3Beasties
Well-Known Member
Well technically it's not loading help that I need. He loads OK but then tries to shoot back down the ramp/panics when partitions are moved.
Bit of history. I've had my X-Racer for about 9 years. I didn't have my own transport up until about 3 years ago so during the first 4 years I didn't really travel him anywhere. We tried to load him once into a lorry but gave up after an hour or so, he just wouldn't go near it, was rearing, throwing himself around and generally being a tit. Trailers he would load into but as soon as he felt the breech bar start to go up he would panic, shoot out backwards plowing through anyone that was stupid enough to be stood behind him.
I eventually got my own trailer,but unfortunately couldn't tow it so relied on none horsey stepdad to take me anywhere. This meant we were lucky if we got to go out more the twice a year
Having my own trailer meant I could do lots of work with him and he gradually built up his confidence about travelling. Would lead him through it a few times before putting the ramp up, and the breeching bar wouldn't be fastened until the ramp was up etc (I'd go down the other partition and reach across and do it up) It took up until I sold the trailer for me to feel any where near confident that we would have no issues with him loading/travelling but if I had taken him out more often I'm sure he'd have got over it a lot quicker.
Recently I had to load him into a strange trailer and he almost dragged me up the ramp and was perfect whilst breech bar, then ramp was put up. So great, we've cracked the trailer issue but now I have a lorry I have a new problem to overcome!
I haven't travelled him in the lorry yet, I'm not someone that will get him in and then slam the ramp up and drive off, I don't want to put him off for good. So far I have just practiced loading him. He initially refused to go up the ramp but did get over that very quickly. He then needed to learn not to panic when he got to the top and was asked to move his quarters over. This is still a work in progress. He is better and now knows what I want from him but he doesn't offer it up himself/doesn't always listen when asked. He tends to shift round quickly then rush to the top of the ramp, usually he then stands there looking out without too much worry. When asked to back up and shift over he gets really uptight.
Over Christmas I had a good session with him where he got to the stage of going up the ramp, shifting his quarters over and standing in the position he would need to be in for me to move the partitions over. I then tried to move the partition slightly (no intention of closing it right over at that stage) and he barged passed me and down the ramp. Went back a step and got him settled again before finishing the session.
For various reasons I hadn't tried again till today. Again I just worked on getting him confident moving his quarters over. He wasn't too bad at first but then decided he'd had enough so dragged me down the ramp a couple of times. He got a few reminders of his manners and I put the rope round his nose for good measures (he was just being rude and silly) and then loaded him twice, both times making him stand in the right position until I told him to move. He wasn't happy about it but did do as he was asked.
Has anyone got any ideas on how to make this easier for him? How to get him used to the partitions moving etc? I think part of the problem is he is scared to 'touch' anything around him, he stands really hunched up trying to avoid the partition that's already closed next to him and the side of the lorry behind where his bum is.
I am beginning to think he will never settle enough for me to feel happy taking him out in it! Feeding him in it won't work, he'll take treats from me sometimes but he won't eat a meal in there, not a chance. So any ideas?
I'm going to try again this afternoon and as often as I can through the week.
Bit of history. I've had my X-Racer for about 9 years. I didn't have my own transport up until about 3 years ago so during the first 4 years I didn't really travel him anywhere. We tried to load him once into a lorry but gave up after an hour or so, he just wouldn't go near it, was rearing, throwing himself around and generally being a tit. Trailers he would load into but as soon as he felt the breech bar start to go up he would panic, shoot out backwards plowing through anyone that was stupid enough to be stood behind him.
I eventually got my own trailer,but unfortunately couldn't tow it so relied on none horsey stepdad to take me anywhere. This meant we were lucky if we got to go out more the twice a year
Having my own trailer meant I could do lots of work with him and he gradually built up his confidence about travelling. Would lead him through it a few times before putting the ramp up, and the breeching bar wouldn't be fastened until the ramp was up etc (I'd go down the other partition and reach across and do it up) It took up until I sold the trailer for me to feel any where near confident that we would have no issues with him loading/travelling but if I had taken him out more often I'm sure he'd have got over it a lot quicker.
Recently I had to load him into a strange trailer and he almost dragged me up the ramp and was perfect whilst breech bar, then ramp was put up. So great, we've cracked the trailer issue but now I have a lorry I have a new problem to overcome!
I haven't travelled him in the lorry yet, I'm not someone that will get him in and then slam the ramp up and drive off, I don't want to put him off for good. So far I have just practiced loading him. He initially refused to go up the ramp but did get over that very quickly. He then needed to learn not to panic when he got to the top and was asked to move his quarters over. This is still a work in progress. He is better and now knows what I want from him but he doesn't offer it up himself/doesn't always listen when asked. He tends to shift round quickly then rush to the top of the ramp, usually he then stands there looking out without too much worry. When asked to back up and shift over he gets really uptight.
Over Christmas I had a good session with him where he got to the stage of going up the ramp, shifting his quarters over and standing in the position he would need to be in for me to move the partitions over. I then tried to move the partition slightly (no intention of closing it right over at that stage) and he barged passed me and down the ramp. Went back a step and got him settled again before finishing the session.
For various reasons I hadn't tried again till today. Again I just worked on getting him confident moving his quarters over. He wasn't too bad at first but then decided he'd had enough so dragged me down the ramp a couple of times. He got a few reminders of his manners and I put the rope round his nose for good measures (he was just being rude and silly) and then loaded him twice, both times making him stand in the right position until I told him to move. He wasn't happy about it but did do as he was asked.
Has anyone got any ideas on how to make this easier for him? How to get him used to the partitions moving etc? I think part of the problem is he is scared to 'touch' anything around him, he stands really hunched up trying to avoid the partition that's already closed next to him and the side of the lorry behind where his bum is.
I am beginning to think he will never settle enough for me to feel happy taking him out in it! Feeding him in it won't work, he'll take treats from me sometimes but he won't eat a meal in there, not a chance. So any ideas?
I'm going to try again this afternoon and as often as I can through the week.
