
 
You need to be firm with him, not confrontational - think "this is the line you do not cross" rather than "how dare you cross the line", IYSWIM?

If you can't make him move forwards and backwards when you ask without him rearing and running off, then you need to address that before trying to load. He should be obeying you on the ground - that's just manners.

For a horse who is taking the mick I use rein back as the first option (refusal, immediate rein back, then option for them to go forwards into trailer/lorry). If they don't load then, I move to semi-lunge them around me at the bottom of the ramp - the point is to make them move forwards when I say so. I then take them straight from the circle up the ramp (so the forward movement is sustained). I use a rope pressure halter and a longish lead rope, and use the end of the rope to flick the hindquarters if they don't move forwards when asked.
 
I used an anti-rearing bit Years ago, on a particular horse that started rearing as soon as you got him anywhere a trailer. He had carted everyone around at some stage, and it was the only way we could get him in. After the first couple of times, he was great, wasn't a problem and would walk straight on. Stayed like that too if you had that bit on, but he sure did know if you tied loading him without it! Very cheeky he was.
 
Aimeetess said:
whip in one hand and if he refuses to go where you ask give him a tap on his hind end. I know exactly what he'll do - rear and run off. Even 2 full grown men can't stop him. Unless i try with a bridle on?
I have a friend whos just got in contact whos willing to help and is use to big shire horses, fingers crossed!
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I would certainly have a bridle on him or something to stop the rearing if he runs through the bridle. You need to be able to stop him from tanking off. As he will learn he can just use his force to get away from the situation. Once you can confidently stop him, then you can confidently ask him forward. Its not about beating him up, just asking him to move forward in a controlled manner. I think once you get to grips will the rearing and tanking off, it will be much easier to ask him forward in the first place.

My little one used to try to ****** off when you asked him to do something he didn't fancy. He quickly learned that he wasn't going to shift me and completely gave up. He now loads with a loose rope toddles on and off. Had him 5 months, loaded maybe 5 times, the majority of the work has been on the ground away from the trailer.

and gloves... omg gloves! You poor soul, rope burns are blooming agony! I load even my best travellers in gloves, just in case!
 
Cortez said:
Unfortunately I think your cob is taking the pee. As you have observed, when taken to task he gave in and did as required. I'd be inclined to just take no cr*p, use a lip chain and tap the horse on, several times a day to start with until there is no argument, no hesitation and consequences if he doesn't comply. I'm no advocate of beating horses (doesn't work anyway), but a strong tap on the hind end to ask for forward, a reward when he goes even one step, and a sharp reminder if he tries to take off or go up (this is what a lip chain's for - but get someone who knows how to use it if you don't). It doesn't sound as if he's frightened, just rude.

And ALWAYS use gloves, but I think you've learned that one.
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Agree with all of this. The moment I read "treats" I threw up my hands! I have very well behaved horses. Ask anyone. I have never given them treats, except when they come back from exercise or training, THEN they get rewarded. Any horse needs to have respect and a herd leader, which should be you. There is always a way around strong horses, I've learn't to think outside the box as I do everything on my own. A dually, lip chain or chifney would be my first port of call. Your voice, followed up immediately by action, is your biggest asset.
 
We bought a pony from a friend, we always did PC together so we thought we knew him well. He would sometimes try not to go in the trailer, if there was a man there he would walk straight in.
My daughter was slight at the time, he would eye her up and say no. If my husband was there he would walk on. On a bad day, if I was on my own with daughter, we had graduated to a 7.5 lorry, he would have a bridle on, wipe me out on the sides, run over me, and then would travel like a good'un.
In the end we worked out he had separation anxiety, plus had worked out what he could get away with. I always loaded him in a bridle, just in case, and had a spare pony I would load first. He would then practically load him self.
The last couple of times I travelled him he went in a 3.5 lorry, on his own and walked straight in, but you could almost see him working out the odds of getting away with it.
It was his only real fault, no pony is perfect. The last schoolmaster welsh A we had four Newmarket racehorse transporters could not get him the trailer, they walked off defeated and we literally winched him in with lines, thank god he was not 14.2, after that you only had to clip the lines to the trailer and he walked on.
I do not like hitting them but a nice bristle brush up the bum can sometimes encourage forward movement.
 
