Help with youngster loading issues please

checkmate1

checkmate1

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Sorry this is a bit long..............
I've just bought myself a nice big trailer, have fitted a trailer mirror and a beggining to re-teach Indie (rising 4 16.2) to load. I took her out in the trailer about 4 /5 times last summer to a few shows but she never was terribly happy loading (sometimes took an hour), but Fab travelling and unloading. Indie is Claustrophobic (sp) We think its because when I got her she'd never been indoors (unhandled straight from a herd) and she just dosent like it, but she is now (after a lot of hard work) very happy in a stable with a stable mirror. So this afternoon I took partition out and opened up trailer hopeing to get her walking in and out happily, but she really panicked when in and would bolt out the front quick as possible, not stopping to eat yummy food (i don't think it was yummy enough!), she did this 4 times then I called it a day. So any ideas? Shall I just keep doing is like this day after day until she stops rushing? Do I somehow insists she stands and waits? (one of us will prob get injured!!) I was going to use my Dually Halter but I've found it no good for loading indie as she tended last summer to go UP in stead of IN (resulting in injury!!), any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks..
 
You could try completely closing the front of the trailer, leading her in forwards, holding and then backing her off - you would be surprised by how many horses seem to have issues with being led off the front ramp and rush, but will back off quite happily.

You could also play about a bit and lead her in via the front ramp, hold her in the trailer and then take her off the back ramp - keep your rope long, don't crowd her and be as quiet and patient as you possibly can.

I use a Maxwell type controller headcollar, not as any kind of winch to drag the horse on, in fact most of the time it is on a very loose rope, but it does teach them that they create their own pressure
 
when i taught my youngster to load we did it with food, she went in good as gold and fed her in the box for a few days always shutting the trailer up so she got used to the noise and then unloading about ten mins after food, gradually took food away and started to take for very short trips, she is now a yr old loads really well and travells much better than the older ones, she doesnt even break a sweat even when travelled further. when you get her in try not to face her as this can intimidate then and cause panic, hence why so many horses dont load well, i see a lot of people go so far into trailer and then face the horse to pull up with which the horse then refuses!
 
I was actually wondering if it would be worth seeing she will go up the front ramp, just to encourage her to be more confident with the whole 'trailer' thing, its possible then? ( she does put her front feet up on it already).
 
Yes, completely possible, and can be helpful in dealing with the rushing and building confidence - just don't be surprised if she reverts to rushing when you lead her off that way again, which is why sometimes it is safer to just not use the front ramp - they only have to bang a hip once unloading to never forget the experience and always be frightened of it
 
Have you removed the partition? I had a horse who was just too broad to stand in a partitioned trailer. I taught both of my current horses. I used food & kept them in the trailer for a couple of minutes before walking down the ramp. As someone else said, they never forget a banged hip. The broad horse also prefered backing out as my trailer at the time i didn't have a partition that widened at the front. Having seen the dually in use I think it would work if you want to take up the front ramp battle, otherwise settle for reversing out. It helps to get someone to stand behind so the horse backs straight.
 
Just wanted to add that my horse loaded great in a trailer but would rush out or jump out regardless of where I was if I used the front unload. I tried rear unloading him as it seemed the safest option and thought we'd solved his problem. He then would load but run out backwards that fast and if I tried to stop him he whacked his head on the roof on the way out. The trailer was for 17.2hh, he is 16.1 so it wasnt a small trailer. We have never managed to get the ramp up since as he freaks and runs out backwards. Needless to say I ended up selling the trailer
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Have you tried shutting the front and walking him in then backing out?

Use you Dually daily, and get your leading, turning and backing perfect and the trailer should be no problem
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Just started backing mine out last year, for the previous 10 years he had always loaded and travelled well but shot out the front far too quickly. Backing out keeps him slow and concentrating, and has worked well for us so far.
 
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