loading AGAIN stressed

[itsu]

Still can't load my horse in his trailer. Been trying the nice quite loading also tried couple of friends to help but still will not go in and stay in. missing so much and to cap it all moving fields on monday had my field for 32 years but have to move. if he will not go in trailer will have to ride him there and wanted both to go together as my other horse has be in some field for 16 years and don't want it to be to stressful for her.has anybody got any idea or fancy trying to get him in i live in Dorset

 

[_daisy_]

I really feel for you. I was in the same place as you last year with my mare. I couldnt go anywhere as she wouldnt load. If she did she wouldnt load to come home.
Why dont to you get in touch with Richard maxwell or someone like that? I know my NH trainer would come and help you out. Why not give her a ring? www.lisabruin.com

 

[dozzie]

Have you tried the lunge rein through the bit then around his bum and back through the bit the other side? You can also take it over the poll. I can get my 16.2 in on my own by doing this. Putting the rein through the bit and/over the poll helps to stop the horse from getting his head up. (I dont do that unless horse is really difficult- ie last resort if just through the bit doesnt work)

Every time they try to go back just pull down and forward on both sides of the lunge rein. It is not the same as having to lungelines and two people. One lunge line and one person with someone to help keep horse straight and close the back ramp.

The lunge rein needs to stay quite high aroung the bum ie not down near the stifle or hocks as you lose the leverage. If you want more info I will try to get a photo of me doing it with another horse who is a bugger to box!

And its worth getting the horse used to the lunge rein being behind its bum and going forward from it before you try to load. Ie walk it round the yard a few times.

Ive only had the technique fail once for me but I have a friend who tried it or so she says and it didnt work, but the same friend had a horse who couldnt poo and walk so think she gave up too easilyand probably wasnt doing it right anyway!

 

[lea840]

Another option is a pressure halter... My horse use to load until a scary trip one day which totally put her off!!

When i was first showed a pressure halter i was not convinced that a flimbsy bit of string would get a 16.3hh Part Clydesdale into the horse box... But it worked! It is made of a very soft silky type rope which you put on just like a headcollar, as soon as the horse resists or pulls back it put pressure on the poll and muzzle, the only way the pressure come's off is when the horse takes a step forwards... offering a piece of carrot or apple is often enough for the horse to take one step forwards, the pressure is then let off and a small food reward is given... it did take several attempts before my horse twigged into the fact that walking forwards made the pressure go away and there was food lol

I tried this a few times before going out to competitions and would load her into the box and then allow her to eat her tea in there and have a sniff around, talking to her and patting her also helped by reasurring her that it was ok...

The last thing you want is an audience of people around, this often can make a situation far worse, your best bet is to try it with a friend there who can come in use by passing you apples and carrots...

Remember, keep it calm and calm means safe, take your time and dont rush these things... even get a friend to load their horse first, your horse will then see the other one going in and getting a food reward, horses will often feel safer if they see aother horse doing something first...

Good luck

 

[Coffee_Bean]

I am in the same place with my horse

, she rears and rears and will not go in. I have just purchased a training halter and a friend is coming to get her in, (she had Richard Maxwell out for her horse and now he like, runs into the trailer.) If your go on RM's website, buy yourself a pressure halter and 12ft rope and watch the DVD that comes with the halter
Good luck

 

[thecantlefamily]

have u tried a lorry instead, some prefer lorrys 2 boxing,

 

[PeterNatt]

Getting a horse to load is a matter of patience, dtermination and practicing doing it every day for three month.

 

[TarrSteps]

No, it's a matter of setting up the situation well and educating the horse - and the handler - properly.

Sorry, I don't mean to cause offence, but I make quite a lot of my living "fixing" horses that don't load and helping the owners keep them fixed. I've never had one take more than a couple of sessions to get sorted. Actually I've never had one not get comfortable with it in the first session so long as the situation is managable e.g. the trailer's okay, the people are reasonable etc., but sometimes it takes a bit of practice with owner to affect permanent change.

You CAN do it over months but why? It's a misunderstanding not something the horse has to work up to. That said, it works to take it slowly so long as you're making progress so to each their own. I've just found that this seems to more often result in horses that revert apparently out of the blue.

There's a reason the horse isn't getting on. (Yes, yes, you can say it doesn't want to but why's that? Horses are basically compliant or we'd never be able to get them to do much at all.) Find the reason. Find a solution. Voilà.