Help! Horse loading into trailer then backing out

sjdress

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14 March 2010
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Horse is loading into trailer then as soon as I go under the breast bar or go to tie her up she reverses back out at a rate of knots! I can’t think of a safe way to keep her in there. She’s too quick to get the back bar across. I’ve tried feed, she just grabs a bite and shoots backwards. Any advise?
 
use a pressure halter and teach her to go in and in out, get her standing with you without being tied up, back her in and out, all sorts for some time. eventually she will be comfortable just standing there, don't attempt to put up the back bars until she is happy standing, then start putting up the bars and taking them down with her still standing quietly. Eventually she should become confident. It may take a couple of sessions. Don't tie her up till the back bars are closed because if she tries to rush and pulls back it will not help.
 
Don’t try to trap her in. She needs to be standing in without backing out before you tie her or put the back up. I would look at richard maxwells videos for this issue
 
Where are you?
Perhaps someone can recommend someone who can help with what people have recommended above?

Is this a new thing, Or something they’ve always done? As that might change the answers you’re getting
 
My horses have to load by themselves as I am often alone, I teach them to load on ahead of me and then remain by the side of the ramp. Put the bar and ramp up and then go to the front and go in and tie up. Tying up before then if they are not 100% to load will just make them panic if they pull back.

I’m no ground work expert but I’ve taught this by making sure they will go ahead of me on the ground if instructed and stand quietly away from me. I then initially load using a long line which I put around the front bar and as I back up can be used to put gentle pressure from the front. In theory if your horse understands pressure and is comfortable standing away from you then it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Never ever stand behind the ramp even when the bar is up. Always stand to the side incase they run backwards and knock the ramp onto you.
 
Mine used to do this but i enlisted the temporary help of my husband who stood with him feeding stud muffins (because they stuck to his teeth and took ages to chew - horse not hubby) and also a mini horslyx to lik while i did the bar and ramp up. only took 3 times and he now stands chewing a stud muffin while i go round and do the bar and ramp up and then he gets a lick of his horslyx. I had to find a way to overcome as i go everywhere on my own.
 
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