skint1
Well-Known Member
I'd like to preface by saying I am not in any way an expert, it's just a thought that's been germinating away in my messy big head so I thought I would see what others thought about it ...
I've known a few horses who are really difficult to load, some are stubborn, some are a bit scared, some a bit of both, our horse is like this too so I know how heartbreaking and demoralising it it can be for the owner. It's especially stressful out in public because then you have everyone watching and with their own idea of how it should work.
It seems to me that repeated practice, feeding in trailer/lorry, horse whisperers/trainers (well known ones) getting rid of trailer and getting a lorry, getting a bigger lorry, Pax, Lavender Oil, etc do sometimes improve the situation but I think that a reticent loader will always be that way and at some stage, no matter how much work and money you throw at it, the problem will resurface to some degree.
btw-when I am around a difficult loader I would NEVER say I felt this way to their owner, they need all the encouragement there is!
I've known a few horses who are really difficult to load, some are stubborn, some are a bit scared, some a bit of both, our horse is like this too so I know how heartbreaking and demoralising it it can be for the owner. It's especially stressful out in public because then you have everyone watching and with their own idea of how it should work.
It seems to me that repeated practice, feeding in trailer/lorry, horse whisperers/trainers (well known ones) getting rid of trailer and getting a lorry, getting a bigger lorry, Pax, Lavender Oil, etc do sometimes improve the situation but I think that a reticent loader will always be that way and at some stage, no matter how much work and money you throw at it, the problem will resurface to some degree.
btw-when I am around a difficult loader I would NEVER say I felt this way to their owner, they need all the encouragement there is!