Feeling really low

Paint Me Proud

Paint Me Proud

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I decided to give loading Chico another go today so I got the trailer out, parked it up then fetched Chico out the field.

Dont know why I bothered, this horse simply wont load. We even tried having another horse stand in the trailer, something I've not tried before, but to no avail.

Sitting here feeling really low now. I want to be able to go out showing, fun rides, park rides, everything that makes horse ownership fun, but I cant.

I love Chico to bits but just dont think I've ever going to be able to do what I want with him.

I hate myself right now for thinking what I'm thinking.:(:(

Someone tell me it'll be okay :(
 
It will be ok! A girl at our yard had Richard Maxwell help her with her lad who refused point blank to load, sometimes for hours at shows, even after it had gone dark. I think he was there for a couple of hours. Horse doesn't 'love' the box but will go in, and they go everywhere to competitions now. She said it was well worth the cost, which I believe was high. But shows it can be done!
 
Ok not necessarily what you want to hear but all horses will load.

I swear I'm not making light of things - I've had a professional out to my mare.

Google the loading video's of Michael Peace and see what you think. Not a cheap option but then owning horses isn't cheap and at the moment what you can do is limited.

I honestly cannot recommend MP enough and personally I think it will be the best money you'll ever spend. He'll have you loading your boy and leave you with homework but I promise it will be better.

Good luck x .
 
It will be ok, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it will.
Have you tried attending a Kelly Marks loading course? It is free for the owners of horses who won't load.
We took our nf mare couple of years ago, as she was impossible to load, away from home(had to hack 9 miles home one day from a show, and decided enough was enough!). She still is not perfect, but touch wood, now does load, following the weekend course, and a follow up session with one of Kelly's approved people local to me.
If you can't load him to get him to a course, see if one of her associates near you, can home visit to help.
 
What does he actually do? Throw a paddy or just stand there & refuse to go forward? Is it possible to give him his feeds on the ramp from now on? Creeping it forward every day or 2? Does it have a front unload ramp? One of mine is a total cow - she'll happily stroll up the front ramp & walk straight into the trailer, but wouldn't go up the back ramp! It's like she knew u couldn't travel her backwards! But I'd get her to do it anyway, so she associated the trailer with nice things like feed. I don't boot her though - she knows that boots = travel! But i could put them on once she's in.
I understand your frustration. You literally can't put any pressure on Molly - no pulling or pushing or she just goes backwards. Patience really is a virtue... x
 
honestly my old tb would never load in a trailer-rearing and wouldnt step a foot on to the ramp .had all sorts of "experts" to try to no avail. borrowed a lorry and he walked in like butter wouldnt melt -never been on one before and never had a problem again:rolleyes:
 
Richard maxwell fixed a few horses at my yard. Including one that was just plain dangerous, he now loads onto anything. They honestly never ever thought they would get him on a trailer. The other they spent 7 hours trying to load him once and regularly spent 3 hours trying to get him onto either a lorry or trailer. His owners were extremely knowledgable and were the people most people went to for help. They tried everything but Richard fixed the problem. They thought he was claustafobic but obviously not! Good luck I'm sure he'll be able to help you too
 
I've had a professional out to him and it sorted the issue for a while but we are back to square one now.

He wont load in a lorry either.

He's not scared just being stubborn. He will put his front feet ont he ramp and edge all the way up but will NOT put his back feet on. If you ask, ever with teeny tiny pressure, he instantly goes backwards.

I just want to have fun with my horse, like everyone else :(

edite to add - I dont have a spare £350 to get Richard Maxwell in
 
Dont worry it will be ok! my old horse never used to load she used to try and bolt rear etc. We had tried many things such as using a lunge rope behind her, treats, another horse loadimg before her.... it took a good few months but every week or so i walked her to the trailer and let her sniff and see it. every time i got the trailer out i made her go closer to the trailer/further up the ramp. Now she walks straight in herself! it just takes time:) found out today my new horse doesnt load even though he was supposed to! anyway we had to walk about 10 minutes to the trailer and ended up having to walk back because he wouldnt give up so here i was walking down the road with a horse trying to rear and bolt:-/ anyway it looks like im back to stage one with my new horse but i know ill get there as will you:) good luck!!
 
You will be able to fit it, especially if he was loading OK previously. Sadly it will take a lot of time, every day for hours if necessary - only hard feed in the trailer for weeks, calmly asking and asking and asking - day after day after day until you bore him into doing what you ask because the hassle of waiting around not doing it just isn't worth it.

Especially if he's just going up then reversing then up then reversing - different if he was throwing himself over backwards and risking injury but back and forward you can do all day every day
 
Have you tried the Dually headcollar? Lots of groundwork will help, too. Obstacles and S bends, backing round an L shape. And long reining. Anything that helps your horse become more confident and trust you more.

I read your other thread about having an unsalable horse. I do know how you feel - my horse had sarcoids, wouldn't load and was extremely nappy. I've had him over 10 years now and I wouldn't swap him for the world now.

