Horse Jumping out of unload trailer door

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Flowers187

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My 4 year old, hasnt been in a trailer/box since she was 6 months old and she was brought by someone at my yard, and i then brought her off her, so shes never moved for 4 years.

Anways, did some loading practise in the trailer the other day, and she walked on fine, but when it came to walking out, she was unsure about the front ramp and just jumped the whole thing to get out, then walked her back through and she did the same again. Any tips or ideas could do to get her a little more comfortable with it?

Also, should add when shes impatient,upset,scared,or just wants attencions, shes dances, so im nervous about leaving her on trailer and faffing around with her without just loading her and moving so she doesnt dance on the trailer, and then learn to assosiate the trailer with this,

Thanksss in advance :)
 
Could you distract her with a treat or lickit and try to get her to stop for a brief moment at the top of the ramp?

Chances are that she will stop doing it the more she goes in the box and its not such an issue for her.

Perhaps feed her in the trailer each night, and spend a few moments there until it becomes routine.

Definately travel her with a placid, calm companion for the next few times.
 
Make my big 5yr old wait after taken breech bar down, they walk on when asked but my older mare rushes so hold stick in front of her or prehaps rolled up feed bag to control speed.
 
Didn't really want to get her used to coming out backwards as it took me ages to get my other horse to stop trying to fling her self back down the ramp after she learnt she could avoid going in that way. Yes thought about treats, will try it :) thought about maybe walking her through the wrong way cause she doesn't seem to have a problem with walking onto the ramps, so she understands the ramp won't kill her hehe
 
Yes will try leading her through with my other infront aswell as she's really calm with the trailer nowadays, and am abit unsure about being near her with feed or a stick when she's walking out as she will jump onto me if she panics, both times I tried I stood at the side just out of the way and she took her self out. She does wait until I say she can leave before she jumps.
 
Hi, I had the same problem with my horse, he would get jump out of trailer regardless of anything in his way, ie me!! I tried unloading him backwards which was a success, so thought great until he started to fly out backwards at high speed the moment I got him in. He always loaded without a fuss but I just couldnt keep him in long enough for someone to get the bar accross or the ramp up. I fed him in it daily, but the moment he sensed someone behind he would fly out whacking his head on the roof. One day the wind blew the jockey door open, which I never locked whilst practicing just incase I had to get ou, he really was that bad and he tried to come through the jockey door. After bending the rear ramp, I admitted defeat and have gone back to a wagon, which I do not warrant.
 
your basic need is to control her reverse. My horse used to charge through the trailer, leaping over the front ramp or reverse at speed as soon as he was in towing me with him. So I spent a week forcing him backwards whenever he went forwards. I would not allow him to choose to go back, I chose when and where it happened. And if he did go back without me asking I would make it really uncomfortable for him using the schooling whip and jerking his rope. Then when i decided we were going to load i would walk him to the ramp and then reverse him, do that several times until he would just walk up the ramp and reverse when I asked or stand still when I wanted. After a day or so i could walk him forwards, stand him still on the trailer and then reverse him calmly when I wanted him to. Now i walk to the trailer, tell him in, he walks in on his own. I then simply put up the tail bar, then the ramp. Now when I get to where I want to go I drop the ramp, clip on his lead rope, go round the back and drop the bar and tell him back. He calmly walks back. Don't feed or treat on the way in, only treat when he is in and standing calmly.
 
I wouldnt usually condone the use of food/treats but its the only way Ive been able to regain my boys confidence when unloading. He was bombproof travelling, used to tack him up in a trailer and lead him out second with no problems, until I used him as the sensible one when a friend tried her youngster. Things got a bit ugly and as he was tied up munching hay he panicked when he found he couldnt get out when the youngster had bolted taking the breast bar with him!!! It took a long time, but now, touch wood, he's absolutely fine on his own. With another horse he goes on first and comes off first because Im not chancing it. Even when he was much better he'd still panic when it came to getting off, a few bent doors later and I cracked it. I open front ramp, offer a handful of mix in a clenched hand so he can't wolf it down and while he's doing that I unclip lead rope and clip another one on, quietly undo breast bar and bingo. He'll stand happily finishing the mix and amble down the ramp. Ive not tried it without the treat but horses are creatures of habit so I wouldnt push it, he's not the bravest soul so I think I'd be asking for trouble. Ive taken him out alone and to competitions and we've never had an issue since Ive used this system. Incidentally, a girl at my yard has a nutty arab type who'd jump down the ramp and she found it was caused by the partition touching his sides as he got off, so now she moves it over and the problem's solved.
 
You could try sprinkling straw/bedding down the front ramp and onto the ground to encourage your youngster to walk down the ramp rather than jump it. Do be careful. Wear hat and gloves. Rope burns and a donk with horsey chin on your head isn't nice!
 
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