Horse panics when offloading from trailer - any tips??

[CharlesMax]

Hi, I was hoping for some advice:

My horse loads onto trailers brilliantly and is very well behaved on the journey. The probem is when we lead him off - he gets totally panicked and literally jumps off. He is recovering from an injury and I need to transport him to another yard so my concern is the possibility of himk doing himself more damage when jumping off! (and the people he might injure along the way!!)

Does anyone have any short-term and long-term tips?

Do any of you offload your horses backwards down the ramp?

I suppose long-term would be to lead him on and off with lots of praise, etc until he stops thinking about it?

Thanks for your help!

 

[*hic*]

In the good old days everyone unloaded backwards as there were no front ramps.

So four things spring to mind:

1) unload backwards having made sure you have some form of gate either side of the ramp to stop him dropping a leg off.
2) see if the new yard has a raised loading ramp/bank and then spend a little while manouevering the trailer so that the ramp lowers down onto the ramp/bank so that he unloads on a flat surface.
3) get some very solid boards and planks and make a slope to lower the ramp onto so that there is a much longer ramp for him to walk down which would hopefully encourage him not to try to clear the ramp as he jumps off.
4) blindfold - I wouldn't do this with any of mine although I know people who swear by the method.

 

[Vetwrap]

I offload my older horse backwards and distract with a treat whilst asking him backwards.

Many horses will knock themselves as they come off the front ramp of trailers, particularly if you travel them on the right and have a right unloading ramp - such as an Ifor Williams. The pain and fright of hitting themselves will make them rush off. Better to break the cycle by reversing off and reward for good and sensible behaviour.

Practice at home and boot up well. Having someone else to guide the horse and keep them straight with a guiding hand is also useful - as long as this isn't going to worry the horse even more.

 

[Toffee44]

Samba does this. I spent thee days on the trot just playing with the trailer, feeding her in it etc she soon figured she didnt need to rush off like a loon taking me with her. You couldnt try backing out with a bucket in front of horse.

 

[dafthoss]

Have you tried distracting him with a small bucket of food on the way down? Hopefully he will be to intrested in that to jump off. Alternativley I know a few people who unload backwards without any problems but its not something I would try with mine as he has a history of being a dodgey loader. Is there a grassy space you can unload on so if he does go a little quickley or jump he has a better landing surface.

 

[*hic*]

Training is all very well, and an extremely good idea, however the OP has one chance at this in order not to risk exacerbating the current injury.

 

[CharlesMax]

Great advice guys - I like the idea of offloading onto a bank so the ramp is level with the ground but will also try offloading backwards for the short term.

Has anyone sedated their horses when transporting? - this is not something |I would make a habit - just this once while he is still on the mend.

 

[Orangehorse]

Can you stick his head in a bucket of feed as the ramp comes down? Will he stand still and wait until you say it is OK to move?

 

[fatpiggy]

My mare basically doesn't box, so had to be sedated to within an inch of her life when she had to go to Leahurst. Her nose was almost resting on the floor before she was winched into the lorry - as soon as the engine started so did she!! No sign of any sedative then and she kicked hell out of the inside of the lorry

 

[Vetwrap]

My fault - scan read and missed the bit about injury...

Offloading backwards with the slope minimised is an excellent idea. Distraction with treats or feed worked for me. I have travelled a horse home in a cast and after sedation at the vets. Just taking everything very slowly and making sure you have everything prepared is the best way to go.

I have previously used a valerian tincture for trailer training a nervous youngster, otherwise a good calmer (Equine America Super Kalm) should do the trick. I would hesitate to use sedalin, in case he struggles with balance. A calmer should just keep his adreneline levels under control.

Best of luck.

 

[biggingerpony]

My mare panics when unloading backwards! Too the point of being dangerous, so we always unload her from the front. Giving her treats to calm her down. With her its the excitement of being somewhere new I think! O also we open up the top part of the side door so she can have a good look around before unloading so its not all exciting and new!

 

[Twilkolock]

I've had horses do this in the past and it can be really scary for all concerned.
The important thing is to try to break the behaviour - otherwise each time he rushes out it is reinforcing the behaviour and confirms that it is truely scary to come out of a trailer. Whatever you do you need to show him that it is not scary to exit a trailer and never punish fear.

You could try:
1. Do some groundwork first. Make sure you can lead and especially stop him whenever and wherever you want. His fear is obviously over-riding your aids/requests to stop whilst trying to unload him. (I presume you're not just letting him rush out but rather trying to control it and he's just 'bolting' out.)
2. You must get the stopping response perfect before you attempt to unload him again. This way, he knows that stop means stop even if he is worried. Reassure and then praise when he stops from your aids. Praise any good attempts.
3. Then try a mock up - is there anywhere where you can simulate unloading? (Even perhaps coming out of his stable backwards? Practice stopping when you want and make sure you stop him every stride or so, so you know that you can control the exit when he does it for real.
3. I'd be tempted to do all of this in a bridle as you have greater control. Then when unloading, can you put the bridle on before you unload him? Then eventually, do dome groundwork with the headcollar so that you can eventually unload him from that.
4. When you feel that you've cracked the stop response - try for real. It is important that you're able to stop him every stide or so (and not simply just rush out quickly to get it over and done with.) This is because when he's asked to stop and wait he will have to sit with his fear. Praise and resassure. He will soon learn that nothing bad happens and the fear will subside. He will then probably 'manage' himself and unload quietly.

Hope this works for you. Has worked for me in the past. Good luck.

 

[Wagtail]

I'm afraid I have no cure for the horse jumping off, though I do know how to protect the people when they do it. Firstly, always use an extra long lead rope (about 12 foot), or a lunge line so that you don't have to fly through the air with the horse. Also wear a hat and gloves. Secondly, if you have someone to help, have them stand to the side of the ramp (on the ground right next to the lorry or trailer and not at the bottom of the ramp) and pass the lead rope to them so the horse is controlled by the person on the ground and not the one on the trailer. Much safer all round.

 

[Lu1]

I unload backwards too, as we have an Ifor Williams trailer and he used to shoot out and the ramp is at a funny angle...going backwards, he just seems to go really slowly, then when he's half way back on the ramp, he has a good look around, but never rushes off-it has made such a difference to both of us! Good luck

 

[TTK]

My Appy used to try to kill me by jumping on me in a panic unloading from the front of the trailer. If I walk him slowly backwards off the rear ramp he's an angel. Just take it slow and guide him with the rope and your hand on his side. One step at a time is the safe way.