Easi-loader fitting

[bkneil]

Does anyone have the directions for one of these please? I bought one off eBay thinking it would be simple enough to work out- it’s not or if I did do it right it was a waste of money. I’ve done web searches and can’t find anything so am hoping one of you lovely lot can help

 

[blitznbobs]

Isn’t it basically just a lunge line that goes round their arse?

 

[bkneil]

Haha I wish it was that simple. Got loads of straps to stop it slipping or the horse/pony rearing but I always seem to have bits left over. Cant use a lunge line as he starts rearing as soon as he sees it and i rarely have more than one person helping

 

[sbloom]

I know it's not answering your question and you may not want to get into it but have you looked into more emotional/behavioural ways to help him? Rearing at the sight of a lunge line shows a horse that's completely emotionally overloaded in terms of what you're asking him to do. He may have physical issues that mean he doesn't like travelling (eg standing base narrow is one, the horse lacks the right musculature to be able to step out sideways to balance themselves) or is otherwise worried.

 

[bkneil]

No physical issues. Sometimes he loads fine, he travels beautifully, quite happily munching away. He will go on the trailer no issues practicing or just playing around. He doesn’t sweat. He’s not in pain. He doesn’t try and hurt me, just uses it as an evasion technique. I have contacted a trainer and told him everything about Jack. That pony trusts me completely after a bad start in life. Listens to voice commands , loves cuddles, always comes to me whether I want him or not lol. The only thing the trainer suggested is possible claustrophobia / fear of the small dark space but settles when in. Obviously I’m trying to work with that but in the meantime he needs to go in safely with as little fuss as possible as it’s not fun fighting for either of us. Believe me, I have tried probably every method going over the last 10years.

 

[sbloom]

I hear you. I just have had my viewpoint changed massively over the years, for instance that base-narrow stance isn't seen as a physical issue by the vast majority of horse owners, even vets see it as conformation, yet it is an issue, a postural challenge, and can easily be enough to cause all sorts of issues. I've had to learn all about this as posture is so important when saddle fitting, but it applies to so many situations.

Most horses' issues with not doing what we'd like them to do (whether every time or, as here, just some of the time) has a genuine reason and isn't an evasion, we just need to look deeper, find a new way to look at the problem.

 

[Rowreach]

Not actually answering your question, but I have a piece of soft rope which is about 40 years old, loop on one end, which we used for years and years before someone marketed the idea, when we were doing horse transport. Just pass the free end through the loop and place it over the bum and it's usually enough with practically no pressure to encourage them forward, and it's not scary like a lunge line, nor is it as cumbersome to handle.

When you are being paid to transport horses for other people you don't have time to deal with loading issues, nor do you want any sort of drama to unfold, and that piece of rope has been a godsend.

ets of course there may be physical and psychological issues around loading and travelling with any horse, but equally there may just be days/situations when a horse who is normally quite happy to load and travel just says nope not today. Frankly I don't understand why any horse agrees to go into a small box and balance itself quietly while that box goes backwards, forwards and round corners, but they do.

 

[bkneil]

To be honest claustrophobia makes sense. He has personal space issues with traffic m, always has since an incident early on in his education. He will go past anything with enough space but not if the gap is too narrow. I think he settles once in as he realises nothings out to hurt him. I would’ve thought pain would also translate to ridden work. He’s done loads of fun rides this year and now pony club with my daughter who he loves and looks after.

 

[Rowreach]

To be honest claustrophobia makes sense. He has personal space issues with traffic m, always has since an incident early on in his education. He will go past anything with enough space but not if the gap is too narrow. I think he settles once in as he realises nothings out to hurt him. I would’ve thought pain would also translate to ridden work. He’s done loads of fun rides this year and now pony club with my daughter who he loves and looks after.

Sometimes a loading problem is the first indicator of something that will show up later. Particularly arthritic changes. However, if your horse usually loads then do you know what situations and circumstances make him reluctant. Different positioning of the box, different lighting, nearby companions?

 

[sbloom]

To be honest claustrophobia makes sense. He has personal space issues with traffic m, always has since an incident early on in his education. He will go past anything with enough space but not if the gap is too narrow. I think he settles once in as he realises nothings out to hurt him. I would’ve thought pain would also translate to ridden work. He’s done loads of fun rides this year and now pony club with my daughter who he loves and looks after.

Proprioception sounds like an issue then, getting the right feedback about where his body is in space. And if there was an incident there could be other things that went on that he's successfully masked most of the time but they show up on bad days for loading. Have a look at TTeam bodywrapping and the exercises they recommend, and work on that away from the trailer/box, but do really stand back and see if there could be any slight compromises in his body that could be affecting him, it's rare that a horse has none. Really good bodywork may be part of the solution. We all pick professionals to work with our horses that we think are great, we choose carefully with our horses' best interests at heart but sometimes they do need something different.

I would also say that it's the rearing at the sight of the lunge rein that makes me look at it in this way, rather than wondering about the details of the loading itself, I think some days he can just squash his worries better than others. I might be wrong and it might be very simple to fix of course!

 

[Abacus]

Not actually answering your question, but I have a piece of soft rope which is about 40 years old, loop on one end, which we used for years and years before someone marketed the idea, when we were doing horse transport. Just pass the free end through the loop and place it over the bum and it's usually enough with practically no pressure to encourage them forward, and it's not scary like a lunge line, nor is it as cumbersome to handle.

When you are being paid to transport horses for other people you don't have time to deal with loading issues, nor do you want any sort of drama to unfold, and that piece of rope has been a godsend.

ets of course there may be physical and psychological issues around loading and travelling with any horse, but equally there may just be days/situations when a horse who is normally quite happy to load and travel just says nope not today. Frankly I don't understand why any horse agrees to go into a small box and balance itself quietly while that box goes backwards, forwards and round corners, but they do.

I do a similar thing with a loop of lunge line through the ‘handle’ end. Round the bum and a gentle tug - has always worked well and better than other people rushing in with brooms and good intentions. But if a horse is terrified of a lunge line, as sbloom says, there is some trauma (maybe related more to lunging than travelling).