Loading advice - won't stay on...

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trojanpony

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(also in comp)
Can anyone offer any advice please? My 6yo after many years of loading fine suddenly decided against it at his first competition this year. We have had a few practice sessions and ironed out the loading problems so that we can get him to go on and off the box, but now the problem is that I can't get him to stay up once he's on. Being tied seems to make him anxious and last time I tried tying him he pulled back and snapped the string. I think this is because I've tied him too tight when travelling him in the past and so he feels nervous now.

Because I have a side loading box I really need to be able to get him to tie and stand comfortably while I close the partition and ramp. My best plan so far is to start giving him a bucket once he's on in the hope that will encourage him to stay on and maybe relax gradually. I'd love to hear any other advice though, as this definitely feels like more of a work-around than a proper solution.

Tips, anyone?
Thanks!
 
With ponies that do this I leave a lunge rein through the tie ring with the loose end outside held by a helper, I load pony, praise him, clip lunge rein on and tell him to stand, helper applies pressure if he pulls back (helper NEEDS gloves on) and ONLY if he pulls back. You need to keep telling him to stand (and have reinforced this on the ground where he feels comfortable, preferably). Then close the partition.

I also use a similar technique if I'm by myself except that I hold the lunge rein whilst I close the partition.
 
Thank you - actually the thought had crossed my mind. Think I would need more than one helper though as he is 15h and now he has broken the string he knows he can go. I just worry it will go wrong and then I'll have reinforced the 'lorry = trauma' message...
:S
 
Really glad you posted this as I have exact same problem. Horse gets on lorry fine but won't stay up there for ramps/partitions to be closed. we are working on it this month (job of the month so to speak) so will try with lunge line :)
 
You may have to take a step back and get your horse happy to load and stand in the lorry before you tie him up.

When a horse decides he wants to get out of the lorry stay out of his way. Trying to slow him down will only make him move faster. Conversely, allowing him to do it at his own speed will take the pressure off and he'll slow himself down. Bring him back in again and repeat until he is really relaxed and holding himself in before touching the door or ramp. You may need to get a long rope. If you try to con him with food you might get a bigger reaction if he panics.
 
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put on the lorry every day tie him short and feed him. as days progress feed him and shut him in for lengthening periods of time. if he likes being groomed, load him and brush his hair tied up. but dont let him take the p.
 
Thanks all, Better Half I'm inclined to follow the patience route and see how it goes. We've already had two sessions with at least 20+ in and out of the box and the best we managed was about 10 minutes standing on (this on the first day when he was more hungry for the haynet which was on there). On the second day he wasn't hungry and we managed no more than a minute on at a time. Hopefully perseverance will pay off!
 
trojanpony said:
Thank you - actually the thought had crossed my mind. Think I would need more than one helper though as he is 15h and now he has broken the string he knows he can go. I just worry it will go wrong and then I'll have reinforced the 'lorry = trauma' message...
:S
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I load a 16.2 warmblood like this - he can tank me back down the ramp if I've just got a lead rope on him, if the lunge rein is through the tie ring (don't use string, you want to be in control of the "give" not a bit of string that will break) he can't.

You need to feel in control of the situation so that you can be calm, if you feel calm and in control he'll feel calm and under control.

Another option is to put the lunge rein on the partition and as he walks on pull it to behind him.

I was assuming, I have to say, that he walked on fine and was taking the pee by escaping from you. If you've frightened him in the past by tying him too short so he can't balance and then by letting him pull back you might be better to build a stable-sized pen at the bottom of the ramp and put his feed, hay and water in the lorry and leave him there for a couple of days - if he wants to eat and drink he'll go in, the more times he goes in the less bothered he'll be. Mind you, if he's learnt to piss off back down the ramp, until you actually STOP him doing it he's likely to remember the trick.
 
I'm sorry if I'm reading right, I would definately advise that using a rope straight through the tie ring is not only dangerous to you but the horse aswell! I agree with with patience and perseverence though. My horse used to load without a worry and would even go in himself and stand on his own. But he had few scare, and is now bordering on dangerous to try load, nevermind leave standing! He also even broke the lead rope to get free!
If I have to move him now I use an oral sedative advised by my vet, though for shows that's no good!
But I've found if you park up so there's not a lot of space around you, use a lunge rope don't look back at the horse, as this makes them uncertain and uneasy and wait and perseverve! Also would he be calmer with another horse beside for company?
These are just suggestions, and every horse is different, I just find creating a fight is just making things worse.
But I hope you find something that works!
 
Nothing is tied to the tie ring. I think someone holds the lunge line if I understood correctly.

My big cretin knows exactly how to snap string. And how to pop the clips off lead ropes. Horrible animal!
 
See if you can make the decision to go out before he needs to, increase each time only if he is happy. When you take him off make sure there is not even a moment before you ask him back on, so the best place to be for a moment’s peace is standing in the lorry. Do it without food as this is just a distraction. Good Luck for the weekend.
 
Thanks all for your advice - update from last night. Took the partition out and he was much happier. Closed the doors (not ramp, so he could still see out) without tying him and he was happy eating a bucket and didn't stress when he finished his food. Waited a few more mins then opened the doors. Waited another minute then asked him to come off. All happy as larry. :) So think I will avoid tying him altogether and let him travel loose and move himself wherever he wants to be...
 
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