loading issues

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ldlp111

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ok this could get long...

basically i have a mare had her since she was 6months old is 8 now. she used to load straight in trailer almost had to hold her back, but recently she has been awkward to load just standing at bottom of trailer refusing to budge.

i tried lunge line and she had kicking fit.
she used to take 10-15 min to get in but yesterday took nearly an hour and in the end i had to get another horse and then she loaded
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dont know what to do shes not scared or anything just doesnt want to go and seems to be getting worse
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hasnt had a bad journey.
its come to a point where it spoils going anywhere due to issue of loading and makes me not want to bother

any ideas welcome
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Take the partition out and practice. Give food when she goes forward, even if its only one step. Dont 'push' her to the point of bucking/rearing/charging off. Keep her attention to the trailer, be patient and if you only get a few steps each day then thats progress. Once shes in progress to ramp up. the progress to travelling a short journey.
 
As i said, reward any forward movement, even if its one step and she'll get the idea. It might take you several attempts at getting any forward movement but unfortunately thats tough! You cant make her go in, she has to want to.
 
also i tried doing this back along, i fed her hard feed in the trailer, she seems to know when shes going somewhere, im pretty sure she enjoys competeing once shes there but this is becoming a big issue.
 
I saw Monty Roberts at Arena UK with a horse that wouldn't load. When it stopped in front of the ramp he didn't turn it round, he made it walk backwards 5 or 6 steps then tried to load it again. As soon as it refused he made it walk backwards again. After doing this about 10 times it loaded! He said you mustn't let it turn away from the ramp. He said by walking it backwards it made it submissive because horses don't like to back away. He kept quite calm throughout the procedure and was very matter of fact about it all - getting mad just makes matters worse!!!
 
Have you tried a pressure halter? I bought a Monty Roberts 'dually' which worked wonders with a cob that would also 'plant' at the bottom of the ramp. I only had to apply a little pressure for the horse to go forward, and it comes with a booklet to expain how to use it.
 
presuming all is fine physically it sounds like a napping problem. I would do work on the ground, should only take 15 to 10 mins in a pressure halter making her go where you want, back forward etc.

However I can't stress enough how quick you need to be both in releasing the pressure when she steps (or even begins to) where you want or putting it back on when she doesn't comply
 
Difficulties in loading are a symptom of lack of communication everywhere else. You shouldn't try to load a horse (emergencies excepted) unless horse and handler are fluent on the groundwork and the horse is yielding to pressure and not going into it.

Get help from someone like Alison Jones who is a 3* Parelli instructor who can train you and your horse. I saw her take a horse and handler from a "never been able to load" to a happy loading in 20 minutes, but it took a day of training on the ground to reach that point.

Loading is a dangerous activity - possibly one of the most dangerous things you can do with your horse, and I've seen a number of handlers badly injured. The risk of injury to the horse is also high and in the end of the day if you don;t solve the problem by improving handling skills and communications then you will always have a horse who is a "bad loader"

Pressure halters, such as the Dually, are only an acceptable tool in the hands of those who have been properly trained to use them and imho should not be the first choice. They focus the handler on applying pressure to the head, and not addressing the rest of the horse.

If you must load - then please wear a hat,and everyone else who is assisting should wear a hat. It's just not worth the risk. I have seen the results first hand, and it only takes a split second for a handler to go from able bodied to profoundly disabled.
 
I sympathise with you totally I too have a horse who wont load without a battle. I have tried everything even changing trailers & buying a lorry she isnt frightened just adement that she isnt going on its so frustrating and my situation isnt getting any better. I wish you luck
 
Is your trailer regularly serviced? Are you still using the same towing vehicle?
Wear on suspension, changes in tyre pressures could all affect the travel - there may be a good reason your horse is becomeing reluctant so consider those before finding ways to either force or bribe your horse into loading
 
I think this sort of non loader can be the most frustrating as they sort of stand there disinterested.

What is she like to come home?

I second the pressure halter suggestion, make sure they understand what it means on ground first so that you are getting really good reactions.

Have you poss tried her with a different handler? I have a known a few for whom just a change in handler has got them thinking forwards again.
 
we have just been through this with our 5yro- same as you we have had her since a foal.

i have a richard maxwell headcollar and do 5 minutes of backing up, circling etc to get her yielding to pressure and now she walks straight in.

we have also taken the partition out and id she hesitates at the ramp i carry on through and go and stand on the front ramp- works everytime.

i think sometimes with problem loaders we can get in the way- by me going to the front of the trailer the horse can see the way in, from the pressure and release games she knows not to pull against the headcollar and she loads very well now.

she was a passive resister as well- would just plant and no amount of food, niceness, nastiness or even putting another horse in would work.
 
Well, everyone's experience is different but I found that any type of pressure halter didn't work with my mare. My solution was initially to take out all the partitions, open the front up so it looks light and airy and walk her right through and out again, many times. Then progress to staying in the trailer to be fed. Build this up really slowly over weeks if necessary. Finally she would go on with the front bar up. I continued to do 2 things - always open the front ramp and use a lunge line behind to channel and encourage her forward. In the end just the sight of another person with a lunge line worked. Hope this helps!!
 
If she is ok coming home and is usually ok, I would imagine she is picking up on tensions from you.
Are you giving yourself plenty of time? So no rushing or flapping. Try and stay relaxed and calm and matter of fact. Have the types of comps you are going to changed? Are you more nervous/excited than usual? Are they longer journey's? Bumpier roads etc..
 
i am allowing xtra time now for loading i dont think im in a flap until she starts being a pain. comps havnt changed i did start to do more dressage but am back to sj now altho last comp i went to was xc altho she wouldnt know that and i wasnt as nervous as normal.
 
Another vote for Richard maxwell halter. Bought one for my girl, and after 40 mins groundwork she walked straight on. She used to rear vertical, kick out, throw herself on the floor, you name it. But I practised with her every day for 2-3 months and I now have a horse who goes on every time.

Once we started going places I loaded her on 3 times before we went, 3 times when we arrived, 3 times before we came home, and 3 times at home. I always take the halter as a safe guard though she hardly ever needs it anymore. I always know if she won't go on, I can get her on in 5 with that.

Got another horse on after 20 mins groundwork as it wouldn't go on for his owner.... totally believe in them, and you get a DVD with them too.
 
Something has scared your horse while it has been in the trailer or been loaded or unloaded.
I would thoroughly check out the trailer and the towing vehicle.
Are the tyres o.k and up to pressure - they should be at 50 p.s.i.
Is the floor and ramp o.k. Check it from underneath by probing with a screwdriver and above by removing the mats.
Get the brakes and bearings checked by a mechanic.
Get someone to drive it with you in the back (on a private road) and listen out for any noises.
Once the trailer has been checked out then I would load your horse once a day for one month so that it becomes a daily routine. Feed her in the trailer each time. Keep feed in the trailer so that it smells of horse feed.
 
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