Best "tactic" for bad loader...

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Henry02

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Wondered what people's thoughts are for best "tactics" for a bad loader. Not really sure if horse is stubborn or scared, probably a bit of both. Stands happily on ramp, will not put feet into trailer. All ok with groundwork etc.

I have thought about standing in trailer with a book. Will my horse walk on eventually, not sure on that one!

I have tried a bit of constantly moving the horse on and off the ramp, that didn't seem to help an awful lot, it took a bit of shunting around on every "off" to get horse square onto the ramp for the "on" again (horse likes to reverse at an angle)

"Tickling" the side of a horse with a schooling whip doesn't work. Giving horse a bigger tap with the whip doesn't work either, due to previous bad experience.

Lunging over the ramp? Think one I've seen mentioned before, but not sure how this will work!

I don't have access to a round pen, or anyone to help me.
 
Has horse ever been in trailer?

If I know they're just being awkward I tend to make them work in a small circle at the foot of the ramp, very calmly and wait until they're keen to stop and load. It can take an hour the first time. After that I find it takes a couple of circles before they realise that the best place to be is in the trailer.

Having said that there's no one size fits all solution. The one thing you absolutely must not do is get wound up about it.
 
Invest in a Richard Maxwell halter, do plenty of groundwork with the halter before trying to load. It hasn't failed me yet, never make a fuss over it, and allow yourself loads of time, then repeat :)
 
Been there OP!!!!!!!

Was perfect to load and then we had a bit of an accident..

Aaaaaanyway. I put trailer in an out of the way area and just kept on leading through... first with treats and bucket.... the with just treats and big ol' fuss.

I know there is a myriad of advice out there and I'm sure a cowboy would not be as patient and get the bloody thing on there in a snip but, hey, I do have time and so we have worked it through.
 
Yup, it doesn't seem to work as well with planters! i think you need to find a way of keeping the horse moving, so perhaps working on backing up as well as going forward might help so the horse understands it can't just choose to plant itself and turning circles just as Jemimaskin suggested. I get the impression horse isn't frightened just taking the mickey.
Henry02 said:
Got the Monty Roberts one and have done the groundwork!!!
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I think it really is a combination of both. Horse is totally happy on ramp, not so keen on the trailer, and doesn't put any effort at going into the trailer
 
I had problems with one of mine, i used to get lorry in school, put a lunge line on him and put treats up the ramp, then id sit in the lorry with a cuppa and play on my phone, i just ignored him. Make it a nice place to be, he happily went on and off after a couple of days. Its not worth getting angry and forcing them to go on, it just winds them up and youl get no where.
All i hve to do now is stand him at the bottom of the ramp, if he wont go on when i ask him i just get a lunge line secure it to the side of the lorry and all my partner has to do is lift it up and he walks straight on, bless him, well worth the time and patience, hes a bit of a worrier.

Another little trick i was told about was to get some gravel, small peices and gently throw them at his bum, sometimes thats enough to make them go on. I remember years ago my pony wouldnt load when i picked him ujp from being schooled, so my instructor got a bucket of water and splashed his back legs with it, worked a treat.
Dont give in, good luck xx
 
It needs to actually have some benefit from going in, they are all different and being alone limits your options, I would go out for a long ride come home take the tack off and put its feed in the trailer in the hope that hunger will help, get a drink for yourself and sit it out, once he goes on make a huge fuss plenty of food then quietly take him off, usually I would repeat but it does depend on the horse and whether it is nervous or just taking the p***, it may be that you only get a step forward each day then stop and try the following day, if the groundwork is good it shouldn't take long to establish, you eventually need it to go in ahead of you then you know you have a good loader.
 
