Help: Can't float

[josie2155]

Hi everyone, I'm having some issues with floating my pony.

Basically, she'll walk onto the float perfectly fine (even self-loads) but won't stay up there for longer than 10 seconds. She just starts backing up and the more pressure you apply the faster she reverses. We have only closed the bum bar once and when she felt the pressure behind her she freaked and ended up sitting down in the float. I've got no idea how to fix this, any ideas would be much appreciated!

She never had any issues with her previous owner who has come to see her and is just as confused.

 

[DirectorFury]

(In my post float = trailer because I'll inevitably forget halfway thru that I'm meant to be calling it a float!)

A few questions:
- Have you checked the floor of the trailer? What material is it? Is it definitely sound?
- Are you loading her while it's hitched up to something? Is the ground you're loading on level?
- Does it have a ramp or a step-up? What's the partition configuration like?
- How do you normally unload? Is there a front ramp/step or do they have to unload by coming out backwards?

I have a method that works well but only if you've got a front ramp for unloading.

 

[josie2155]

I don't think the float is the problem, it's practically brand new. We've tried her on an older one, this new one, a friend's angle load, and its the same reaction on all. The same goes for whether it's hitched or not, it doesn't seem to make a difference.

The float is a straight load with a ramp, the only way to unload is going backwards.

 

[JillA]

Gradual steps, a bit at a time and reinforce (small food reward) every increase in the steps. If she runs back out don't get cross, just regard it as another opportunity for her to learn to load. Allow PLENTY of time over several days, if you rush she will revert because of the pressure.
If you are in the UK (we tend not to use the word float so maybe not) look up Horse Help on the Intelligent Horsemanship website, they are all well trained and good at it

 

[Lintel]

Please someone tell me I'm not the only one thinking of a floating pony in a pool...

Sorry OP I'm afraid I'm rubbish with suggestions for trailering but JillA advice sounds like the way I'd be going!

 

[Meredith]

Please someone tell me I'm not the only one thinking of a floating pony in a pool...

Sorry OP I'm afraid I'm rubbish with suggestions for trailering but JillA advice sounds like the way I'd be going!

Sorry OP.
Me too. Images of pool, pony and waterwings immediately sprang to mind.

 

[ycbm]

And I thought we were about too talk dentists

 

[blitznbobs]

Put her in reward and let her run out backwards then when she’s out do it again and again and again... reward only in the box - can you off load forwards?

 

[Red-1]

I have 'cured' a couple like this when I did that sort of thing...


I would take control of the backwards, so on the flat away from the trailer get the horse good at going back/forwards/back/forwards.... then the same in front of the trailer. Then one foot on the trailer and back off, until back and forwards with one foot is boring.


Then back and forwards 2 feet on the ramp... 3 feet etc. Then is the important bit, get on the ramp, start to back off and change your mind... That may take a couple of goes.


That is the part where you are 'curing' it, changing the thought. Don't actually enter the trailer until you know you can change the thought.


Then one foot inside the trailer and the others on the ramp and right back off again then... this again is the learning bit, on then half way down the ramp change your mind. Don't try two feet until you can put one foot in, start to back up, change that thought and get back in.


Then 2 feet etc etc until you can put all 4 feet in the trailer, start to back off, change your mind and load back.


Don't try to close the trailer until you know that you can choose to go on, start to offload, change your mind and go forwards again.


Before the ramp/bar or whatever is closed I also like that I can move them backwards and forwards within the trailer, without them spilling out onto the ramp.


Once the bar/ramp is up then work them back and forwards still, then lower the bar, put one foot on the ramp, change your mind, back in, bar up, bar down, one or two feet back onto the ramp, change your mind etc.


In the end the horse is just 'look dude, just leave me on the trailer!'


But don't rush the first stages of back and forward changing the thought with just a foot or two. Once their heads are in the box it is more emotional, so practice changing the thought on the floor not near the box, with just a foot or two on the ramp etc.

 

[Mule]

I have 'cured' a couple like this when I did that sort of thing...


I would take control of the backwards, so on the flat away from the trailer get the horse good at going back/forwards/back/forwards.... then the same in front of the trailer. Then one foot on the trailer and back off, until back and forwards with one foot is boring.


