Loading help please - what next?! (Also in CR)

W

Wilbur_Force

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 March 2008
Messages
773
Location
Staffordshire
Visit site
Hi all,

Cutting a long story short, my horse is a pain to load - he's not scared, travels fab, doesnt sweat up, wont rush off the lorry or try to push down the ramp once he's in. You cant coax him with food generally and the pressure halter (Be-Nice) does not have the desired effect (he just pulls against it) and you could hang off it all day.

I have tried chifney, lunge lines, fed him calmers, been harsh with the pressure halter (which I hate) and he just plants himself or swings left and right for 30 minutes plus. Nothing works. The interesting part is when his blood gets up and he gets cross (rearing, skipping off the ramp etc), he loads in 2 minutes flat!

Obviously I would rather he didnt do these things and its horrible to see him upset, but he is genuinely not scared.

What next?
confused.gif
thanks all
grin.gif
 
We have just had this chat with someone a few posts try a natural horsemanship trainer or one Sunday afternoon or when ever you can afford a few hours, hitch the trailer up close to a wall on the left put both ramps down and take the partition down. arm you self with a packet of polos as rewards! you will prob get the same response as normal at first but when he goes in walk strait back out again the front ramp, then repeat it until it seems like you are walking round in circles throught the trailer seamlessly , then try stopping on the trailer for a few moments and a treat - then do the same but with the partition in. once he is happy with that close him up like you were going somewhere. If all goes to plan you can then give him a big pat and put him back in the field. repete the exercise again when ever you get the time.

I do hope this helps - trick is patience
 
I'm going to suggest the same thing as I suggested in the other loading post below - get a Kelly Marks Recommended Associate out
smile.gif


My horse is the same as yours; he isn't scared, he's just piggy and stubborn. The RA really helped though I occasionally do still have problems. Above all, do not get annoyed or upset. I'd suggest you get a Dually (I don't know anything about Be Nice halters, sorry) and do some groundwork. I found that I got quite fixated about getting mine on the trailer so it was an event. Now I do 5 or 10 mins of groundwork in the school before loading, around cones or over poles, backing up, turn on forehand etc, as that's reinforcing his manners, then I load him. No problems since starting to do it this way. You have to control where he puts his feet and the only way to reinforce this is with work in the school, IMHO. Once he realises you are in control, it will make things much easier. My boy is a dream in the school when doing groundwork, so it isn't even as though I'm having to correct anything, but I like to reinforce things.

With any type of pressure halter, they have to learn to yield to the pressure of it. Again, I think you need to teach this in the school first. Work around cones - figures of 8 around them, tight circles, back up, come forward. Do some turn on the forehand, making sure he moves his back end correctly and doesn't barge into you as an evasion. Work around and over poles, turn on the haunches, move him laterally. Just reinforce the fact that he has to move where you tell him to. The minute he yields, relax the pressure. You should be looking for the slightest "give" from him and then releasing, so that he learns that the pressure disappears when he gives to you.

Try parking the trailer flush against a wall, so that blocks off one escape route as he can't jump off one side of the ramp. Maybe put something on the other side too, a gate or wood panel, to block off that side. I park mine with something not far behind too, so that if he does run out backwards, he can't go far. It becomes much more welcoming for him to go in the trailer then. When you're trying to load, don't let him stare into space and ignore you; keep his attention on you all of the time. I'd spend some time in the school teaching him to come forwards as well - stand him square and walk away (couple of metres, then eventually to the end of the lunge line). Wait a few seconds and then ask him to come forwards, to you. Don't jerk the line, just put pressure on and keep the pressure on until he moves (or attempts to move). As soon as he moves, release. Keep doing this until he will walk straight to you the first time you ask. Then you need to apply this philosophy to loading. Some people back them up by trailer ramp and if they refuse but my horse worked out quite quickly that if he said no, he'd be sent backwards so he would go back of his own accord (therefore he was in charge as he'd *chosen* to do that). He would spend all day going backwards if it meant not going on trailer. Instead, I find the best thing is to walk straight up the ramp with purpose, make encouraging noises if need be. Don't act like he's going to stop, just keep walking with him at your shoulder (another thing to teach in the school, he must walk at your shoulder, not in front and not miles behind), without pressure on the halter as long as he's walking. If he stops, keep facing forwards (into the trailer), don't look at him and apply pressure to the line (a good amount of it too, make it bl00dy uncomfortable for him *not* to go on). Keep the pressure on until he yields forwards (you'll be able to feel it). If he does what mine does and flings his head in the air, runs back or whatever, don't look him in the eye, look down (I get angry if I look at him!!) and keep the pressure on. Load with gloves on!! Even if he pulls the lunge line until it reaches the end, just keep the pressure on. He will eventually work out that if he comes forward, the pressure goes away, and it will click that it's just easier to go on the trailer.

I've also been recommended that, when he stops, waggling lead rope from side to side vigorously so that his head moves around. Again, it just pi££es him off! As soon as he yields, stop it and release pressure. He will quickly realise that it's easier to go on.

I also have worked out that if I have treats in my pocket for loading (never at any other time!), he is now so fixated on getting those that he'd work across broken glass, never mind just go in the trailer.

I'm sorry this is really long and rambling but I wanted to tell you what has worked for me. I also know this sounds like a load of fluffy bunny hugging clap trap, but it works. I am the biggest cynic in the world...however it works
smile.gif
 
My mare had recently developed a stubborn habit when it came to loading.
All sorted by using a Monty Roberts dually head collar and watcing his dvd. It works a treat.
Not a 5 minute fx, took about ten!!!
Can't recommend it highly enough.
Had tried a pressure halter but she fought against it.
 
This is total sense, I have become the ........will load your horse person, and i totally agree with the establishing the discipline on the ground in another environment, as you said they must walk from your shoulder. I was told if a horse can make you step out of his space then he has won, they have to step out of your space.
 
Hi,
My horse is also a mule to load.
She now loads with two people and a towing strap (about 20cm wide fabric strap) the lunge line didn't work but she seems to realise that there is not much point fighting this.
Might be worth a try if you can borrow one?
 
Can I suggest one thing? Get someone else to load him. Make sure you're well out of the way and just see if he loads. I found with Ty that I have to not be in the vicinity as I obviously wind him up!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top