loading issues

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cellie

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I did a fair bit of work on our loading issues during the summer and managed to get my horses walking on and off the trailer really nicely.I had to take hime to the vets this week for surgery it was a long journey a hour each way the first trip was fine but the second time I had to leave him to recover after his operation.I picked him up on wednesday and he just wouldnt load he placed both sets of legs on the ramp but wouldnt go in any further.It was as if he was frightened of putting his head in,he did bang his head on the top of the trailer when he was protesting from the pressure .
Once his front legs entered the trailer he walked in ok .We didnt want to upset him too much and ended up sedating him and pushing him up the ramp. The vet was worried about opening his wound.He isnt scared and is definitely being stubborn .Obviously I cant and wont do anything at the moment but I am wondering if Ill ever get him back on a trailer again.How do you encourage a horse to lower his head entering the trailer.I use food rewards as he is very greedy .I prefer to do loading gently rather than by brute force which worked before but he is so stubborn.I hope this doesnt put him off for good.
 
My mare is a wee madam when it comes to trailers some days she goes in and looks at me like im holdinh her up other days she plants her feet and refuses to move, but i bought a rope halter and use gentle pressure with her and find that she gets bored. i also found the kelly marks book brilliant, my mare had many issues when i first got her but doing the excercises in her perfect manners helped no end!! hope this works and hope your horse is ok
 
Ill look out for the kelly marks book.I have her book perfect partners and its really good.I already use a rope halter and I know he is relaxed because he licks his lips and mouths .Just bl##dy stubborn but a good traveller.
Thanks for good wishes he seems ok month box rest then month turnout for hock fusion.Bit stressful but better than retiring a 6 year old.
 
Really well sent you a pm.Only problems I had were loading which was a bit worrying.Didnt want to open the staples.I brought him home Saturday hes eating fine and not depressed seeing the vet wednesday for having his staples removed and changing the dressing.Im using two stables which gives him a change of scenery the day time one looks out into the yard, although its quiet he can at least have a look around.He is being good but will probably play up when he is feeling much fitter.Big relief that ga went ok.I hope the cortavet works for you I enquired about your horses on pm hope they are ok.
 
My mare is a total cow when it comes to loading - even the pressure headcollars dont work!! She isnt scared either just maddamish. I have now resorted to sugar cubes
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My mare suddenly decided in the summer that she wouldn't go near our lorry. No great drama but just dug her heals in and refused to move. First time happened at a competition and someone came over to help with a lunge whip. True she went, in but then when we thought we had better practise at home, it she totally refused. I did loads of work in a dually halter and although it didn't appear to help we set aside a whole day to load her. We kept picking up her feet and tried to move her forward the only pressure was the dually. After 3 hours we got her in (she was 17hds so very hard work) our arms and backs were killing us. The next day it took 15 minutes (again basically carrying her in) the next 5 mins and then since then no hesitation at all! She even went into a trailer the other day for the first time with no hesitation and then back in the next day. I do believe we called her bluff by not resorting to violence but it was physically tough and time consuming! Good luck
 
Try shaking an empty plastic sack behind him. Worked a treat on one of ours when he would just stand there being awkward because he could or neatly stepping off the ramp just as you thought he was about to go in the trailer. He would go straight in with that. I use food rewards too (and don't think violence works in the long run...) I always knew he would go in, it was a case of making it happen in my time frame rather than taking all day. We still have to do it from time to time when he's feeling like being awkward.
 
A chifney. I have tried all other options with my horse. I now use a chifney, 2 lunge lines and a schooling whip for encouragment.

People may disagree but I have tried all other options over the past 5 years and this is the only one that works for him. It now take me a couple of minutes to load when before I have been stuck for hours trying to load.

Pilib X
 
How about a line of feed up the ramp and in?! Has worked for some we've had! Otherwise, agree with the pressure halter - you just pull gently and they have to walk forward to release the pressure. I used it on my 3yo 2 days ago (he's only ever been in a trailer once when I picked him up!), he argued for possibly 5 mins and that was it. Yesterday, he went straight in! Ive had a few horses go through the testing loading stage, feed and the halter have always been successful. Brute force doesnt work IMO and certainly doesnt make them happy to load!

Oh, and another useful thing Ive found for ones who put their front feet at the top of the ramp and then plant themselves there is a squeezy bottle of water. Somebody stands behind and squeezes it at their bum. The surprise usually launches them in
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