HELP....loading stubborn mare....

Bug2007

Bug2007

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Lady is just a total pain to load.......nothing is consistant and what works one day doesn't work the next.
She travels really quietly and when she decides it is time to load then she walks in happy as larry.

For example, we went to a flat work clinic on Saturday...two seconds striaght up the ramp, rewarded by mints and a pat. Travelled perfect as usual. Waited in trailer when we got there early. tacked up, good lesson, then it all went down hill and it took forty minutes to load her on the way home!!! Why??? because she decided not to go in.

We have tried everyting i can think of, lunge reins....don't help at all, she rears up and totally flips out, she doesn't like to be forced in.
Food....worked twice then wised up to that!!!!:rolleyes:
Just standing there until she gets bored does work but forty minutes later!!!!:rolleyes:
If you try and keep pressure on the headcollar until she moves forwards she dives her head to the side and does one, she isn't the kind of horse that backs of she jumps of the side of the ramp, we now load in a headcollar as grabbing her reins is the only thing that stops me losing her.
Pressure headcollars make her rear, suppose to stop this kind of thing but with her it starts it.

I am at a loss with her, once she decides she wants to go home she doesn't hesitate she is staight up the ramp and dragging me in.

(by the way she is a 4 yr old ex racer, this will happen on the way out and the way back most of the time, other days she'll just walk on in).
 
sorry i dont have any help, but would be interested in some as this has started happen to my horse.. he freaks and once its no, its no!!
 
I have the same problem with my boy, if one of his mates goes on first, he jumps up and practically loads himself. If he is on his own, he will refuse to load until he is ready.

We tried all sorts of stuff, lunge lines, buckets - nothing worked until he decided he was ready to get on.

In the end, I growled so loudly at him he realised I was getting really peed off and got on. Now all it takes is a loud growl and he will go. Some people might say I shouldn't growl/shout or do anything to frighten him. But he is not scared, he is perfect once he gets on and never moves an inch. He is just being a twit.

Worth a try maybe....
 
Is it your own trailer? What I mean is can you practise at home?
My mare used to be a kind of quirky loader but I never had any problems getting her to go into her stable. So for me it was the same principle. I put food in the trailer - not a bucket to tempt her, but just a haynet where she could see it (nicer hay than the soaked hay she had in her stable. Then we did the standing there thing for as long as it took, multiple times. I didn't really put any pressure on her unless she decided to leave. The deal was she could stand there or go forwards to the trailer but nothing else. Sometimes when she got as close as she felt like getting (two front feet on the ramp) I backed her away from it - her response "don't back me away I am going on the damn trailer" and loaded herself.
At shows and things I never tie her outside with a haynet but instead I load her between classes so it is her little sanctuary where she goes to rest and chill out between classes (and eat her hay).
Now she loads herself, and I can get her to trot on with me standing outside or sitting in the cab of the box, same as she will put herself in her own stable when she is let in from the field.
That's just what worked with my horse, I haven't really got much experience of loading other horses but you know your mare and maybe you will find something here that will work for you :)
 
I do shout at her, but again, will work the first time and then not again. She is such a stubborn moose, i'd totally understand if she was worried etc....but she really isn't she just wants to do it when she wants to do it. so frustrating, I have to use all my strength not to leave her there and go home on my own. She is perfect in every other way, so can't complain to much but it's soooo annoying.
 