If they're just being stubborn, a prickly yard brush against their bum usually encourages them to go forward. Then stacks of praise/a treat once they're safely aboard. :)
 
meandmyself said:
If they're just being stubborn, a prickly yard brush against their bum usually encourages them to go forward. Then stacks of praise/a treat once they're safely aboard. :)
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The OP is alone so this is not going to work, which is why they really only have the option of working the front end and waiting it out, along with bribery or reward, loading alone is limiting the options, lunge reins etc cannot really work.
 
A long leadrope / lungeline, a pressure halter / bridle, endless patience and a bit of bribery.

I'd get both doors open (if you have a front ramp too) so horse can see a clear exit and isn't just being boxed in and get the partition out of the way if there is one.

Practice groundwork esp backing up, walking on, sideways and general yielding to pressure and when you're in a good place approach the trailer. Personally I'd have a bucket of something nice to offer and be prepared for it to take an hour or so on the first go. Keep asking for small tries, taking the pressure off the instant you get what you ask for and don't put so much pressure on that the horse freaks. Try to avoid the horse stepping backwards but if they spook and want to shoot backwards let them then circle 'round and represent.

Once on stand for a moment and allow to eat the nice things you brought then unload and try again. Aim to end the session at a point where going on with minimal hesitation. The key then is lots and lots of repetition int he following days and weeks until walking on the trailer is just something that happens.
 
I had a good loader who turned difficult. I spent two hours with her one day trying a variety of different things. One thing I didn't let her do was stand on the ramp if she wasn't walking forward any more. The minute she stopped I asked her to go backwards, that way I wasn't reinforcing the fact that she wouldn't walk on straight. What I also did was ask her to walk on, then stop her and push her back before she did it.

I was able to get the point after two hours where she loaded herself. I just stopped at the bottom of the ramp and told her to walk on, she went up the ramp and helped herself to the bucket of food hanging over the breastbar. Job done. :)

Good luck and hope you succeed.
 
Make the trailer as open as possible. Remove the partition, open the front ramp and stock up on treats. Lots of patience and reward each time they move forward. Take a look at the Michael Peace website for some videos.
At first just aim to walk straight through the trailer. Then pause on the trailer and treat. Then tie up and treat. Then shut front ramp (you see where I'm going, gradually introduce each stage once they are ok with the last one)
Mine went through a sticky stage so I put lots of work in over the weekend then gave her her dinner on the lorry every night for a week. By mid week she was looking for the lorry (and her dinner) when I brought her in.
 
I have tried loading when tierd... That didn't make a blind bit of difference, horsey is very greedy, but won't follow food into the trailer. Won't tolerate lunge lines behind either (tried that one and it was a disaster!)
 
Watching with interest being in the exact same position! Ive managed to load my horse once I the past few years and that was recently when my boss got behind him. My boss seems to initiate fear in horses without doing anything to them (im not saying this is good!) he actually lept on to get away from him. Totally impossible by myself or with any other help. Really soul destroying! Again mine's ground work is great.
 
Reinforcement training works well for planters - rewards for doing it, not a bribe or enticement, the difference is in the timing. Take several strides away from the ramp but facing it, then treat for a step forward, and another and another. Small treats to keep him interested, not a filling feed.
By the time you get to the bottom of the ramp he will have got the idea. Then ask and wait for another step - touching or even stepping on the ramp with a front foot. Then another - if he plants again, go back a few steps and do it over again. Soon he will be offering forward for the treat, and the stop onto the ramp will become both fronts, then both further up the ramp. He may well offer to go the whole way onto the ramp by now,, or even straight in - I have seen it happen. If he runs back, no big deal, just another opportunity to train it again. When you have him in and rewarded, unload him and do it again, a few more times. I sometimes hang a small feeder inside so it become a really nice place to be.
Then you just need to teach him to stand while you do up the breech bar/ramp etc - so treat him for doing NOTHING, just standing still, inside. Use your ingenuity to train him to stand and wait, and tolerate being closed in, for some that is stressful so desensitisation is the key. Good luck, it is fun and rewarding when it starts to happen for you.
 
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