How can I make sure that he won't jump down the ramp again!

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Roskilly

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Hi, I am new to the forum and I am hoping that someone can help me with a problem. I have a 4yo who is going away to be broken soon and we have been practicing loading into the lorry. He loads well but jumps over the ramp to come out. The last time he did this he fell when he landed and has scrapped one of his knees.

Has anyone else had this problem and how did you solve it? I am just loading and unloading him as often as I can at the moment and hoping that he gets bored with it.
 
make him walk up the ramp very slowly, and stand on it for a long time, don't let him rush into the box, let him really get confidence in it. march around on it yourself - i always find this gives them confidence, they can see that it holds you okay, daft as it sounds! then get him to walk out very slowly, with a bridle on if necessary... he must wait and go at your speed, not just tank down it because he's scared. treats/bucket of food is a good idea, ideally held by someone else so you have 2 hands to control his forward speed if necessary!
 
Thanks will try with a bucket and a bridle. Am hoping that this is a good sign that he should at least jump down steps when older
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My pony went through this when we were practising loading - used to have a problem getting him on, which we resolved but then he started jumping/rushing off.

As others have said, get him really comfortable on there and use a bridle for control - this really helped me.

Now we have started getting out and about I find that he now has a good look round where we are before he actually comes off and now walks off slowly so I think sometimes they anticipate it when you are practicing at home.

Good luck, I'm sure he will get over it.
 
Not sure if you have already but be sure to make him wear some good sturdy leather knee boots and bandages - limit any further damage.

You could put these on him in the stable a few times before so that he gets used to them.

Good luck with him!
 
My young horse used to do this when I first started practicing loading. She loaded ok but on unloading she leapt the full length of the ramp. She has gradually got better and now unloads lovely. I
started to improve her confidence by getting her to stand on the ramp while going in and then walk a few paces backwards off it so she could get her balance and a feel of her feet. I did this quite a few times over a few weeks and didn't push her into walking into the trailer and out down the front ramp. It seems to have worked because when I tried her down the front ramp she didn't bat an eyelid and calmly walked down. She now loads and unloads without any problem.
 
i had a youngster do this. we backed the lorry to school gates and put the ramp down, then practised coming down at least when she dived from the top she had a soft landing. we also used a lunge line instead of a lead rope
 
Try teaching him the command 'slow' on the ground and nowhere near a ramp. Teach him that wen you say 'slow' he has to walk as slowly as you are waling. Once he learns this as an exercise, start doing it in different places, when he is consistent and will go slowly every time you say 'slow' try the ramp.

Good luck!
 
My horse always has and still does jump off the ramp, it was awful when I had a little transit with a narrow front ramp, but he's much better coming out of a lorry.

He always does it when we get to a show, he likes to make an entrance and it certainly makes everyone look at him!
 
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