unbalanced said:
Is it your own trailer? What I mean is can you practise at home?
My mare used to be a kind of quirky loader but I never had any problems getting her to go into her stable. So for me it was the same principle. I put food in the trailer - not a bucket to tempt her, but just a haynet where she could see it (nicer hay than the soaked hay she had in her stable. Then we did the standing there thing for as long as it took, multiple times. I didn't really put any pressure on her unless she decided to leave. The deal was she could stand there or go forwards to the trailer but nothing else. Sometimes when she got as close as she felt like getting (two front feet on the ramp) I backed her away from it - her response "don't back me away I am going on the damn trailer" and loaded herself.
At shows and things I never tie her outside with a haynet but instead I load her between classes so it is her little sanctuary where she goes to rest and chill out between classes (and eat her hay).
Now she loads herself, and I can get her to trot on with me standing outside or sitting in the cab of the box, same as she will put herself in her own stable when she is let in from the field.
That's just what worked with my horse, I haven't really got much experience of loading other horses but you know your mare and maybe you will find something here that will work for you :)
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Really good idea but trailer training at home isn't an issue the little maddam goes straight in, i have done the repeatative stuff and she has been in and out 20 times no problem, she stands at a show in the trailer before we get her out. But doesn't want to go home, she loves being out.
She is however going xc training soon, i'm going to see if when she is tired she'll want to go home, the stuff she has been out ot recently hasn't really made her tired.
 
jenni999 said:
I have the same problem with my boy, if one of his mates goes on first, he jumps up and practically loads himself. If he is on his own, he will refuse to load until he is ready.

We tried all sorts of stuff, lunge lines, buckets - nothing worked until he decided he was ready to get on.

In the end, I growled so loudly at him he realised I was getting really peed off and got on. Now all it takes is a loud growl and he will go. Some people might say I shouldn't growl/shout or do anything to frighten him. But he is not scared, he is perfect once he gets on and never moves an inch. He is just being a twit.

Worth a try maybe....
Click to expand...

totally agree i had a horse that just used to stand on the ramp and sometimes would be there for ages until he decided what to do !! as the previous owners had said this is normal and we hadn't had him long i gave him the benefit of the doubt!! i am on my own most of the time and really haven't got time to mess about so i got after him screamed shouted threw the lead rope at his bum and basically bullied him into it as he really was taking the p**s and when you have a 17.3hh big bugger you need to be in charge!! he now trots up the ramp no problem i do think some horses are like men and little boys they need to know who is the boss!! . now this approach doesn't work for every case have you tried putting your lorry/trailer against a wall so he only has one side to run out and also try trotting up the ramp and have someone on the other side chasing him he does sound like he is having a laugh as he travels well etc. i also had a horse which wouldn't go on but if someone stood at the end of the ramp with a hunting whip she would fly in and the hunting whip was never raised or used but she knew it was there !! another one wouldn't load again i was on my own so i attached the lunge line to the headcollar and then put it through the tie ring in the lorry that way i could pull and push at the same time . i really think it sounds like you need to get tough with him and very very positive and make sure wherever he goes he has a fab time!! good luck SORRY JUST READ YOU HAVE A MARE !! POSSIBLY A DIFFERENT STORY AS YOU KNOW THE SAYING 'ASK A MARE AND TELL A GELDING' !!
 
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doodleberry said:
totally agree i had a horse that just used to stand on the ramp and sometimes would be there for ages until he decided what to do !! as the previous owners had said this is normal and we hadn't had him long i gave him the benefit of the doubt!! i am on my own most of the time and really haven't got time to mess about so i got after him screamed shouted threw the lead rope at his bum and basically bullied him into it as he really was taking the p**s and when you have a 17.3hh big bugger you need to be in charge!! he now trots up the ramp no problem i do think some horses are like men and little boys they need to know who is the boss!! . now this approach doesn't work for every case have you tried putting your lorry/trailer against a wall so he only has one side to run out and also try trotting up the ramp and have someone on the other side chasing him he does sound like he is having a laugh as he travels well etc. i also had a horse which wouldn't go on but if someone stood at the end of the ramp with a hunting whip she would fly in and the hunting whip was never raised or used but she knew it was there !! another one wouldn't load again i was on my own so i attached the lunge line to the headcollar and then put it through the tie ring in the lorry that way i could pull and push at the same time . i really think it sounds like you need to get tough with him and very very positive and make sure wherever he goes he has a fab time!! good luck
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Another good idea and again all been tried and it has worked once of twice then it doesn't again.......the horse is a MARE which i believe does make a huge difference in how you treat them, we have started to wave a whip at her and she now waves her legs in response.
 
