Best training methods for a horse that WILL NOT load without a battle?...Ggggrrrr!

Kerelli I too would love to know your method - we have stubborn full of attitude welsh who can walk straight in the lorry one day and take hours the next - most annoying when you have competion/lesson times to stick to and very annoying at the end of a long day ... good job he does his job well otherwise I would have given in.
 
I saw the natural horsemanship from programme on Horse and Country TV a couple of years ago on loading, at the same time I was having issues with loading.

I was very surprised how much pressure they put on when the horse was not moving. The best way of describing it is lots of contant firm tugs rather than the gentle pressure that I had done in the past.

They also used a lunge line so no matter what your horse did you did not move your feet.

So I tried what I had seen and it worked wonders.

I am not the biggest NH fan, but I have to say this really did work well.

I am sure you can watch the programme on line still?
 
SpottedCat said:
One thing worth trying is to park the lorry up in a field, then lunge, hard, at the bottom of the ramp until they are begging to come back to walk. Ask them to walk up the ramp and offer them the lorry as a place to rest. If they hesitate/jib, straight back out on the circle working again. Repeat until they get the picture - the lorry is a nice restful place to be, outside of the lorry is really very hard work. I can guess Ks method tho, and would hazard that it gets faster results ;)
Click to expand...

This is pretty much what I do, worked everytime with some tough loaders, is very safe as no forcing the horse in the lorry and does not require an army of helpers or specialist equipment. I have also always found you generally only need to do this once and they load fine after that.
 
Wow you guys should have all gone to watch Jason Webbs demo at Hadlow last night....had a section on bad loaders and sorted out a horse there and then infront of us all. I cant really explain it all on here what he does but it's very good.

Ive used him for 2 of my horses now for various reasons.
 
Once had this problem with a young horse that would eventually load but tended to walk in and back straight out again.

Finally we placed the truck against a raised area which meant we could have the ramp flat with ground. Horse went straight in.

We decided that he was confused about turning once inside the truck and so went backwards instead of turning.

We practised whenever we could and eventually he got the hang of turning and would load straight away.

I currently have one that refuses to turn right at the top of the ramp - my truck is a side loader and the horses travel facing the back. This horse has to be loaded first, turned to the left where his nose is squished into the back wall, they ramp is put up and he is then turned around to face the back. Once there he is more than happy to travel that way. Just refuses to turn right!
 
no time to read whole thread at work, but have you tried a blindfold, get him to point of one foot on ramp then wrap towel over eyes.

have to do it with CS every time, and every time as soon as towel is on he sighs and plods up ramp like a little lamb, then travels like an angel. weirdo! just CBA to fanny around when it works so easily.
 
It's been fun reading everyone's methods! One sure thing is that there is no universal answer!
My method has been - no pressure on the head at all, funnel the entrance with jumps wings, edge of wall, another lorry or anything solid,this has made my horses realise they cant swing their quarters round and has a psychological effect. Then use a lunge line clipped to one side of lorry on the quarters and a really strong haul until they get the idea, an 18 stone OH always useful at this point :D:D:p It's worked for me, if my current boy is a little reluctant a friend just standing with the lunge line has him marching in.
 
Mine has been cajoled, pushed/shoved (not easy as a well-built cob!); bribed, lunging whip stuck up his @rse, you name it we've tried it. He's jumped over and into hedges/ditches, whatever, to avoid loading. Always a trailer was a problem.

Then we loaded into a lorry - no problems and he now jumps up there like a cricket without fail!

Also had a NH practitioner to show me how to do the groundwork with him using a pressure halti. You really need someone to show you how to do intense groundwork like this coz it you get it wrong you're doing more harm than good.

Now, today, he loaded into a trailer fine!!! Just walked in, no problems, and this, I think, is because we did the groundwork and spent the time and effort plugging away at it.

That said, there's always horses that will take the p!ss, particularly like one we saw at a show recently where they were the last ones on the field at the end of the day and blimmin thing just wouldn't load no-way, we felt so sorry for them.

Blimmin horses!
 
I do think lots of the NH type stuff is good for this.... tho if you've never got into that before, I wouldn't just dive right in and try it with a loading issue, I'd go off and see a few NH clinics first. Bear in mind also that even with NH there are quite a few variations on how the trainers do things and how much pressure they are prepared to use (IMHO, some do go way too far). Happy to pm you if you'd like a few possible names.

