How to stop horse jumping off trailer ramp?

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My horse, who I got a couple of months ago, always jumps off the trailer ramp when he's getting out. It is an Ifor 511, and his previous owner had an Equitrek which he apparantly always came out of OK. He's been in the Ifor quite a few times now, and he loads OK (a bit obstinate at times but nothing major!) and travels well, never really arrived stressed or very hot.
He seems to just be very eager to 'get to' wherever he is going- I undo his rope first, then the breast bar, so he's not got an oppurtunity to try and leap off when he's still tied up! He is quite polite and doesn't *try* to barge me or anything, and waits for me to go out first, but then he always just jumps off, from the top of the ramp?!
Have tried keeping a tight hold, and quite a short rope but doesn't seem to make much difference. A friend suggested giving him a slap in the chest with the rope as he's thinking about jumping, but again it doesn't seem to affect him. He's happy to stand and wait at the door being held, as I thought if I made him wait he might be less enthusiastic about throwing himself off...nope :o

He is generally good and polite to handle, not bolshy, but when he gets excited he can forget his size.
 
If he is not hurting himself and being rude to you then I would just let him jump. If you hit him he might throw head up of anything and hurt himself and them not like the trailer. Dougal used to jump of sometimes, never did anything stupid just jumped off then waited to be tied up. if it becomes an issue and he is being bargy and rude and hurting himself of others then maybe then address the issue.
 
Thanks for your reply bay_beasty :) Yes that's a very good point about him associating pain with the trailer which I obviously don't want. When I say 'slap' I mean literally just swinging the end of the rope lightly into his chest. He barely flinches- and I don't want to hit him any harder for the reason that you said.
Weell the thing is, he kind of jumps, then it takes him a few strides to come to a halt (which he does do)- but the first time I took him to a competition, my friend got him out and he towed her for several strides across the lorry park :o which obviously is not ideal. She pulled him up sharply as soon as she could, and he hasn't done it that badly since, but still I feel like I should have more control.
 
lost said:
I'd leave open the front ramp and practise just leading him thro the trailer afew times so that he gets used to it when he isn't travelling.
Click to expand...

I've done that too, after several outings in the trailer have I led him in and out four or five times, he does it nicely after about 2 goes but it seems that anything he learns about walking off quietly disappears once we are in a new place..Thanks
 
Is he fond of his belly? If he is you might practise this at home then see if it transfers to a party situation...

Try taking down the breast bar and offering him treat. Then one each pace down the ramp until he gets the idea that going slowly might have its rewards and be more interested in you and his tum rather than in leaping off.

BTW I'm not a fan of tit-bits usually, but if it overcomes a problem like this, it may be worth it....
 
Ahhh I see, well could you unload in his bridle or a chifney if too much faff putting bridle on. Either that or agree with Kate Sturgess's Idea with distracting him with food.
 
use a lunge line or similar as a lead rope for unloading? that way if he leaps you can just let it out a few metres until he stops & you dont get towed across the showground. sounds like he is just eager & may calm down with time. does he do it if you put him back on the trailer then get him out later in the day (without actually going anywhere?)
 
I never take any of mine out of an Ifor williams forwards - always back them out. The trailer ramps don't lend themselves to an easy exit with larger horses having to bend round unaturally and ramp being difficult to see or judge.
I would go out backwards.
 
We had exactly this problem when we first got our Ifor (505). Ellie is not bargy in general, but as soon as the front ramp was taken down and the breast bar removed, she would literally leap to get out as quick as possible. We eventually ascertained that she was banging her hips on the corner as she walked out - trying not to squish me, she was making it awkward for herself and then jumping forwards because of the pain. What I do now is to actually get out of the trailer myself, with her on a nice loose rein, then let her amble down of her own accord, rather than 'lead' her out, if that makes sense? I also tie the partition over to the far side so that she has as much room as possible.

I think it's because of the right unloading design of the Ifors - you wouldnt get the problem with most other models (we tried her in a Wessex and she didnt even dream of barging out) as they have left unloading front ramps.
 
My horse does exactly the same out of an Ifor, I use a 505 and a 510. The partition shut on him once when he was halfway out so now he just runs and jumps off the ramp. I put a lunge line on him, step back out of the way and let him get on with it now!
He also travels fine and is happy to wait until I have taken the breast bar down, he even waits until I've unclipped him and put the lunge line on too!
 
We have an Ifor 505, and both our horses always rush down the ramp if they have travelled on the drivers side, so if there's only one we travel them on the passenger side, they travel fine and don't bang their hips coming out. The mare always bounds out of the trailer at home, but doesn't do it at shows (having said that she's started doing it when she goes to the vets - which has been quite frequently recently).
 
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