Difficult To Load!

C

chancing

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Morning all
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I would just like a little advice please...here goes its a little long but perfect for diverting you from a monday morning for 5 mins!!
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I am moving my horse to a new yard which is a fair old way from home..question is: he is difficult to load and normally takes a good hour! He is travelling in a horse transporter with other horses etc and I have been advised to sedate him a little. I have been reccomended all sorts eg magic and instant calmers and although I think this is a good idea I dont want to put him at any risk what so ever... soo what do I do?? sedate him to calm him or just leave him. Should I also mention the fact that he turns white when he travels with sweat! He travels ok once hes on its just the getting him on the lorry.

Sorry for the long rambling post Im just a little unsure and can normally rely on h and h forum people for good answers!

thankyou!! x
 
Have a chat with your vet and see what he thinks.

Magic, etc are unlikely to work there and then. What you need is ACP (which does not work with all horses) or a mild injection sedative BUT for both you need to talk to your vet to discuss whether it is safe to travel him.

Maybe have a word with the transporters as well, they might be able to advise.

Good luck!
 
BooBoos

Thankyou very much I was planning on ringing the vet anyway before giving him magic. I never thought of speaking to the transporters thankyou
 
I presume you have tried to deal with his loading issues? I'd really recommend getting a Kelly Marks RA out to help you (or other behaviour type person, though I used a KM RA) sort out the problems. I couldn't get my big horse near a trailer, and when I did he just reversed out flat out, and she had him on within minutes and standing nicely.
 
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I presume you have tried to deal with his loading issues? I'd really recommend getting a Kelly Marks RA out to help you (or other behaviour type person, though I used a KM RA) sort out the problems. I couldn't get my big horse near a trailer, and when I did he just reversed out flat out, and she had him on within minutes and standing nicely.

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Thanks to be totally honest and blunt I have never had much faith in natural horsemanship. However after hearing your experience and getting to the point where I am willing to try anything! I think I might. Where would I go about finding someone who does that kind of thing? Oh and yes I have tried to deal with his issues I do think he is genuinely scared hes not just being naughty. He tries but then seems to lose his confidence.
 
If you go on the Intelligent horsemanship website, there is a list of Recommended Associates (RAs) in each area, just find the one closest to you. I paid £35 for an hour.

The RA who came to me said that nervous horses are actually easier to deal with than stubborn ones - she said mine was more difficult because he's plain stubborn! I didn't put much faith in it, always thought it was a load of rubbish mumbo-jumbo, but I was at my wit's end. Was really surprised with the results. They don't wave a magic wand but they look at your handling of the horse and situation, then show you another way to deal with it. I liked them as I don't find the IH people cult-like, unlike Parelli.
 
To be honest your faith in Natural Horsemanship methods is a little harsh considering you can't get your horse to load using " convential " methods and I have always had excellent results with NH training. Personally I would not travel my horse sedated unless he was going to be a danger to himself or others. So if you have time before now and the travel date get some help from somebody who will give him confidence ( sounds like you have lost yours as well) and not resort to bully boy tactics. Good luck.
 
Hiya - I used a NH lady a few years ago but not by planning. I was at horse camp 6 years ago and she was one of the other campers - I had seen her ad as I walked past her trailer and mentioned it in conversation as it had taken me 2 hours to load my mare on the way- she offered to have a go. Lina is what could be discribed as an Alpha mare so it was quite a show and by the end we had a full audiance. but by god it worked ! She used to walk up the ramp then fly backwards banging her head but now she shoves me off the ramp out of the way so she can get in ! I think I gave her £30 and she let me keep her halter. I think that not much of it was down to NH but patiance confidence and stubburness on behalf of the trainer .

Give it a go
 
Thankyou all so much for your help and advice. Im going to do some research into it and get some assistance from a NH person - not quite sure what you call them! My travel date isnt until the 27th of december I just thought I would get a head start on the loading issue.

Thankyou All
 
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