How do you deal

benson21

benson21

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 December 2009
Messages
2,861
Visit site
with a pony that wont load? Ifor williams trailer, loads fine at home, but to come home from a show, refuses to budge forwards?
 
If he loads fine at home I'd be suspicious that something was bothering him while travelling, I'd check that the driver was definitely driving as if they had the best china on the back seat, and turns, braking etc were slow and steady.

The other possibility is that there is just too much going on in a showground situation that unsettles him, maybe having a few drives out somewhere quiet, unload, graze for a while and then load up again and see if that helps?
 
Is it your trailer (or can you borrow it regularly?) and do you know any friendly local yards/arenas for hire/other safe places you could drive to and practice loading in? Perhaps just before tea-time...
 
My instructor uses tiny amount of sedalin on the way home, as her horse is the same, fine travelling there... troublesome travelling home. Failing that, I have just had someone out to do loading with my horse who was brilliant ... might be worth looking down the groundwork route to get on top of it.
 
Is Donovan being cheeky?!
I had the same problem with my cob until I realised that it was the fact that I was allowing him to graze at the venue, he didn't want to leave the grass, which was obviously tastier than at home, lol! So no grass at comps, only a haynet.
Hope that is of some help.
 
Without meaning to disrespect Winklepoker and her totally gorgeous horse I'd be bit worried about an instructor suggesting
- spurs and whips to get a horse to perform at a comp (that was on another thread) and then
- sedation to get it home.

Horses ideally need to have full control of their minds and bodies in order to balance travelling.

I'd be v cautious abt travelling a 'drowsy' animal and an instructor should help with training not short-cut gadgets and drugs!
 
Thanks for all the replies, I think I am putting it down to him taking the pi$$!!! He has been being a monster to lunge as well, and I think he is just trying out my weak spots! Had someone else lunge him last night and he was as good as gold! Little Sod!
 
My mare was a sod when it came to loading. She would get her front feet on the ramp, do a turn on the forehand then rear off the ramp so that she was facing the wrong way!

A friend of mine showed me how to use a pressure halter. The horse is not allowed to move backwards. It can stand still with the pressure on or it can move forwards. If it tries to go backwards, it puts more pressure on. The only avenue for release is forwards and onto the trailer! Then a reward. I would fight the fight to get her on the trailer, then feed her on the trailer. The fight became less, but you must be consistent. The only way the pressure comes off is when the horse releases it by moving forwards into the trailer ( - even when she is facing the wrong way because she has just reared off the ramp and is standing next to the trailer wall, laughing!!!!! She has climbed onto the ramp from the side a couple of times to get inside)

It worked and (touch wood) I have a horse that loads well.
 
On Sunday someone else took him from me and got him on. Other than that its just patience! Once he is on he stands quite calmly, dont really feel him move around at all. Practiced again last night at home and he went straight on 3 times, so it does seem its when we are out.
 
benson21 said:
On Sunday someone else took him from me and got him on. Other than that its just patience! Once he is on he stands quite calmly, dont really feel him move around at all. Practiced again last night at home and he went straight on 3 times, so it does seem its when we are out.
Click to expand...

How did this other person get the pony on?
 
One on his head collar, one around the back of him, not touching him but making it unpleasant for him to go any other way but forward. So if he went sideways or backwards they were there wafting a whip around.
 
Bug does this, she isn't bothered by travelling at all would just rather stay with the fun.
I have her with front two feet on trailer, i don't hassle her to go forwards but she isn't allowed to go back or look outside of trailer, she'll then decide when SHE is ready to wander up the ramp.

Pointless hassling it just takes longer.

You might just have to allow more time just to stand and chill on the ramp.
 
I would suggest again, a pressure halter, because he is not opeying the person at his head, but moving away from an unpleasant situation. One day, you will need to load him on your own, perhaps to go to the vets (I hope not though)
 
Bug2007 said:
Bug does this, she isn't bothered by travelling at all would just rather stay with the fun.
I have her with front two feet on trailer, i don't hassle her to go forwards but she isn't allowed to go back or look outside of trailer, she'll then decide when SHE is ready to wander up the ramp.

Pointless hassling it just takes longer.

You might just have to allow more time just to stand and chill on the ramp.
Click to expand...

HEHE its likes kids leaving a bday party isnt it!! Maybe if its safe to do so, move the box away from the showground and the action and get your ponies to load in a quiet area?? x
 
I had this with one of my boys not getting on the Lorry after a couple of days away. OH held him while I loaded our other and closed the ramp, drove 30 yards up the car park then stopped and dropped the ramp. He thought he was being left behind and ran up the ramp, never had a problem since!
 
I'd practice like mad. Do you have a friends yard nearby you could take him? If you put him in the trailer to take him anywhere - even just a mile down the road so he thinks its a proper journey then I'd unload him (and maybe go for a hack) then try loading again. I'd do this as often as possible.
 
My young horse had always been like this, he was perfectly happy staying at events on the car parks, IE the futurity gradings, various other parties I took him to. He was so nosey, it was more about getting his attention and concetrating.

He just loved looking around etc, Anyway we found the only way which was quick and painfree for my boy was to have a few drops of water chucked just above his hocks from a bucket. So we got him straight at the bottom of the ramp whilst still gwaping around and a little flick with the water and up he went.

Not saying it works for everyone but after loading horses for many many years, this works well with my 17.2hh big baby. and he gets one opportunity to go up the ramp, if not he is shown the blue bucket and then he knows he will get water flicked on his bum so up he springs like a lamb.
 
Janette said:
My mare was a sod when it came to loading. She would get her front feet on the ramp, do a turn on the forehand then rear off the ramp so that she was facing the wrong way!

A friend of mine showed me how to use a pressure halter. The horse is not allowed to move backwards. It can stand still with the pressure on or it can move forwards. If it tries to go backwards, it puts more pressure on. The only avenue for release is forwards and onto the trailer! Then a reward. I would fight the fight to get her on the trailer, then feed her on the trailer. The fight became less, but you must be consistent. The only way the pressure comes off is when the horse releases it by moving forwards into the trailer ( - even when she is facing the wrong way because she has just reared off the ramp and is standing next to the trailer wall, laughing!!!!! She has climbed onto the ramp from the side a couple of times to get inside)

It worked and (touch wood) I have a horse that loads well.
Click to expand...

Ditto this, my horse was a nightmare to load with a "convential headcollar" and a bucket of nuts, used the Natural Horsemanship way plus Parelli Halter and - bingo - a happy, relaxed horse who loads within a couple of minutes when it used to take me up to 30 mins!! :D
 
I use a great tip from another forum user and have a feed (coarse mix rather than safe & sound) he isnt allowed at home- he's so excited about the treat he nearly falls into the bucket and is oblivious he is walking up the ramp :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top