Loading problems - any suggestions/advice welcome

Vikki89

Vikki89

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 September 2008
Messages
2,693
Location
Wiltshire
Visit site
We are currently having problems loading my mums 13.3hh Dales pony, we have had her walking through the trailer (took an hour the first time but now walks through no problem.)
we have now got to the point where she will stand in trailer with the front up and breast bar up, but as soon as you try and tie her up she backs out. she snapped her bridle the other day doing this, and this was after having a magic syringe (sp).
Any suggestions on what to try next? have a show planned this sunday, doesn't look like she will be going
frown.gif
 
um... why were you trying to tie her up in a bridle???

practice is really the only way to deal with problem loaders - ive got one myself so i feel your pain.
 
With my youngster we have all the front and back open, we then load him and allow him to stand quietly in the trailer whilst the back bar is put up behind him so he cannot back out, then we quietly put up the front bar and only then do we tie him up. They soon learn when feeling the back bar against their bottoms. You do need a good team around you to be quick but quiet and efficient. My 17.1hh 3 year old given half the chance would shoot out backwards at breakneck speed but by just keeping everything chilled he is much better. Hope you get on ok
 
she wasnt tied up with the bridle she had a headcoller on but bridle on top as she is very strong and knows it. she was tied up with the fieldsafe headcoller but when that broke away the bridle snapped.
 
I have a strong 12.2, that don't like loading, I put in my other pony first ( a good one that stands like a rock), then put a monty roberts headcoller on (this is the only way to load her as she is too strong for a bridle), feed also works with anything as while she is eating you can do anything.
 
Might have to get a monty roberts headoller. we have tried using feed which didn't work, and putting my pony in first (who would load himself) and that made no difference. Will try putting the back up before trying to tie up, just hope she doesnt start rearing when she realises she can't go backwards.
 
with my bad loader (now getting really good
smile.gif
) i always have a rubber manger with some feed in it on the opposite breast bar so she has to walk right up to her breast bar (pony is long and i need her chest right up against it to get back bar on
blush.gif
) to get the food and always put the back bar up before tying her up. i also at the moment use a 'be nice' headcollar over the top of headcollar so remove that and then tie up after putting back bar up then i shut the back ramp and front ramp then the top door and go!
grin.gif


i had the same problem with her charging out backwards and got thro a few leadropes as she'd just snap them. but once the back bar goes up she knows she cant go backwards so calms down
 
With my difficult loader ( now very good) i had to use (and still use when ever i travel anything) a quick release clip rope, so when they pull away it snaps open and does not harm the horse or headcollar/bridle! I also always have a feed, and i used to have to have someone standing by the back of the trailer with the lunge whip across so the horse cant back out of the trailer ( so easily)!
 
are you leading her on and tying with the same lead rope? could you have a lead rope already tied into the trailer and once you have her on the box, and settled its just a matter of attaching the clip and releasing the clip on the lead you're holding - she might not realise so easily then...
 
We have tried having a lead rope already tied and using that to tie up then removing other rope but she still breaks loose. she will stand in there ok but as soon as she is tied up she doent like it.
 
Another useful thing is an elasticated trailer tie, instead of a leadrope ready attached in the trailer. You can leave your leadrope on the head collar until your helpers have done up breech bar, ramp etc (being careful not to stand directly behind/under the ramp in case of sudden backing out!), to help you control the pony in the trailer. You have my sympathy - this sort of thing is so frustrating, you feel you are so near yet so far! I'm sure you'll succeed with patience and persistence.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top