Do I need a solid breech bar?

Storminateacup

Storminateacup

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Should have a solid breech bar as Jack is a heavy lump, and I was terrified when he started rubbing his bottom on the door.
Can the weight of the horse push the door open?
Another thing, how on earth do you load a horse on your own, Jack pulled back when I first put him in and now I am concerned that he may pull back when I get out the jockey door, to run round to move the partition and put the breech strap up.
I do have a quick release trailer tie, but can they turn the trailer over if they pull back?.
I am an old worry wart, I know, but I have always had a lorry before, so trailer seems so flimsy.

Finally, I just reversed him out of the trailer, which he did very quietly and happily. Although I have front unload it seemed that backwards, in his case, was likely to the safer bet, slower and more controlled.
If I take him out the front way I've got to have lowered the breast bar on both sides and moved the partition over sharpish, it would seem.
Otherwise the partition would make for a very tight corner to get his hip round.
If you have two in the trailer, and take them out the front ramp, how on earth do you do this without the horses panicing!
 
Do you not have a rear bar? I would never risk not having one and them coming off too fast when unloading?
 
I load my mare on my own into an Ifor Williams, and a piece of advice from a friend of mine who always used to load on her own, was never to let her back out, always use the front unload - hoping that if she doesn't know she can back out, she won't! So far it has worked a dream. I lead her up the ramp and let her go on entry to the trailer with her rope flung around her neck. She walks in and I do up the back bar and the ramp and then go round to the jockey door and tie her up. I keep talking to her and so far it has worked really well.
 
I would always rather a solid one personally.
Re; loading. practise loading, I could send my pony up headcollar less and he would then walk off the front ramp. he was however a connie, sensible! always accompanied by feed. could you do something like this with yours? then he learns to go up himself and you can put the bar up?
 
This is the worst bit about sole-person loading.

He needs to know that everything about going in and coming out the trailer is a calm exercise.

For loading alone, I would try loading as normal, but then have a lunge line threaded through the tie ring, which you clip him to. Don't come out the jockey door, come back through the empty side of the trailer, holding the lunge line to keep the same contact with him as if you were still at the front. If he goes to step back, you can tell him to "stand" and maintain the pressure on the lunge line, BUT if he does rush out backwards, the lunge line will feed through, and you will still have something to grab hold of as he comes past you, and you won't lose your horse! This is not a device to "pull him in" with, its only to stop him stepping back.

You may also find it helpful to have some feed at the right height to keep his interest at the front for long enough for you to get to the back.

As for bringing him out the front, I have to move my partition over, and if we're not on level ground it would swing back, so it has to be held back by a spare leadrope or bungy cord.

When I had 2 in, the other person would wait with their horse, both horses untied, and both breastbars down, so the partition could be moved slightly to her side. (I think safest for waiting horse to be untied, as if they panic and strop, it is harder to undo the rope). The first horse out is stopped still in view of the remaining horse, so they don't panic at being left, and the second horse walked out.

As long as everything is done calmly, you should be perfectly ok.
 
oh wow, that's all really scary, - but thank you so much especially the idea with the feed and the lunge line. I have a 12 ft paralli line i was planning to use today in the same way for my first solo load -alone! but I bottled it. Big plans for tommorow early start and really go for it, but calm and sensible too - will let you know how i get on !!!!
 
Be careful of disappearing out the jockey door to nip around the back and do it up - my little pony decided to follow me under the breast bar despite being tied up, she popped her stifle and got her front leg caught in the little gap between the front ramp and the right hand side of the trailer. We couldn't release it and she did it herself - she sliced off the front of her knee and cut into her tendon - loss of use in 5 seconds flat. I always unload frontwise (take out the drivers side horse first if travelling two). It's a tight squeeze if your trailer isn't big enough tho. If your partitions are jointed on a central pole you can clip the front half to the left or have someone hold it over for you and that should give more room to maneouvre the bum! On loading, put a single horse on the driver's side and if you are alone, perhaps try food or a haynet to keep him busy whilst you nip around to secure the bum bar or strap. Trailer training when you've got time is great but remember never to try it without the trailer being hitched to the car, sounds obvious but you'd be amazed what people do... Hope it helps!
 
Thank you for you very helpful advice. So sorry about your pony though.
I put Jack in trailer today, doing it the way DidaR suggested.
It all went fine apart from the idiot in a van who decided to race past the trailer at 60 miles per hour just as I managed to persuade Jack up the ramp.
Must say tho its a devil of a job loading on your own, but Jack moves fairly slowly and has a trusting nature so we will have lots of practice days.
Still just backing him out for now as it seems the safest option as I cannot lower the front ramp without blocking owners driveway.
 
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