Feeling really low

Beausmate said:
Whereabouts are you OP?
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I'm just outside Birmingham.

Thanks for all the suggestions but sadly I have tried pretty much all of them already :( (except trailer in the field as I am not in a position to do this)

He just take the piss. When he steps up onto the ramp I reward him with a treat but if he steps up and i dont give him a treat he stamps and paws at the ramp, makes an almighty noise but he's not bothered, he's just miffed he hasnt had anything.

I may try covering everything in straw so he cant tell the difference between where the ramp ends and the trailer floor begins.
 
Have you tried this? Lead him towards the trailer, when he stops, back him up, lead him forward a few steps then back him up. When he gets his feet on the ramp, back him up. When he decides he wants to go forwards, back him up. Even when he's going up the ramp, back him up. Once he's starting to go inside, back him out again. Don't let him turn away, use a long line so you can get clear if he goes up. If he does, guess what? Back him up!

Do it on a nice calm day, when you don't have to be anywhere and he's chilled.

You only need to go back four or five steps. I loaded my difficult horse (he's a nervous traveller who is really too tall for my trailer, but it's all I had) in around twenty minutes using this method. The previous attempt took three hours and I had to leave him in the end as he was getting worse. He'd run backwards, go forward until his feet got to the bottom of the ramp then rear and throw himself sideways, he fell over on a couple of occasions, dragged me across the yard etc. I'm 5' 5" and he's 17.3hh. It's not funny having him rear over the top of you :eek::(

Takes ten minutes to load him now, not that he travels anymore, except to move yards every once in a while and I don't need to practice. He still doesn't travel too well and as for unloading, well........
 
It will be OK although, I think the fact you are convinced he won't load - he won't load because they are good at picking and hesitation or lack of confidence etc from handlers/riders.

Enlist the help of a professional who is good with sorting out loading issues. Once they have got your horse loading they'll spend time getting you to load and unload him.

You may be very experienced although on occasions most people need help so don't beat yourself up about it :)
 
My advice would be to get a confident friend or fellow horse owner to have a try. Horses pick up every little signal and no doubt he knows your limitations and your fear that he won't load.

I have a friend with a rescue horse whose feet cannot be picked up unless he is doped by the vet. She was looking to rehome him and the prospective new owner literally just went and picked up a hind foot to my friends utter amazement - why? because she didn't expect trouble so she didn't get any.

An air of confidence and no previous baggage can make the world of a difference. I know it with my sensitive WB - I have to empty my head of nerves and thoughts of the past when I handle him and he is then just so straightforward - should I not do this he picks up and reacts.

Good luck OP.

Ha ha just read Tiffany's post - we agree!!!
 
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I know you say you cannot afford help but presumably you could access emergency money if there was a crisis - perhaps this is that crisis!
If you are thinking of selling him, and he isn't going to be worth much really - then surely better to spend the money and get help? Then he would become your dream horse, more or less, and you could go out and have fun. He costs you just as much to keep with you not being able to do anything with him as it would if you could.
 
Sorry I'd not read all replies to your post.

I've only seen this done once but years ago someone blind folded a horse that wouldn't load, walked him round the yard a few times then straight in to the trailer.

The horse was calm walking round the yard hence the reason he took him towards the trailer.

Never seen it done before or since and was amazed it worked.

Might be worth a try providing his eyes are covered with something that is quick release incase he panics.

do you know if he's had a bad experience in a trailer in the past?
 
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Hi Paint Me Proud!
I don't have many helpful ideas as I'm sure you've already tried them but I can honestly say I know exactly how you feel and how soul destroying it is! But your post struck such a chord I couldn't not respond.

I used to have major loading problems- an overnight stay was the worst as he wouldn't load but we frequently spent upto 6 hours trying to get him loaded! He was on a livery then and we spent hours practising. He sounds very much like your horse too- stubborn and bolshy when pushed.

There is light at the end of the tunnel though- don't give up! I would take my horse anywhere now and have no concerns about his loading.

There were a few factors which we changed which I think helped, but I would def recommend Richard Maxwells methods. I didn't actually have him out- that was the all else fails option- but I did buy his rope halter. It came with a DVD which teaches you about ground work and using the halter. I really think it made a difference. We did alot of inhand work initially then introduced the trailer.

Have a crappy day today, eat chocolate, drink wine- whatever helps- but don't give up!!! Tomorrow get positive and start again!
 
YasandCrystal said:
My advice would be to get a confident friend or fellow horse owner to have a try. Horses pick up every little signal and no doubt he knows your limitations and your fear that he won't load.
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Thats one of the most frustrating things, I had the professional out who taught me how to load confidently, and I do, but he still just stops dead!
I am doing everything the professional taught me, but it has just stopped working :(

I dont get angry with him, or irate etc, I stay calm and consistent but he just point blank refuses to bring his back legs onto the ramp. He wont even step over the ramp side to side, if it involves your back feet on the ramp then he doesnt want to know, lol.

I have a plan, with a bale of straw, that I'm going to try to see if i can trick him into getting those back feet up without realising. I will update when I've tried it. :)
 
Really sorry to read that the problem is getting you down, as it would anyone. You have done so well, I can understand why with the nice weather approaching you would like to go out and about.

Hope your straw bale method works. There is usually always a solution, it just finding it.

It is a pity you can not leave a trailor in a field with all doors open as suggested by posters above, and feed inside as it can be a really successful way to sort the problem, is there anyway you could have a different field for a few weeks to try this?
 
Ok....posting again...
Now don't all shout at me....but if the pony is REALLY being a git....have you tried this?

Get someone with a bucket of water....and when said git starts to 'play up' eg stmap his feet on the ramp at not getting his own way....get the person with the bucket to flick water onto the top of his bum.....

Most....and I stress most...your horse may not be a most:)....horses hate this...and load straight away....or at least after a few flicks of the water......

Shouts to any bunny huggers.....THIS IS NOT CRUEL......

Good luck...
Bryndu
 
Is there any news?
Have you managed to get the boy in to the transport?

Apologies if I offended anyone on this post.

Best wishes
Bryndu
 
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