Second what the others have said. I had a horse who wouldn't load (as in 3 hours trying to get her in, rearing on the ramp and putting a hole in it...) but we did eventually get her going in. I had her in a chifney and a dually, with a lead rope on the chifney and a lunge line on the dually, we didn't use any sticks or lines behind her because that made her worse. I spent hours and hours teaching her to go in, it is a patience game and will take time to get it consistent. If she tried to pull back from me she would get lunged in a tight circle at the bottom of the ramp, then asked to go on again. As long as she was either standing still on the ramp or moving forwards, everything was loose and nice. Of course you can't just leave them standing still, but it helped her to just take a minute to breathe after she went forwards. As time goes on, just up the expectations and allow less time standing before asking them to move forward again. She would eventually just walk in. Once she was in and standing in place, then and only then did she get food. Rinse and repeat multiple times a day, as often as possible, for a few months and she'd walk in either straight away or within 5mins in a plain headcollar (though we always took the chifney/dually combo with us just in case, but I don't think we ever used it after that) Had another who would go in as soon as someone with a broom came anywhere near him :p (we never hit him but did shove his bum with it a few times)
 
paddi22 said:
i had a tricky cob to load, and as i was doing it myself at home I wasn't strong enough to stop her if she carted me, and i didn't have an extra set of hands for the lunge line. i left the horse box with ramps down in a small paddock with little grass and i fed all hay and feed in the box. on the ramp at first and then inside. so any feed she got she had to walk into the box. the ramp was down either side so she could just stroll in and out.

the i'd put the front bar in and hook a bucket of feed over it and let her eat from that. gradually she just came to associate the box with dinners. then gradually we moved on to hitching it up and rolling forward slightly etc. then all first journeys were short and fun. now shes perfect. but when i load her i always have a bucket of feed hooked over the front bar and she automatically zones in on that.
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Sounds like you've done a great job! You've made it no big deal at all :)
 
Tassie girl said:
I used an anti-rearing bit Years ago, on a particular horse that started rearing as soon as you got him anywhere a trailer. He had carted everyone around at some stage, and it was the only way we could get him in. After the first couple of times, he was great, wasn't a problem and would walk straight on. Stayed like that too if you had that bit on, but he sure did know if you tied loading him without it! Very cheeky he was.
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Same! I've got a 14.2 gelding who if he hasn't got some sort of metal in his mouth will turn and walk away dragging 1,2,3,4,5,6 people behind him and we would have no chance. Rattle of metal and he's on!!
 
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I have never had to cope with a really naughty horse, but remember three things.

1. If you are not in charge, the leader, then a horse will take over as they don't feel they can trust you so they take charge.
2. Every time you handle your horse, you are training it.
3. The boss horse always moves the others' feet, so if he is dragging you around he is certainly being boss.

Good luck!
 
A recurring theme that I've heard over the years from good horsemen and women is that horse training basically boils down to stop and go. If you have a problem like this, basically you need to be training the horse to always go forwards when you ask and stop when you ask - on the ground, coming in from the field in the saddle, everywhere. My current gelding will try it on if possible - he will fidget at the mounting block, step forward with one hoof when I ask him to stand, wriggle if I stop to pick up a whip if I let him and every single one of those things I have to correct him, put him back where he was, ask him again and insist until I get it. Otherwise he takes over and we have had napping issues out hacking, but the problems go away if I insist on him being well mannered everywhere. He also can't have treats ever, as it makes behaviour worse. Doing all this he is nice and polite and loads first time, even though he had a lot of problems loading with his previous owner. This despite us never having doing any loading work. For him, it's a dominance issue, which is different to a horse that is afraid because of a bad travelling experience, though.

I would agree with those who say that you need something in which you will be able to stop him or he is a danger to himself and those around him if he tanks. You've obviously put in a lot of time with this, well done and I hope you find a solution very soon.

Just an aside, have you tried him in different transport? I know some horses have trouble in a one particular trailer or lorry and not any others.
 
I have a big cob cross who can be bargy and rude. When I first bought him I had some loading issues but I quickly learnt how to deal with him. I found he has a very fine line of much pressure he'll take before he throws his toys out of his pram big time. I load in a bridle to stop him dragging me around. If he doesn't walk straight on I give him a minute or so to sniff the ramp and suss out the situation then I start to apply pressure. This starts with me applying pressure by taking a strong contact and expecting him to follow me onto the trailer. He may take a couple of steps back and I'll ask for forwards again until he walks on. If this doesn't work and at this point he may start to try and drag me around I will ask someone to walk behind him and just clap or just hold a schooling whip so that he can see it. This is usually enough to make him realise I mean it and he then walks on calmly. BUT if you apply too much pressure i.e. hit him with ANYTHING he panics and will try to drag me around and there is no way he will load in that state of mind. I then have to wait until he has calmed down and start the process again. These days he'll mostly just walk on after a couple of mins thinking time.
 
I got a behaviourist out to one of mine a couple of years ago who would rear up and run off if something doesn't suit... you reckon yours will do the same.