Then back and forwards 2 feet on the ramp... 3 feet etc. Then is the important bit, get on the ramp, start to back off and change your mind... That may take a couple of goes.


That is the part where you are 'curing' it, changing the thought. Don't actually enter the trailer until you know you can change the thought.


Then one foot inside the trailer and the others on the ramp and right back off again then... this again is the learning bit, on then half way down the ramp change your mind. Don't try two feet until you can put one foot in, start to back up, change that thought and get back in.


Then 2 feet etc etc until you can put all 4 feet in the trailer, start to back off, change your mind and load back.


Don't try to close the trailer until you know that you can choose to go on, start to offload, change your mind and go forwards again.


Before the ramp/bar or whatever is closed I also like that I can move them backwards and forwards within the trailer, without them spilling out onto the ramp.


Once the bar/ramp is up then work them back and forwards still, then lower the bar, put one foot on the ramp, change your mind, back in, bar up, bar down, one or two feet back onto the ramp, change your mind etc.


In the end the horse is just 'look dude, just leave me on the trailer!'


But don't rush the first stages of back and forward changing the thought with just a foot or two. Once their heads are in the box it is more emotional, so practice changing the thought on the floor not near the box, with just a foot or two on the ramp etc.

I did this when a horse decided the new box I had bought was evil. It takes patience but works.

 

[Mule]

Hi everyone, I'm having some issues with floating my pony.

Basically, she'll walk onto the float perfectly fine (even self-loads) but won't stay up there for longer than 10 seconds. She just starts backing up and the more pressure you apply the faster she reverses. We have only closed the bum bar once and when she felt the pressure behind her she freaked and ended up sitting down in the float. I've got no idea how to fix this, any ideas would be much appreciated!

She never had any issues with her previous owner who has come to see her and is just as confused.

I had this and did what red-1 suggests. The one thing with him is I don't use the bum bar. The pressure against him always set him off running backwards. I know it's not ideal for safety but I obsessively check that the back ramp is done up properly before we head off.

As regards to her behaviour change since moving on from her old owner, mabey she just had an unpleasant experience while travelling recently.

 

[josie2155]

Haha, yes in Aus we call trailers floats

 

[josie2155]

I have 'cured' a couple like this when I did that sort of thing...


I would take control of the backwards, so on the flat away from the trailer get the horse good at going back/forwards/back/forwards.... then the same in front of the trailer. Then one foot on the trailer and back off, until back and forwards with one foot is boring.


Then back and forwards 2 feet on the ramp... 3 feet etc. Then is the important bit, get on the ramp, start to back off and change your mind... That may take a couple of goes.


That is the part where you are 'curing' it, changing the thought. Don't actually enter the trailer until you know you can change the thought.


Then one foot inside the trailer and the others on the ramp and right back off again then... this again is the learning bit, on then half way down the ramp change your mind. Don't try two feet until you can put one foot in, start to back up, change that thought and get back in.


Then 2 feet etc etc until you can put all 4 feet in the trailer, start to back off, change your mind and load back.


Don't try to close the trailer until you know that you can choose to go on, start to offload, change your mind and go forwards again.


Before the ramp/bar or whatever is closed I also like that I can move them backwards and forwards within the trailer, without them spilling out onto the ramp.


Once the bar/ramp is up then work them back and forwards still, then lower the bar, put one foot on the ramp, change your mind, back in, bar up, bar down, one or two feet back onto the ramp, change your mind etc.


In the end the horse is just 'look dude, just leave me on the trailer!'


But don't rush the first stages of back and forward changing the thought with just a foot or two. Once their heads are in the box it is more emotional, so practice changing the thought on the floor not near the box, with just a foot or two on the ramp etc.

Thank you so much! I'll try this

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Just one quick question before you start. Will your pony stand calmly when tied up, not in a trailer? If not, work on this first because it might not be the trailer that's the issue.

 

[josie2155]

Just one quick question before you start. Will your pony stand calmly when tied up, not in a trailer? If not, work on this first because it might not be the trailer that's the issue.

Yes, absolutely. She doesn't move a muscle. Never have an issue apart from on the float/trailer.