before i call richard maxwell....

I agree, that the pressure halter is the best method but PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE at home. I've just ordered a new trailer with loading stands on the back and have sworn to myself that I'm not even going to attempt to take my horse anywhere in it until he will load in calmly with no fuss or problems, over and over with our eyes shut (I'm expecting it to take a few weekends practicing as he hasn't been in a trailer for a few years). The worst thing in the world is cajoling them in, arriving late and stressed, then have to go through it all again after a show with any amount of know-it-alls standing behind you shouting instructions and tales of bad loaders (usually armed with brushes, pea gravel, lunge lines etc etc!!) I had a horse whisperer bloke to my horse when I first got him and it literally took him a day to even get him in with no partitions all ramps open etc, but we got there in the end althoug he was never as push button as I would have liked so am going to perfect it this time around with new trailer.
 
I went to one of Richard Maxwells demos a couple of years ago, he showed us how to load a problem horse, he was very good actually i was very impressed, the horse reared up and ran off at one point, he was very patient understanding with her and by the time hed finished she was loading like an angel.
My friends mare was quite difficult to load, so we bought one of his halters and had a play with the mare when we got back home that weekend. After a couple of sessions she was fine and now loads without a problem.
She was going to gets Max to come out to her if we couldnt do it, but she didnt need to call him in the end.
It is really all about patience and practice
 
I work with quite a few 'tricky' loaders as part of my freelance job as an instructor. I get a huge amount of job satisfaction from this part of my work. The way I work is with pressure on the head, either a bridle or pressure halter. This is backed up with whip taps on the shoulder of the horse which in effect makes the pressure on the head more aversive and the horse quickly works out what he needs to do to remove the pressure, ie go forward! This method I first saw in a book Horse Control - The Young Horse by Tom Roberts. Lately it is being used and developed by the Australian Horseman, Andrew Maclean. I don't think it has taken me longer than half an hour to successfully load a difficult loader for the first time, thereafter it gets quicker and quicker as the horse consolidates the practice.
 
just to clear a few things up...my mare is not scared of going in the trailer,she is just taking the P big time! ( she hasnt travelled much in the past ) i have got her on my lorry a couple of times but she was bridled at the time and had a lunge line on as well.
the one time the YO's hubby put a broom up her bum she did actually enjoy it and it was in no way traumatic for her!
i have considered parking the trailer by a wall ,fence etc but figured i wont always be able to park it by a wall, fence etc on a show ground so havnt explored that avenue.
im sure the watcher will work her magic on the stubborn moo, after all she did use to own the mare and taught her to load in the first place.
 
Just an update on the mare - pics are in Picture Gallery, yes she did go on, repeatedly. She took her time about it as the challenges built up (partition then breast bar) but there were no violent refusals and the only equipment used was a controller headcollar and a long lead rope. The controller headcollar was loose, only tightening up if she decided to pull back a little - and I can categorically say that in nearly all cases, this is the only equipment needed. We didn't hide her away somewhere quiet either, it was right next to the school with all the distractions of a busy yard to replicate show conditions.
 
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