Don't know if it will work for you but it has for us on a few horses. Try and get some one to lead her on and using a schooling whip tickle the fetlock feathers on her hind legs, our walked straight on. We watched a dealer do it with a horse we bought as it was ok but the minute it stopped to think about it, it stopped she immediately tickled the fetlock feathers and I do mean only tickle like a mouse is at their heals and they immediately walked straight on.

Good luck let us know if anything that may be suggested works.:)
 
Why don't you try something different like clicker training for loading? I don't usually go with any of the in 'methods' in fact I would hate to be slave to Parelli or suchlike, but I have just started using cllicker with my aggressive horse and it is brilliant - it's just so different and definate - timing wise and noise wise. I would recommend it to anyone now. And NO I don't use it continually for everything - it's just a useful tool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OSJFVFrQMU
 
My dad had just come up with a suggestion, tell me what you think????.......he said he was going to buy a winch, tie all her legs together lie her down and winch her on. he thinks this is a good idea and will work everytime!!!!:p:D:rolleyes:
Non horsey dad anyone???!!!!:D
 
YasandCrystal said:
Why don't you try something different like clicker training for loading? I don't usually go with any of the in 'methods' in fact I would hate to be slave to Parelli or suchlike, but I have just started using cllicker with my aggressive horse and it is brilliant - it's just so different and definate - timing wise and noise wise. I would recommend it to anyone now. And NO I don't use it continually for everything - it's just a useful tool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OSJFVFrQMU
Click to expand...

:D:D:)
 
unbalanced said:
Is it your own trailer? What I mean is can you practise at home?
My mare used to be a kind of quirky loader but I never had any problems getting her to go into her stable. So for me it was the same principle. I put food in the trailer - not a bucket to tempt her, but just a haynet where she could see it (nicer hay than the soaked hay she had in her stable. Then we did the standing there thing for as long as it took, multiple times. I didn't really put any pressure on her unless she decided to leave. The deal was she could stand there or go forwards to the trailer but nothing else. Sometimes when she got as close as she felt like getting (two front feet on the ramp) I backed her away from it - her response "don't back me away I am going on the damn trailer" and loaded herself.
At shows and things I never tie her outside with a haynet but instead I load her between classes so it is her little sanctuary where she goes to rest and chill out between classes (and eat her hay).
Now she loads herself, and I can get her to trot on with me standing outside or sitting in the cab of the box, same as she will put herself in her own stable when she is let in from the field.
That's just what worked with my horse, I haven't really got much experience of loading other horses but you know your mare and maybe you will find something here that will work for you :)
Click to expand...

This is exactly how I would deal with it, I hate lunge lines, pressures halters etc, all they do is get the horse (and you) upset.

Practice at home, take all the time it needs and make the trailer a place she wants to be.
 
My boy sounds exactly like this - very stubborn. Like you, it would take us 40mins to load him, until he got bored and went it. He wasn't scared, just stubborn!

He too freaks being forced in, he backs off of pressure and hates anything around his bum.

In the end I used a schooling whip, i TAPPED his bum with it - so he knew i had it (not whipped him. literally touched him), and then hit the floor as my friend walked him on the ramp. He went straight in. Now he knows as I hit the floor he steps up the ramp and goes in fine every time!!!

It is amazing!

Really is worth a try.
 
Sambo said:
My boy sounds exactly like this - very stubborn. Like you, it would take us 40mins to load him, until he got bored and went it. He wasn't scared, just stubborn!

He too freaks being forced in, he backs off of pressure and hates anything around his bum.

In the end I used a schooling whip, i TAPPED his bum with it - so he knew i had it (not whipped him. literally touched him), and then hit the floor as my friend walked him on the ramp. He went straight in. Now he knows as I hit the floor he steps up the ramp and goes in fine every time!!!

It is amazing!

Really is worth a try.
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I will give this a try too, we have a clinic on our yard in two weeks, our schoolis two minutes up the hill, i'm going to travel her there and back, lol it'll take two minutes to walk to the field if she really decides not to go in.
 