We got there in the end. It felt like a long time, but it was so worth it. We've done shows, dressage, long hacks and he is my best friend.

I'm convinced of one thing; you need to think holistically with horses. As he got happier, he got over the sarcoids (he had homeopathic treatment as well), got less nappy, lost weight and maintained a better, lower weight. In his case, I've worked out some of the things that made him unhappy. He didn't like his barn stable, preferred outside ones but is even happier living out. He hated some of the yards we've been at, especially the bigger, bitchier ones! He is better in a quieter environment. He is better on a high fibre, low starch diet. He needs company. He loves human contact and likes to be praised (even though he can be extremely stubborn!) He feels the cold even though he is a native and has a very fine coat, so I rug him more warmly than the others.

None of this might apply to your horse, but have a think about what you know about his likes and dislikes and what you could do to make him feel happier. I'm not saying he is unhappy now, but I am convinced that "stubborn" horse are often just sensitive ones with the wrong label!
 
Didnt the last time he went in a box he went to horsepital, they dont forget. Try loading ina lorry, or reverse him in, just to get him in and stand and have a feed then walk back out and keep trying with front jockey door open etc, have you got a shettie or pony who could go on first.
 
What's he like when/if he actually does get in - is he worried or quite settled? Does he travel ok?
I had some problems with my youngster and a local lady helped me get him in when I was leaving her yard after a groundwork lesson. He decided to just plant and she saw and came and assisted, using essentially a technique we had already established previously on the ground. She had him loaded within about 2 mins. I now use the technique any time he is a bit hesitant but really, since that few mins session he has loaded fine. He is not bothered once in and she said it was the going up the ramp that worried him so he needed reassurance this was ok.
The trick is to not have a load of people round him, and just be persistant. She said to not allow him to go backwards and in no circumstances should you turn them round and try approach again.
What technique did the previous expert use?
 
You don't need a pro, just loooooads of patience. I have had many, many horses that wouldn't load and they've all been very successfully rehabilitated!

As others have said, try feeding the horse in the trailer. Otherwise, what I've always found has worked is two lunge lines crossed behind the horse, you'll need a helper, obviously.

Don't apply any pressure to force the horse in, just wait, don't get into a fight. If the horse comes back, just keep the lunge lines up so he knows he can't go anywhere. Eventually he'll get bored and go in.

I've only had one pony this didn't work with in more number of years than I care to remember, but he couldn't wait to get on the box if another horse was in there!

Good luck, believe me, I know how frustrating it is!
 
Slightly Foxed said:
You don't need a pro, just loooooads of patience. I have had many, many horses that wouldn't load and they've all been very successfully rehabilitated!

As others have said, try feeding the horse in the trailer. Otherwise, what I've always found has worked is two lunge lines crossed behind the horse, you'll need a helper, obviously.

Don't apply any pressure to force the horse in, just wait, don't get into a fight. If the horse comes back, just keep the lunge lines up so he knows he can't go anywhere. Eventually he'll get bored and go in.

I've only had one pony this didn't work with in more number of years than I care to remember, but he couldn't wait to get on the box if another horse was in there!

Good luck, believe me, I know how frustrating it is!
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This technique has got even the most stubborn ponies on in the end for us. You need helpers initially, but in the end you get quiet adept at doing it all yourself, and then the horse eventually twigs as soon as you pick up the lungeline they might as well give in...
 
yes i think I have to just got at it hammer and tongues for a while.

I have tried almost every technique in the book (and some that arent!) but no luck with any of them. Any kind of pressure halter makes him rear, as does lunge line pressure from behind.

Need to stop feeling sorry for myself and knuckle down to some hard graft with him.

Just a little demoralised after today :(
 
Slightly Foxed said:
You don't need a pro, just loooooads of patience. I have had many, many horses that wouldn't load and they've all been very successfully rehabilitated!

As others have said, try feeding the horse in the trailer. Otherwise, what I've always found has worked is two lunge lines crossed behind the horse, you'll need a helper, obviously.

Don't apply any pressure to force the horse in, just wait, don't get into a fight. If the horse comes back, just keep the lunge lines up so he knows he can't go anywhere. Eventually he'll get bored and go in.

I've only had one pony this didn't work with in more number of years than I care to remember, but he couldn't wait to get on the box if another horse was in there!

Good luck, believe me, I know how frustrating it is!
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I agree to this to an extent, it does depend on what the horse has up its sleeve.

For example, my girl would half load, run backwards and then rear, at which point we would drop the rope turn her round and start all over again.

Person pointed out that we showing her that rearing was a good thing!! She got rewarded by having the pressure released and then she got turned away.

So now I don't release the pressure until she comes down from the rear and never let her turn away from the trailer - almost the same as treating it as a nap out riding.

So, why not post a short video of exactly what your horse does and maybe someone can pinpoint what the evasion is and suggestions how to deal with it calmly!!!

My horse now loads like a dream (most of the time, but with this method never more than 5 calm mins!).
 
Slightly Foxed said:
You don't need a pro, just loooooads of patience. I have had many, many horses that wouldn't load and they've all been very successfully rehabilitated!

