Horse unloads like a rhino being reintroduced to the wild!

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CharlesMax

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I am starting to become concerned about my very big boy's fast exiting from the trailer.

He loads perfectly and travels very well, cool as a cucumber when we arrive at meets/shows.

When I calmly try to offload he stands for a few seconds, goes into blind panic and darts off the back.

I have always stood at the front with him and had someone slowly release the back bars, etc. the second the bar is removed he dashes out. It's quite amusing as he always stands once he is at the bottom of the ramp. I am just concerned he will hit his head or hurt himself one day.


I have tried taking him off via the front ramp but this is worse. He jumps off in a blind panic.

I don't stand a chance in hell holding onto him as he's so big. I have tried food, repetition, etc.

Should I just make peace and leg him do it his daft way? It's a large ifor 510 and he is a 17hh bulky Irish draft.

Any advice appreciated!
 
If he were mine I'd park the trailer, well chocked, blocking one of his normal walkways and keep him walking through it until it just became boring as hell and second nature to him.
 
Good title!

Is he interested in food? At home, try holding a bucket for him as the back is opened, and keep him eating when the way is clear. Then, before he has finished and legs it, in your own time move him forwards calmly, either keeping the feed under his nose or slightly behind so that he thinks more of that than racing off. If you have room, take a step at a time towards the ramp, feeding at each step, so he is rewarded for slowness and calmness. Perhaps this part would be easier with mints in your hand under his nose, hold them in your closed hand as he takes a step, stop, let him have the mint. Then another step and another mint. You can walk all the way down the ramp like this.
 
Does he charge through narrow gaps/doorways as well?

I had a horse that could never be unloaded through the front as he just launched himself through. Coming out backwards happened at speed too, but slightly more controllable.

No matter how much we practised, what I did, he always went in and out of doors at warp speed, so much so that I used an extra long rope and everyone on the yard knew that "Coming Out!" meant Ali was leaving the building and they stood back, it was a well rehearsed procedure.

Turned out that he had cataracts. He was fine at any other time (as much as a rather flighty horse could be) just doorways and trailers you had to watch for. Perhaps worth having his eyes checked ?
 
I like the title too.

I used to have one of those. She did get better but it was so funny when we had to shout 'Stand back ! She's coming in to land !'
 
I've got a 15h version of a Rhino on speed when it comes to unloading!! However we can only 'do' the front exit as back is just well, non existent! (ever tried pushing a tonne of concrete with steel girders welded to the floor? - it don't happen!) ANYWAY, our best best was to get to where ever it was with MASSES of time to speed, open the top door, and wait yonks! This allowed her ladyship to chill - just enough that the speed on exit was reduced from 100mp/h to 50mp/h. Far from ideal but much better!! We always use a long rope, stand back and let her do the unloading. Standing in her way, or trying to steady her turns her into a Rhino driving a bulldozer on speed!!

The reason she does this, is, (we think) once when travelling in a friends forward facing, side unloading lorry, she had right angle turn, she caught her hip, jumped down and seriously scared herself. Only the one scare. Taken 10 + years to get it to where we are now!! Normal herringbone lorries, never a problem.

Good luck, and don't get hurt. Let him continue as he is comfy.
 
I used to work at a yard with all the bells and whistles you could imagine, one of the simplest things that really impressed me was that all the stable door had vertical rollers on either side, so that if a harse banged the side it simply rolled through rather than caught and injured itself.

I have often wondered whether horsebox manufacturers could (or do?) utilise this idea. So simple.
 
Is he at all bargy on the ground? Could you practice groundwork with him so that he is more respectful and submissive when unloading? Very scary when horses are barging out of lorries, trailers etc not to mention dangerous!! Do you unload him in a bridle or something that gives you a chance of more control? Good luck x
 
Used to work with a stallion who jumped the entire ramp every single time he was unloaded. We tried everything to get him to walk down it as we were so worried he would slip, would even prefer him to shoot down it! but no he had to stand at the top, wait until you moved out the way to the side of the ramp (if you didnt move, he wouldnt actually come out at all!) pulling had no effect, getting behind him had no effect he would just leap anyway, and he was always cool as a cucumber, just did it in one giant leap and stood at the bottom. never tried to bomb off after the leap or anything :rolleyes: thing was he was only 13.2hh so the jump was very impressive! rofl
 
CharlesMax said:
I am starting to become concerned about my very big boy's fast exiting from the trailer.


Any advice appreciated!
Click to expand...

You do say that your horse loads very well, and this is what will help you sort this problem out.

I have worked with several horses which would rocket backward out of a trailer. Any attempts at restraint of such a horse is very dangerous. Trying to stop the horse could result in him throwing his head and hitting the roof; testing your strength against him on the ramp will only result in causing him to increase his speed of exit, or rear, so you have to work on it from a loading point of view rather than unloading.

I usually start training the horse in an area away from the trailer, and aim to have him following, stopping, turning, and generally being responsive and attentive in-hand.

As he loads well, it should then be possible to train him to part-load, walking onto the ramp then off again, doing this several times before walking him the whole way in.

Repetition of this work will result in the horse becoming increasingly attentive to you during the loading process, and you should be able to use body posture/position and passive/assertive demeanour to have him step forward or back on the ramp, then forward and back within the trailer.

I do this as a matter of course with my own horses, and with any I work with for other people. It helps to keep the horse's focus on handler and loading process; he is more likely to stay with me and less likely to want to be anywhere else.
 
LOVE the title :D !! I'm going to be keeping an eye on this thread - my mare is terrible to unload, she's very excitable and the second the lorry partition is undone she's barging out - she leaps from the top of the ramp to the bottom as well. Work in progress!!
 
My gelding does this. Hates going through small gaps & will charge out of the trailer both backwards & forwards. as we go everywhere on our own I cant afford to be injured so I have changed to an Equitrek. Unfortunately with the weather a it is I haven't had the chance to practice yet. I'm hoping the wide ramp, will allow him the space to come out of the box slowly.
 
Take the partition out my 17hh horse did exactly the same he will be worried about hurting his left side as he exits there is just not enough room for a big horse to turn comfortable.

As he needs to turn he back end will still be trapped behind the centre pole that holds the partion in meaning he can't swing his quarters out

Take the partition out and your problem will be solved.

My lad was nearly jumping out with fear. After about 3rd time no partition Inge realised he had space and could come out comfortably he stopped diving out.

Now just potters out slowly happy as larry.
 
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