How to stop pony backing out of trailer

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wildandwoolly

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Hello all

I would be very grateful for any tips or suggestions which might help.

One of our ponies has always been a little tricky to load. He is now loading happily but I'm struggling when I am loading him on my own as he backs out before I have got the breech bar up. It's not a problem when there is someone there to help, just when I'm on my own. (The trailer is a rear unload). Anyone got any suggestions I can try?

Thank you in advance.
 
we get rescues in that are often mad loaders or do that backing thing your pony does. easiest fix is to get one of those buckets that hooks over a fence, and hook it over your front breastbar with a lick or a bit of feed. It is a miracle cure for bad loaders and stops backers too!
 
paddi22 said:
we get rescues in that are often mad loaders or do that backing thing your pony does. easiest fix is to get one of those buckets that hooks over a fence, and hook it over your front breastbar with a lick or a bit of feed. It is a miracle cure for bad loaders and stops backers too!
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Ooh clever. Am going to file that away for future reference
 
Thank you paddi22, I'll try that. Hopefully his greed will overcome the urge to run back :)

cowgirl16 - yes I have tied him but to be honest he will run back whether he is tied or not.
 
mule said:
Ooh clever. Am going to file that away for future reference
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it totally works. we get absolute loopers in who are wild, and the buket trick works. Just hook it over the front facing forward and stick either feed or a lickit in it. It distracts them enough to give you enough time to run back and do the backbar. It also encourages bad loaders.

For the worst loaders (who are absolutely mad) sometimes you have to do a staged walk up on the ramp with it. You just need to get the association into their head that there is food in it. It sometimes distracts them enough to get the seconds you need to run down the back and put the back bar up!
 
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I would get to the stage where you can pop the rope over the neck and "post" the pony in (walking in ahead without you) so you shut the bar before you tie up. I taught my horse this because we went everywhere in our own. Food at the front will help with this as well!
 
paddi22 said:
it totally works. we get absolute loopers in who are wild, and the buket trick works. Just hook it over the front facing forward and stick either feed or a lickit in it. It distracts them enough to give you enough time to run back and do the backbar. It also encourages bad loaders.

For the worst loaders (who are absolutely mad) sometimes you have to do a staged walk up on the ramp with it. You just need to get the association into their head that there is food in it. It sometimes distracts them enough to get the seconds you need to run down the back and put the back bar up!
Click to expand...

That's what I like about this forum. I learn loads:)
 
You could teach your pony to stand while you walk around it away from the trailer at first. Just loop the halter rope over his neck and maybe brush him lightly or fiddle with a rug while he stands untied. If he moves put him back in position until he gets it. Do this until you can walk all the way around him without him moving then it should translate to the trailer.
Also when training to load don't be too precious about moving quietly and carefully. I deliberately bang panels and jump up and down (within the horses tolerance levels, obviously), to desensitise them - food helps with this too.
 
We recently went to pick up a pony who absolutely hated the trailer she wouldn't step onto the ramp so you're already one step ahead.
I had training from a lovely horsewoman who specializes in loading issues her technique was fabulous!!

First of all when he is off the trailer lunge him make him work (trailer needs to be in an open space don't confine him) He needs to know the trailer is a place of rest.
You need to learn the 'feel' technique so... when he is standing still OR reversing back you keep the pressure on him, not yanking him but the rope should have slack so there is a definite pressure on his poll (use a rope halter, works much better, but have a 'normal' head collar over the top to tie him to in the trailer don't tie to the rope halter) when he comes forward you slacken all pressure immediately.
When he reverses off keep the tension on the rope until he gets off the ramp and then make him reverse back '5 meters' more than he wants too, if he wants to go back he can go ALL the way back . He should eventually get the message with the feel technique and not reverse so far, he will learn to move forward off the pressure.

Next tips really need a helper.. This wouldn't work on your own as you need someone at the back but may be worth trying when you have a helper to try and desensitize him so its easier when your own your own...
For your safety do not tie him up in the trailer until the back bar is up, you really need a helper doing this on your own is hard :(! When he is standing in the trailer treat him make sure he has hay,
and get someone to feel his bum, press a broom against his bum to replicate the bar, start rattling the vars so he gets used to the noise, lift the bar half the way up then back down, build your way up to putting the bar across, when its up leave it for 10 seconds then straight back down, reverse him off on your demand and give him a break. Then straight back too it..
He will most likely reverse at any stage of the above because it'll all be v scary so make sure your helper is on the other side of the partition and can move their arm out of the way. When he reverses make sure you follow him out but keep that tension on the rope until he comes forward again (a long rope or lunge line is needed!). This process could take a while but take your time and try not to get stressed, every time he back out go straight back to stage one.. touch bum, broom...

I promise you this absolutely works!!! We tried to load this pony for 4 hours she would not get on the ramp, we went again the following weekend with help and this lady had us on the trailer in 20 mins took us about an hour to desensitize the mare but then she stood on the trailer happily and we traveled 4 hours home peacefully :-)

Sorry I cant really help with the 'on your own' aspect of this but maybe the 'feel' technique may work for you.. or maybe this advise may help others! Best of luck! x
 
I used to send mine in without me, throwing his lead rope over his neck as he went, then put up the bar, shut the door, then go to the front and tie him up. Right or wrong method in other people's opinion but it worked for me :)
 
Thank you all for your replies. There are some really good ideas for me to try.

He is generally quite a sensible chap (a native pony so probably way cleverer than me!!) but does just have this little mental block about staying put while I put the back bar up. He will stand perfectly still on the yard whilst I walk all around him but isn't happy when I go backwards in the trailer to put the bar up and shoots out backwards. I'm hoping the bucket trick will work and then we can eventually progress to "posting" him in for his food :)

Very many thanks everyone who replied. This is such a great forum for ideas :)
 
My “preferred” technique for this would be similar to one above. As soon as he’s on the trailer reverse him off. Repeat a few times, and hopefully he will stop flying out at speed. Load on trailer, wait ten seconds, reverse off. Load on trailer, wait 15 seconds, building up so that standing on trailer = rest, moving = work.

Once he’s happy to stand, I would try practising the pony “posting” method.
If you can teach your horse to walk in a circle around you by simply pointing with the lead rein the direction you want him to go, you should be able to translate this to standing on the ramp, pointing in the trailer, and getting him to walk up the ramp and into the trailer.

Depending on how good your horse is you may need to replicate this on the ground - I’ve used some jump wings and poles before and it helped, although if your horse is likely to panic and break out of the pole/jump arrangement don’t do it.

Desensitising the horse to stuff around his bum as well will help. Eventually you should be able to move onto getting the helper to put a broom up his backside, or put the bar up and get the ramp shut quickly so he can’t escape
 
"Posting" in to a person standing in the front with treats helps dramatically, then graduating to something nice in a bucket.

With my horses, it doesn't take long before you pretty much have to keep.out if their way while they charge up the ramp and into the trailer ...
 
Quick up-date - Took my pony out to a competition today and loaded him single-handed to come home using the bucket trick! Super pleased it worked so well, and intend to get some practice in this week to consolidate. Thank you paddi22 for the tip :)
 
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