I used to have this problem for years and it really got me down ! Went to horse camp and there was a NH trainer ther who I paid £60 and she used a dually (hers) took an hour and yes it did make her rear but this is her normal reaction to being told what to do !! Lady had a hat a lunge line attached to the dually and gloves on, pony had boots on so everyone was safe, Now she is STUBBORN ! it wasn't great to watch as she made a big song and dance about it but I knew it wasn't cruel she was only asking her to load after all ! she went in well through 15 times then we put the partition back in ...and In the end she was loading herself and still does to this day!! Best £60 I ever spent I feel your pain

(some folk would say use a chifney )
 
I totally sympathise with you my anglo mare is a total nightmare ive had her from a foal, introduced her to a trailer from an early age always driven carefully and at first she was happy to follow my shetland on and travelled as good as gold.
Then I decided to upgrade my old wooden floored trailer for an Equitrek and we practised at home with no pressure and she was fine, then aged 3 she started refusing to load "taking her time" got longer & longer but I persevered but the situation got worse.
As we stay away at shows my OH splashed out on a lorry and she hated it at times i've stood for 3 hours got sunburnt shoulders only for her to decide OK i'll go on now she never travels badly occasionally a bit sweaty when we've arrived but thats normally due to her stressing beofre shes even got on.
November 2009 I seeked help from the natural horsemanship representive in my area and she tried join up and found her a very difficult horse so asked if I would like to bring her along to Monty Roberts demo at Towerlands......... I agreed because I couldnt see what I had done wrong and desperatley needed advice.
On the morning we decided to load her early and goet to Towerlands a trip of 15 miles away 2 HOURS later no way was she going on so I rang and said she wouldnt load and they said they would send someone over to help........ while we were waiting she decided to load!!
We had a good day with the natural horsemanship team they are a very positive & kind bunch of people and I left her to them she was willing to do "join up" and behaved like an angel all day I know they thought it was me that had the problem.
The evening came and as the "bad loader" her debut was the last feature she walked into that packed arena like an angel totally behaved and then Kelly Marks took hold of her explaining the problem to the audience and desensitising her the facing her up to the trailer the fun began........ she vertically reared jumped from one side of the ramp to the other she really showed her true colours which in a way I was glad of as I didnt feel such a failure. SHe was then led into the trailer and a tore out through the front with Kelly Marks hanging on after several attemps she succeeded to have her standing on the trailer and not rushing off but I knew my girl was only humouring them.
After the show I dreaded having to get her home but the team were very helpful and helped load her onto my lorry we have set plenty of time aside to practice loading but she still remains unpredictable. my other 4 ponies literally run up the ramp so do I give up on her or battle on with what can end up a dangerous situation?
 
It is so frustrating isn't it lily? People say practice at home, but i have no issues there at all she'll wander on up happy as larry.
It's when we are at the show/event etc.... then that is it, stubborn as the day is long. She just doesn't want to leave until she is ready.
 
flowerlady said:
Don't know if it will work for you but it has for us on a few horses. Try and get some one to lead her on and using a schooling whip tickle the fetlock feathers on her hind legs, our walked straight on. We watched a dealer do it with a horse we bought as it was ok but the minute it stopped to think about it, it stopped she immediately tickled the fetlock feathers and I do mean only tickle like a mouse is at their heals and they immediately walked straight on.

QUOTE]

This has worked for me.

Another is have a lunge rein attached, take it over the breast plate and walk back behind the mare so you are encouraging her from behind rather than pulling at the front. Don't have too much pressure on the headcollar as that is generally what they fight against. (Used this on a stroppy mare and could load her on my own)
Another one is to wrap the lunge rein around her bottom, cross it over at the saddle area and bring the two ends so they meet on her chest. Stand with her and pull the ends so that you are applying pressure from behind whilst guiding with headcollar and rope. Again no one else needed as if she goes backwards you can still apply pressure.