Behaviourist got a rope headcollar, and extra strong lead rope, extra long. Wrap rope around something immovable i.e. A tree trunk a couple of times. Do whatever horse doesn't like, then when it tries rearing up, pulling and yanking back it's not getting the reward it has done previously.

Might not work and no doubt plenty of people in here will say it's cruel and mean
 
wench said:
I got a behaviourist out to one of mine a couple of years ago who would rear up and run off if something doesn't suit... you reckon yours will do the same.

Behaviourist got a rope headcollar, and extra strong lead rope, extra long. Wrap rope around something immovable i.e. A tree trunk a couple of times. Do whatever horse doesn't like, then when it tries rearing up, pulling and yanking back it's not getting the reward it has done previously.

Might not work and no doubt plenty of people in here will say it's cruel and mean
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I don't know why you'd have a behaviourist out to do that, only common sense after all! Years ago I had a welsh cob who would bolt when long reined. I thought outside the box, put a rope around a large oak tree, with a carabinier clip on it, and a leadrope to the cob tied to that. Everytime I picked up the long reins, and he took off, he just when around in circles. it took him about 5 mins to suss that he's better just get on with it.
I learnt a lot about out thinking welsh cobs!
 
I had a friends horse to teach to load as she couldn't get him in. After trying him and him refusing point blank, I stabled him overnight with no food, and the next morning armed with a bucket of feed in one hand and horse in the other he literally ran into the lorry. 3 times! I then knew that he was opinionated and not scared. So I got tough with him. Chifney, lunge rein and lunge whip to tickle his heels. He soon gave up and decided it was easier to do as asked. I think others are spot on in suggesting your cob is taking the mickey. I also would not be titbitting to avoid situations. I have also winched in a naughty Welsh cob who would not load. After 2 sessions she also realised that she could not pull us around and became an easy pleasant loader. Get tough as in every other way you obviously have fun.
 
He's anxious. YOu need to teach him its not something to be anxious about. Load him every day for a month and feed his dinner on the box, wear a pressure headcollar so you can't be dragged but don't up the energy by shouting/smacking - he will simply see this as you making the trailer area scarey.
 
I agree with SusieT he is anxious - it might not appear to be the case but I feel sure that it is. I have no idea where you are but I can really recommend Grant Bazin, he is based near byfield in Northamptonshire. he really helped me with my boy - he is very quiet which my boy needed but insistent. I have used his ideas - he worked with monty Roberts and have since adapted them to suit my horse (if you pick a fight my horse can prove that he can get much, much crosser than you can ever = at 17.2 he is very large if he decides to wave his legs in the air!!). I have learnt that my is not saying no, rather he is saying I need more time to think - crucially I now give him that time and don't pressurise him (this would not work with every horse - but it works with mine). I allow him to stand and look, back off if he feels the need and usually (not always - he isn't perfect - but who is) he loads - I take him out on my own, everywhere - he hates people he doesn't know watching - to the point that he won't load until they have gone away and left us. horses are usually trying to tell us what they think and how they want to do things - the trick is to pick up the signals and be able to understand what they want us to do. I have spent many hours being frustrated by my horse (I have had him for years) but when I listen he does load
 
A lot of what you've said rings bells with me. My Connie is very similar in that he needs firm, consistent handling with boundaries, but push too hard and he'll object in spectacular style. Case in point - I got angry with him the other day for not tying quietly whilst I was mucking out. He behaved, but got his revenge by refusing to go into the stable, pissing off in hand and galloping around the farm at 6am. I walked off, came back 10 minutes later and he allowed himself to be caught and I swear he looked at me as if to say "have I made my point?" Problem is, when they are strong and have learned to tank off like that there's no stopping them (I usually try and end up pulling all the muscles in my shoulders).

When we first picked him up he was a terrible loader. He tanked off three times in hand from his 16yr old owner, ran around the yard and caused havoc. It took my husband who's a vet and has years of horse experience, two lunge lines and a wing and a prayer to get him on. My husband thought he'd improve loading with firm handling but he actually got worse - rearing, tanking etc. The last straw was having to sedate him and drag him on to go home. I called Chrissy Stacey (also Northants based) and we spent hours with him in a Richard maxwell halter with the trailer in the school. Chrissy was fantastic with him - firm, but never to the point of triggering his more ridiculous behaviour. We diagnosed that he didn't mind the trailer or travelling, what upset him was being in there on his own (he has separation anxiety issues with turnout). So although his behaviour was very confrontational, it was masking an underlying fear.

He now loads really well, although I never take the chance and stick to the routine of rope halter, food on the trailer (not to tempt on but as a reward), long rope, lots of "back up" and "come forwards" first and multiple loads at each end I.e. on, eat, off, repeat several times before leaving, same on arrival, same on leaving and same on arrival home.

