Loading a 2 yr old

S

suzi

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 January 2002
Messages
1,084
Location
Surrey / Hants border
Visit site
Hi,

having had some good advice from you all I've got another question!!

What's the best way of loading for the first time?

I've spent ages trying to get my 2 yr old to load (I need to move him to new grazing for the winter) and am getting no where.

Have tried with one of my others in the box, without, following them in, with food, with people pushing from behind etc etc.

Really have no clue where to go from here.

He just gets to the bottom of the ramp and plants himself. will lean forwards to try and reach food, but won't put he feet on the ramp, have tried picking his front feet up but as soon as I do he just moves backwards.

He was herded into a sheep trailer as a baby, and was sedated by the transporter when he was moved from Devon to home last December but apart from that he's not been travelled.

I've been trying for a couple of weeks now and am just not making any progress at all!!

Any ideas?

Thanking you all in advance!
 
i saw on tv a few times where they had the horse a few steps away from the trailer, had a lunge rope attatched to the side of the trailer and round the back end of the horse (not attached, someone held it), and someone sweeping with a brush behind a horse, walking forwards (towards the horse) someone walks the horse forwards onto the ramp and into the trailer while the lunge rope guides the horse in and the sweeper sweeps.

sorry if it doesnt make sense

might be worth a try :)
 
I used a bucket of feed to prompt my just turned 3 year old to load and luckily she went on ok, but she'll do anything for a bit of grub!

There was a great post on here a few weeks ago with some good advice on loading youngsters, but im not sure how to find it for you.

Good luck, I hope it all goes smoothly for you both
 
Couple of weeks is no time at all really. Are you loading him into a trailer or box?
If its a box, you might find the ramp gradient is what is putting him off. Everytime we have found it an issue, putting the ramp down on a raised surface (like a hill) so that the ramp is level with the box solve's the problem 99% of the time (just make sure the ramp has gates so he cant hop off the side!).
 
I'm afraid I'm no use as my yearling walked herself up the ramp without me when I first loaded her, and since then have never had a problem. However persevere and I hope your patience pays off!
 
Ok here goes. I will try and explain what I have learnt from a lady that came to help with my mare.

Using a stallion chain across the horses nose start off by doing some ground work. Walking on then backing up making the horse get out of your space etc etc.

Once this is going well approach the ramp, stop a few meters away and give the horse time to assess his surroundings. Make sure his breathing is calm and slow (as should yours be) approach the ramp with you in front of the horse, as soon as he starts to hesitate put pressure on the stallion chain keep the pressure on until the horse steps towards you and the ramp. If the horse runs back or rears stay where you are and keep the pressure on (you will need a lunge line) until the horse steps back to the spot where it started to step away.

Slowly keep doing this and each time the horse should come closer to the ramp. Once the horses feet are at the bottom stop and let the horse asses (he needs to be able to assess the head height and the room) stand in the lorry / trailer and face the horse putting light pressure on ask the horse to step up, if the horse runs back stay where you are and using the pressure / release technique get the horse back to the same spot!!

Keep going until the horse is in then repeat.
I promise it worked with my mare.

Good luck.
 
I'm loading him into a box but because our yard is quite tight there's not really anywhere else I can put it, and sadly no where I can make the ramp flat.

I know it's still early days but he's been so un fased by everything else so far that I'm at a total loss!

He's a strong bugger too considering he's only about 11.2hh at the moment!!
 
Is there anyway you can get the ramp down, and maybe with electric fence or an existing area, make it so the when the ramp is down, you and horse are penned in (so no running off to the side etc)
This is the way I have always done it, but I guess it depends on how human and food orientated horses are. We get them in the pen, and I or OH sit half way up the ramp and hand feed, so the horse can stand on the ground, but associates the ramp with low pressure work, and easy treats.
Then, if the horse is greedy enough, if you move up the ramp, he should follow, all in order to get the prize at the end.
For the first few times we do it loose, and don't even shut the ramp or tie them up etc.
After a while introduce doing it on the lead, then only getting a treat at the end, then eventually getting tied up, the ramp up, then the engine on etc.
To be honest, this has worked consistently for me. I see no point in using force, or violence, as in this method the only associations that can be made with horseboxes are positive. If you use fear (Whips, pushing them up) IMHO there is always going to be negativity in their minds. ("Oh yes, I must go up, because when I don't I get smacked" Rather than "Haha, my human is so silly, I know there is food hidden up here and I get hugsand praised, lets go up and get it!")
 
well my babys now 2 but for the last year every time i have box up there i lunge her around it gettn one leg on etc then two....shes now comfortable going in n out etc....two days ago i had to move horses to new place only 10 mins ride but she loaded np and travelled fine...so i guess i wud get her used to going in n out of trailer and eating in there....tbh i find bribary to get them on doesnt work cos they too afraid to eat...make them think its the best place to be by working them outside of trailer and letting them rest n eat inside the trailer..hope this helps x
 
Well, I'm going to give it another go this afternoon so wish me luck!!

If he was a bit smaller I reckon I might have to resort to my OH and my Dad carrying him on!!!

He doesn't appear frightened as such, just a bit wary (totally understandable) but it's the lack of progress that's frustrating I guess. He walked straight to the bottom of the ramp 2 weeks agoand we're still there - not even put one foot on it.

Have got over loading issues with 2 of my other horses but never had to teach one from scratch.

Have contemplated driving it into the field and leaving it open with his food in it but don't want to risk him injuring himself!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top