Loading problems

[rockashangkid]

Also in Competition Riders.

We have recently bought a little Bateson trailer to get out and about to shows but it's a struggle to get my pony to load- it usually takes half an hour and I have to ride him in, bad of me to do so, I know! If I do try to lead him in he plants himself to the ground will not move towards the trailer at all.

His owner used to take him out alot but she tells me she has had loading problems too- she also advised me not to get a crop out on him because he will go crackers, however, I do ride him with a crop sometimes and it does give him a lot more impulsion and makes him more willing.

Does anybody have any advice on what to do? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[ticobay831]

feed him on there, make it a nice place to be and take things slowly one step at a time, it will be worth it in the end, especially if he is worried.
My old lad does try it on from time to time hes not frightend at all so if he wont go on second attempt which isnt very often i just firmly tell him to stop messing around and march him on, no problem but i know him well.

 

[Sophstar]

It depends if he is scared or just stubborn?! I posted a thread about my cob who was the most stubborn loader. First time getting him into the box took an hour and a half and three helpers He would walk up the ramp and then either plant himself or just casually walk backwards. We only got him in by crossing lunge lines behind him so he knew he couldn't go backwards. If they pushed against him, he went doo lally. I used a pressure halter on him a couple of times and that cut it down to half hour just me on my own.

Then a couple of weeks ago my friend helped me to 'break' his stubborness. With the patience of a saint, we both stood there for nearly 2 hours trying to get him up the ramp. He would plant himself at the bottom, run round every edge of the box to avoid getting in, shoot backwards and then just like that something snapped in him and another attempt he walked straight up the ramp. There was no hitting, no whipping, just patience patience patience. After I walked him on he had a handful of carrots and then walked straight back off again. I did that ten times that day and each time he walked straight back on and began mastering the ramp. I repeated it the next day and he walked straight on Been out by ourselves for the past 2 weekends and *touch wood* he has been an angel to load and stood still whilst all the gates and ramps were shut. Each time he gets on he gets the biggest praise as if he has done the most AMAZING thing ever!