If the above don't work - try the winch lol
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A bad loader just ruins the day..you have my sympathies.
I have one mare that is in general well behaved but she decided on day to stop loading (due to the fact that she was going for scans, so can't say I blame her).
Very very stubborn absolutely no moving her. We took another approach and actually lunged her up. I can do it now with a long lead rope which I just flick over her back at the last minute as she goes in.
Not saying that it will work but anything is worth a try.
Best of luck.
 
get a chifney use it a couple of times and she should understand if she resists or go's up a tug on the lead rope will help just walk her around the trailer and straight on she's taking the p--s good luck it always works.
 
Blindfold? Manually place towel over eyes under headcollar...when she reaches top of the ramp, slide it off. One of ours can be a bit 'nope, not going up there' soon as you whap the towel out, up he goes.
 
Make her work - if she doesn't want to go forwards, make her go backwards. Just keep backing her up. Don't pull and put lungelines behind her, ask her and the minute she says no, back her up. They soon get fed up of it. However, at the risk of being shot down in flames, your average jute headcollar is not going to do the trick. A rope headcollar with knots at the jugular that is thinner will not encourage her to lean on you when you ask her to back. Stay calm, don't shout and get excited. I personally would practice backing her up before you even get to trailer loading. Make sure she understands how to back before you teach her to load. It does work - my ex racehorse had to be loaded with a pitchfork as I understand it behind him. Didn't take long for him to understand it was easier to load than to back. And my appy who was loaded with a chifney at the dealers yard after they had tried a hundred people behind him, lungelines, food, following others ................... learnt.
 
My mare is the same!
AND she is called LADY!
AND she is a stubborn monkey too!!!

We cured her with 'fun' trips out - everyweekend go somewhere new
Took ages!
Im enjoying the other ideas so far.
 
Tried all of the above with our mare, took two and a half hours to load her to her new home in Southampton, took her to the beach during the bad weather, it took an hour to load her then when we were ready to come back from the beach, which she enjoyed, she didn't want to come home, so it took another hour to load her, not frightened, just bl**dy sutbborn
She is still pushijng her luck in the new forest, I love her to bits, but would still love to have a shotgun handy, cos she pushes and pushes at boundaries
 
towel over the eyes and tucked into the head collar works for any horses ive had that wouldnt load.put it on and spin them round in different directions so they dont know what way theyre going and up they go.alot less hassle than rope and shouting!
 
flowerlady said:
Don't know if it will work for you but it has for us on a few horses. Try and get some one to lead her on and using a schooling whip tickle the fetlock feathers on her hind legs, our walked straight on. We watched a dealer do it with a horse we bought as it was ok but the minute it stopped to think about it, it stopped she immediately tickled the fetlock feathers and I do mean only tickle like a mouse is at their heals and they immediately walked straight on.

Good luck let us know if anything that may be suggested works.:)
Click to expand...
I do something similar with my mare - who is as stubborn as they come! I stand on the ramp and TAP her sides with a schooling whip, she usually walks straight on now. Problem I have is keeping her on - she tends to come straight back out again unless the chain is across her bum!

ETA: If she is anything like my mare then the more you force the issue the less likely she is to go on! I used to do the sit and wait thing, and have sat on a showground for nearly 2 hours before! In my case she realised that I was just as stubborn as she is and gave up - the schooling whip method is just a reminder :)
 
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Thank you all soooooo much for all the tips, i thought i'd tried everything, but seems there are a lot of stubborn ones out there.
It does ruin a good day when your horse won't load out of shear pig headedness. I might try the blanket over the eyes sounds like a good one.
I have done the backing up one, again didn't work.

And yes being a mare she digs her heels in even more when you put the pressure on.

On a good note I schooled last night and she went really well, and that was a result of the lesson we went to, so even though she didn't load nicely she did learn something in the schooling ring!!!

An idea do you think she might load if I try and block the ramp like i don't want her to go in???......mmmmm might give it a try.

Again thank you all so much, she isn't going to know what has hit her with all these new ideas. I'll keep you all informed of any successful loading days and tell you what tip worked the best. x

Huge summer BBQ and drinks for all that helped. x:D:D:D
 
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