As others have said, try feeding the horse in the trailer. Otherwise, what I've always found has worked is two lunge lines crossed behind the horse, you'll need a helper, obviously.

Don't apply any pressure to force the horse in, just wait, don't get into a fight. If the horse comes back, just keep the lunge lines up so he knows he can't go anywhere. Eventually he'll get bored and go in.

I've only had one pony this didn't work with in more number of years than I care to remember, but he couldn't wait to get on the box if another horse was in there!

Good luck, believe me, I know how frustrating it is!
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This!!!!!

You do need ALL day, maybe several, and a lot of patience.
 
Hi....I REALLY feel for you as I have been there and done that...

If you are able...you need to decide to take a day to sort this out.
You say he goes backwards lots if pressure is applied.....so don't apply the pressure....
If you can arrange your trailer so there are gates/barrriers/hedges.....whatever you have to hand.....so that once your boy approaches the trailer.....a gate/or whatever can be closed behind him to limit his space to going backwards...... I don't mean bang at the end of the ramp.....but close enough that he fails to see a way out....and actually the only place to go is in the transport.....
And then just spend the day.....on the ramp.....armed with sweeties.....and thinking lovely thoughts.....and once he goes in.....take him on a short journey away from home and back again.....to show him bad things don't always happen when transporting....and make a HUGE fuss of him in the transport when you get home.
I had a pony who would'nt load at home....but hopped in and out of the trailer at shows like a pro:)
Just take your time.....try not to get frustrated (easily said)......and best of luck.
Bryndu
 
I have had the same problem, 3 hours after the show had finished we were still trying to load!
Got home left the trailer open in the field with a hay net tied in it with the front and rear doors open so he could just see the hay net. Didn't put any hay down in the field ( it's ok he wasn't going to starve) a couple of days later it got the better of him and I'd come home and he'd be standing in the trailer munching on the hay! Left it open for a week for him to wander through and eat as he pleased then walked him through it ever night before coming in. It worked and wasn't too stressful for either of us!
I hope you resolve it as its such a pain!
 
I used to have this problem with my horse followed numerous visits to vet hospital. Once I had access to a trailer long term, I spent time feeding him near trailer (all ramps down), me sitting on trailer feeding treats after exercise, slowly building up to feeding him off trailer then we put trailer in field (their safe place) and started walking him straight through. No hassle, no pressure if he got upset then we went back a step. After a month I travelled him (didn't want to do it too soon) and he was an angel but obviously anxious in box. We went short distances to hack out etc to give him a nice experience. He stopped stressing when travelling and we began competing again. I don't travel regularly anymore (no transport) but he will still load every time as he associates it with nice experiences now.

Good luck, I know how disheartening in can be but just take a deep breath and go with the softly softly approach if he is adverse to pressure. Good luck and chin up
 
I had a mare who was difficult to load. I spent lots of time and patience one day it was 8 hours. I also got professional help and she would reluctantly walk into the box. She was always very noisy and never cornered very well even when we crawled round. When we got a camera we saw that she was virtually sitting down in the box as soon as the engine started so we stopped travelling her. She was eventually diagnosed with arthritis in her pelvis. Not really what you wanted to hear but it may be worth setting up a camera to see how your horse travels.
 
Selkie said:
I had a mare who was difficult to load. I spent lots of time and patience one day it was 8 hours. I also got professional help and she would reluctantly walk into the box. She was always very noisy and never cornered very well even when we crawled round. When we got a camera we saw that she was virtually sitting down in the box as soon as the engine started so we stopped travelling her. She was eventually diagnosed with arthritis in her pelvis. Not really what you wanted to hear but it may be worth setting up a camera to see how your horse travels.
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I do have a camera system set up and he travels really well, no fuss at all. He is just stubborn about actually getting on.
 
I had a horse from Belgium who arrived over and decided he didnt want to go on a lorry ever again! He took hours to load and we tried everything! I mean everything! (there is a thread on here somewhere)

The more force you used the more he wouldnt go on!

In the end I used just me and a stallion chain. I stood there and if he pulled back against the chain he would rear and prat around and I would just stand there. Then I would represent and try again and just ignore him. Eventually he went right on no fuss and had his feed in there. Did this everyday. He loaded better if you aimed him right on the right side of the ramp and ignored him.

He was fine to load in the end as long as he aimed at the right place and had his chain on!
 
Paint Me Proud said:
I do have a camera system set up and he travels really well, no fuss at all. He is just stubborn about actually getting on.
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When you actually get on, take him off again, then back on, then back off, go up different sides of the ramp and just keep going until you are both bored out of your skulls and then... Do it all again the next day!!

Take partitions out, put partitions in, do the hokey cokey and shake it all about...

Then go for a drive, come back, do it again...

This is how I trained my weanling. She's two now and I can just show her the trailer and she loads herself.
 
We had horse on our yard that wouldn't load it was rubber on floor, owner put matting in his stable and within days he loaded.When he went into his stable he stood on few inches of concrete for while before he ventured onto matting for his feed.:rolleyes:
 
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