Loading issues (long, sorry!)

E

ecrozier

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 October 2006
Messages
6,173
Visit site
Hi Everyone
Just wondered if anyone could recommend a person to help me overcome some loading 'issues' with my little arab.
The story is that before I had him, he had only ever travelled on lorries, so was initially useless going into my trailer. However after a while he overcame this and was fine to load, I could nearly always do it by myself. The most he needed was someone to walk behing him, not even touching him.
However due to my OH's new horse being HUGE! We have now upgraded to a lorry. It has had its ramp and floor checked and is safe and not springy or anything. It isn't the brightest lorry inside (wood trim) but I always put the lights on etc and the 2 mares we have both load very happily.
However the arab is being very very akward! If there is a horse in there already, he is absolutley fine, follows straight up. The problem arises is he is expected to travel alone, which I do need to do!
He will stop a few yards away from the ramp, and just plant himself! He doesn't rear, run back, try to go sideways, nothing like that. We then have to move foot by foot, lifting his legs one by one. Which is not fun! It takes up to 20 mins at a time and is a 2 person job, which is just silly really. He then suddenly decides to go, and heads straight up the ramp and stands quite quietly! He travels fine, hardly hear him move, eats his haynet, never breaks a sweat or seems stressed on arrival.
We have tried feeding him on the lorry every day (takes 20 mins every time and doesn't improve the next day), lunge line behind him (worked once then he figured out what it was and ignores it). Tried being firm with him, and the more you try to pressure him into loading, the more he leans back against you.
Any more suggestions? I know you can get people out who specialise in this - there is obviously an issue here somewhere and I need some help!! Any recommendations? I am on Oxon/Berks/Bucks borders.

PS He hasn't, as far as I know, had any bad experiences.
 
I have pm'ed you, but in essence you need to get him following you on the ground, without question, before you tackle the box. He clearly isn't frightened and just needs to learn to follow on without stopping
 
Have replied toyour PM, but never really had any problems with him at all on the ground. In fact never - he is super well mannered and always very easy to lead!
 
Can you not ignore the ramp to start with, don't even attempt to walk towards the ramp as if loading but walk around the box a few times very close to it and then when you next come to the ramp turn and walk straight up it? Might take a few goes at first but if he is happy atm to actually go up the ramp when you get there, it shouldn't be that much of a problem. - she says with bated breath! (If you're going to try that, would he stand on the wagon to have his travelling gear put on, that way he wouldn't think you are going to be so underhand?!)

Also, have you tried backing him up to the ramp, turning at the last steps?
 
Yep, just the same. Any pressure on his head to pull him forward just makes him 'switch off' - he leans back (never runs back - and it is hard to describe but his eyes almost glaze over and he just totally ignores you!So frustrating!
 
I just had to do this with our AA mare and it's a complete PITA but she hasn't mucked me about since.

Feed on lorry BUT only allow one mouthful at a time then back down the ramp circle, back up, walk sideways or whatever and then up ramp again. With yours I'd take him further away than his usual sticking point so he has to walk through it each time. I got bored after she'd been up and down ten times and fed her the rest of her feed in her stable as usual. Did it the next morning feed and evening feed and she hasn't (so far) put a foot wrong. Having said this she will now turn into a total stubborn ass the next time I'm under pressure for time!
 
There's nothing more frustrating than a horse that won't load happily. And unlike other breeds you can't demand an arab do anything... so makes it doubly difficult.

I was having the same problems with my Arab. He's 19, has competed and travelling extensively since he was 5 with his old owner, has even been on a jumbo jet so I know he loads.

I've had him a year and didn't travel him last year due to lack of transport. I got a new wagon a couple of months ago and last month was our first trip out. I expected him to walk straight on being such an experienced traveller but no... it turned into a battle which I lost. He was violent - rearing to the point of almost flinging himself over backwards, boxing with his front legs... after that day I was certain I'd never get him in the wagon. I'd never known a horse react so badly to being loaded... but then again I knew him as a horse. He can be very opinionated and when he decides he's not doing something that's the end of it.

But I find with arabs, certainly my boy, that you have to make them think its their decision to do anything.

My solution was this... I made sure I had a whole day free and that the yard was quiet with no distractions. So it was just him and me and the horsebox.

I lead him up to the ramp until he planted and then I sat down on the ramp and waited. I made sure his attention was always focused into the horsebox i.e. if he tried to look around, or found something interesting across the yard I would reposition his head until he was looking back into the box. I sat and did nothing, applied no pressure, until he'd totally chilled out and was starting to look bored. That took about 30 minutes.