Alternatively, not to go all bunny hugger on you, but you could turn to a spot of clicker training?
 
If you've tried everything else then I'd recommend a Be Nice halter

I've reformed my bad loader in one session

Same as the pressure halter you are using, but more beefy - basically you put pressure on and release the instant they move and put in a good training session (without going anywhere). I also use a 3m lead rope

Remember never to look at them or block the entrance.

Works well as no flapping, sticks, second person required.

If they shoot back out the minute they are in you have ropes ready and attach so they learn once they are in, they wait for you (but never travel clipped to Be nice)
 
i agree with pudding and pie. everyone wants to know your method and if it is so failsafe why are you not posting it ? ! my mare can be awkward and the only thing i have found is putting her feed in the lorry. her world revolves around food and eventually you can see her stomach give in over her head. i just stand quietly part way up the ramp with a cup of tea and wait ! never more than 20 minutes. shes fine coming home its just leaving to go shes awkward.
 
Me to please Kerelli?
Scoobys a little shite, if you try a lunge line or something behind him he'll rear cus he's a wass, vu he's not scared of a lorry!
 
Could I have your methos too please K?

I have the most stubborn WB known to man, except if you demand too much (or try forcing at 17hd!!!!) he becomes a huge drama queen. Very happy to load second, will usually load after about 1/2 hr to go somewhere and on the way home its is anything between straight in or a 1hr drama session!!

Pleeeeeaaase share your gem.
 
Another here who'd like to know Kerilli's method. Can either she, or someone who's already had it pm it to me?

Out of interest, those with bad loaders, how are they to lead? Do they lead reliably?
 
VGM said:
i agree with pudding and pie. everyone wants to know your method and if it is so failsafe why are you not posting it ? ! my mare can be awkward and the only thing i have found is putting her feed in the lorry. her world revolves around food and eventually you can see her stomach give in over her head. i just stand quietly part way up the ramp with a cup of tea and wait ! never more than 20 minutes. shes fine coming home its just leaving to go shes awkward.
Click to expand...

I had already pm'd everyone individually who asked. I'll do the same now for this page now that the thread has been resurrected.
Why didn't I post it? Bluntly, because I received a warning (not from TFC i hasten to add) for mentioning things on here that just anyone could take away and try to do, not necessarily with a lot of understanding etc etc. I could see the point so I am more circumspect about what I post.
btw, i never said it was 'so failsafe'.
 
Just a quick reply as I didn't realise the thread as been resurected. My last horse was a complete knob about being loaded to begin with. He was not frightened, pretty much as you describe yours. I fixed it by setting aside a day, took food and water for myself and water for him handy to the lorry. He had no problem with a big lorry but had a real issue with small two boxes as he knew he could come of the side of ramp easy enough and he hated turning to the rear of the box and was damn awkward then dangerous if you hassled him. So we parked the lorry up so that the ramp and lorry were flat. Put his Dually on and a chifney (I use these at work every day so have no issues with using one. Also a schooling whip for impulsion. I presented him as I would expect a horse load and when he baulked, spun him around and backed him on. This did initially take two people but after a few loadings with a treat once he was on he got the idea. Loaded him backwards a few more times, then represented normally and if he showed any sign of stopping, spun him around to go backwards. After 20 mins or so he got bored going on and off, he was trotting on eagerly. Then took box onto a normal area so he had to go up the ramp, he loaded fine again, then took him for a short drive and loaded again. Since that day I've had no problems.
 
Kerilli: I'd appreciate hearing your method too please.
I posted a few weeks ago about my son's 13.2 pony. She loads fine coming home (runs into the lorry) but has gone from reluctant to load alone last year, to totally terrible alone and not 100% even with company. For her it is a separation thing, she loves her field buddies and is stubborn. Bullying her is useless. We have to con her into the lorry with friend and then take them back off the lorry, difficult with big horses....
 
I'd also love to hear your methods Kerilli please :)

I'm getting a lorry soon and know I will have problems loading my beast!!
 
Kerilli - please could you also pm me. Sorry you must be inundated with requests! I hope you are not too fed up.
I am also hoping this method will help my big baby walk over a bridge which he will follow either equine or human no problem & coming home he will also just about walk over it - but on the way out for a ride he will back up & be a real baby & stand with feet locked! I think he thinks there is a big troll that lives underneath and when he does go over, he runs as fast as he can!! he is the same loading.

Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top