I wish you the best of luck in getting this sorted. I know how incredibly frustrating it is x
 
Hi,
Thanks for your comments everyone. To the people who have said to wait until he walks on, I've done this for years and it can take hours. Do it daily, hours. He never gets it and just makes it longer everytime! He has loads of manners except loading and his other precious problems. I do agree though treating was a bad idea but without it I don't think I'd of ever been able to get him shod let alone his feet trimmed.
I have a few people who have messaged me so fingers crossed!
 
But it's not that he's not getting it - you're not teaching him that its that good and not scarey that its easy
My bet is you are still making him see it as a 'struggle' so that's why he never 'progresses'- don't blame the student blame the teacher (ie owner!)

Sorry!
 
SusieT said:
But it's not that he's not getting it - you're not teaching him that its that good and not scarey that its easy
My bet is you are still making him see it as a 'struggle' so that's why he never 'progresses'- don't blame the student blame the teacher (ie owner!)

Sorry!
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Ok - Your recomendation was to feed him in the trailer, i fed him in the trailer a million times. He will happily stand in there and be locked in, once the trailer/truck moves, as in, he knows hes going somewhere is when the problem starts and re loading will take hours. I do agree maybe it is me but a horse thats just reared in your face a million times and bolted off dragging you, its very hard to not get angry at. I have never loaded him every single day, so could try that yes, but i have 3/4 times in a week, it will still take so much time everytme i try and load, which I don't have everyday the time to do working full time and having another horse.

I have just bought another 'proper' dually so am going to try that and use a lunge line on it, maybe tie the lunge line around the trailer breast bar and just let him realise he can't ****** off with me and let him have a paddy without being pulled around so i'm the one in charge. I just don't think he'll ever be 'good' at loading, maybe i'll get him better but away from home hes awful and its so embarrassing. People tellnig me to whip him, hes taking the piss, do this, do that. It really upsets me because no one knows what hes like. I know him so well and know whipping him will make him worse.. he freaks out, I really hate travelling him as its so unpredictable but he has so much talent, i'm so close to selling him or loaning him out as untravelable. The only other option i haven't tried is a big 'man' to get him loading, my other half is only small so wondering if a tall broad man would help.
 
Aimeetess said:
Ok - Your recomendation was to feed him in the trailer, i fed him in the trailer a million times. He will happily stand in there and be locked in, once the trailer/truck moves, as in, he knows hes going somewhere is when the problem starts and re loading will take hours. I do agree maybe it is me but a horse thats just reared in your face a million times and bolted off dragging you, its very hard to not get angry at. I have never loaded him every single day, so could try that yes, but i have 3/4 times in a week, it will still take so much time everytme i try and load, which I don't have everyday the time to do working full time and having another horse.

I have just bought another 'proper' dually so am going to try that and use a lunge line on it, maybe tie the lunge line around the trailer breast bar and just let him realise he can't ****** off with me and let him have a paddy without being pulled around so i'm the one in charge. I just don't think he'll ever be 'good' at loading, maybe i'll get him better but away from home hes awful and its so embarrassing. People tellnig me to whip him, hes taking the piss, do this, do that. It really upsets me because no one knows what hes like. I know him so well and know whipping him will make him worse.. he freaks out, I really hate travelling him as its so unpredictable but he has so much talent, i'm so close to selling him or loaning him out as untravelable. The only other option i haven't tried is a big 'man' to get him loading, my other half is only small so wondering if a tall broad man would help.
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It's all about time and endless patience, and not getting emotional about it. Getting after a horse with a lunge whip, broom or whatever will only work one or twice. The important thing is that he moves his feet when you ask, and keeps square to the ramp. I usually load everything on my own, and have a system of a lunge line clipped to the off side of bridle or whatever, coming around the backend to my right hand. Lead rope on nearside. I then ask to go forward from the backend rather than pulling at the head. The front end can be directed by the lead rope. The trouble is that your horse has discovered that he can just tank off with you, so that's the first thing that must be addressed, even if you don't want to load him. Ask for one step at a time. If he offers you two or three, make a fuss of him with your voice only, then back him up several strides, and ask to come forward again. As long as you can hold him on the back end, and keep him straight, he will go. But it may take time, and you or your helpers may not be strong enough to out wait him. If you say its after a journey that he becomes awkward to load, then I would be taking a long, hard look at your trailer floor, and whether you have a stability issue. I take it that when you load, you have the jockey wheel down at the front, and stabilisers/feet down at the back? That can make a big difference, especially if he's a heavier type.
 
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