Then I applied a little bit of pressure/release (using a normal headcollar not a pressure one as those send him ballistic). So I stood on the ramp and encouraged him forwards with a little pressure on the leadrope and my voice asking him to walk forwards. The moment he made even the slightest move forwards towards the ramp (even half a step or a muscle twitch) I released the pressure, told him good boy and let him stand and relax for a couple of minutes.

I repeated this multiple times. Sometimes he would rebel and back away and threaten to rear. I kept calm (not easy!) and just repositioned him at the foot of the ramp and repeated the pressure/release.

After about an hour he put both front feet on the ramp. Progress! And I knew I wasn't far from winning. But at that point rather than continuing to pressure him up I backed him off the ramp (Monty Roberts does that a lot). Repeated. Front feet on ramp. Backed him off. About four times of doing that and then the next time I presented him to the ramp he went straight in. Lots of praise.

Unloaded and reloaded six or seven times and then turned him out in the field. All in all took about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Next day same thing. This time it only took 20 minutes to get him in.

Day after he went straight in.

So my advice is be incredibly patient, don't use the lunge rope behind him as you want him to focus on the inside of the wagon not what's going on behind him, don't lift his legs for him as again this just distracts him. Give yourself as much time as you need and do it on your own. Spend as much time as you need just sitting on the ramp talking to him. Being 'firm' with arabs just doesn't work - they're very bright but very stubborn! You just got to wait him out.
 
a dually headcollar and a bit of ground work teaching him to follow you. see if he'll walk over the ramp from one side t'other.

(my boy does this when im on my pwn, have to find 2 helpers with lunge lines and hes up the ramp as quick as you like...its called taking the p)
 
Walking closer to the lorry by going round and then turning will get him a bit closer but he still refuses to put his feet on the ramp, then when we get first foot on, refuses next, and so on and so forth!
He used to travel without boots etc in trailer, and tbh I don't think it is the actual traveling that bothers him so not sure how much difference that would make! But will try that, thank you!
smile.gif
 
My mare can really throw her toys out, vertical rears spinning. I have changed what I now do ( I have never beatern her as she freaks out). I now go up the ramp with a lunge line, never look her in the eye have quite a loose rein and expect her to follow. If she does not I stand there she puts her front feet on, then I ask her fowrard - no pressure on rein just ask with voice. If she reacts or rears I let the lunge line out a bit but put pressure on it and remain in the same place, she eventually realises mum is not getting off the ramp and it is easier to simply go straight in. yesterday at an event she walked striaght in and this was in an open field with nothing to stop her swinging out. She has never done this before. Good luck
 
Yes, had wondered about dually - never had any trouble in past with leading/following etc? Have never tried going over ramp - fairly sure he wouldn't do that either though!!
blush.gif
 
Think this may be what I need to do with him gedenski's girl. Did you go anywhere once you got him in? Or just take him off and turn him out?
 
I swear by my dually and the leading work.

I'd recommend you get your local IH recommended associate out. I did and I've never looked back.

Horses can be well mannered when leading normally, but that's not the same as them being willing to follow you just because you say so. Maybe practice the principle over tarpaulin etc so that you get the feeling without worrying about the ramp etc
smile.gif
 
Thanks everyone - had a very kind offer from a forum member to come out and help me, so will try this, and yes, cosmo_sam, local RA another option I will definately look to.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Think this may be what I need to do with him gedenski's girl. Did you go anywhere once you got him in? Or just take him off and turn him out?

[/ QUOTE ]

First two days I didn't go anywhere, just unloaded and turned him out. The third day I had a competition to go to so he loaded straight on and off we went. Loading to come home - he had a think about it for a couple of minutes and then went on fine.

I'm due to go out again on Sunday, so I will do some practice loading Thursday/Friday and Saturday in preparation.

Re using a Dually or other pressure type headcollar. I've used them in the past to great success and think they are fantastic for teaching horses pressure and release BUT with my arab it had a completely negative effect. He just went into angry, stubborn fight mode. Sticking to a normal headcollar and being patient did the trick. Horses for courses.
 
Cool, definately food for thought. Got a competition sunday but I am takiing OH's horse as well just so I know I won't have loading issues!! Thank god she is a good girl.
Arabs eh, you've gotta love them!!
 
Was very interested in this. My Welsh A - I know, hes only 11.1 but when they plant what do you do? - has just started doing exactly the same thing. He just stands at the bottom of the ramp and disconnects his brain. Lunge lines behind make him rear and sit down like a dog. He, too, is as good as gold to lead.
Will try boring him into it!
Thank you
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top