lottiepony
Well-Known Member
Some of you may have seen my post for any ideas on loading my stubborn mare 
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=537397&page=4
Thanks for all the ideas and I did try a couple,
Anyway we had another session yesterday and I'm completely gobsmacked but she only went and got all four feet inside the lorry
We started with a new plan on making the ramp as level as possible luckily there's a perfect point on the yard where we can do this so it ended up pretty much level. Anyway horse in just a parelli halter and does the usual thing of walking onto the ramp (all four feet) then stopping an not wanting to go any further, my 'helpers' tried encouraging from behind but this usually ended with her backing off the ramp completely. So change of tactic got everyone to leave us alone and I went for the old tempt in with food idea and low and behold it worked! just kept dropping it on the floor and giving her a handful if she stepped forward and completely off her own back she worked her way in!
We didn't manage to turn in the lorry but she did reverse very calmly out each time and I reckon she must of put herself in at least 3 or 4 times
Just so pleased as seems such a huge step forward, plan now will be lots of the same, no pressure and gradually encourage her to turn and come out the right way! Then eventually get the ramp on level ground and see if that changes things
Also perhaps it helped that I was completely calm and relaxed and didn't expect anything!
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=537397&page=4
Thanks for all the ideas and I did try a couple,
Anyway we had another session yesterday and I'm completely gobsmacked but she only went and got all four feet inside the lorry
We started with a new plan on making the ramp as level as possible luckily there's a perfect point on the yard where we can do this so it ended up pretty much level. Anyway horse in just a parelli halter and does the usual thing of walking onto the ramp (all four feet) then stopping an not wanting to go any further, my 'helpers' tried encouraging from behind but this usually ended with her backing off the ramp completely. So change of tactic got everyone to leave us alone and I went for the old tempt in with food idea and low and behold it worked! just kept dropping it on the floor and giving her a handful if she stepped forward and completely off her own back she worked her way in!
We didn't manage to turn in the lorry but she did reverse very calmly out each time and I reckon she must of put herself in at least 3 or 4 times
Just so pleased as seems such a huge step forward, plan now will be lots of the same, no pressure and gradually encourage her to turn and come out the right way! Then eventually get the ramp on level ground and see if that changes things
Also perhaps it helped that I was completely calm and relaxed and didn't expect anything!
