Loading problems

[Steerpike]

Not sure how to solve this, my boy started to get a bit tricky last year to load. He loads perfectly at home but coming home from his rides he's started to refuse to load, it took us half an hour last time to load him and then he decided to face forwards in the van rather than backwards.

 

[Shay]

I've a connie that is tricky to load after hunting. Loads like a dream at home but really hates to leave his mates after a fun day. I'm afraid we opted for the "bribe him on" method. I needed to get something warm and wet into him one time and discovered he loves a warm wet beetroot mash so with the use of a thermos of boiling water he has a small hot mash in the trailer before we set off. If we have trouble in the summer from rides or events etc I just bribe him with whatever is available. Ice cream seems to be a favorite at the moment! Probably not the best solution - but it works for us. He isn;t afraid to load or worried about travelling - he is simply keyed up and wants to go again!

 

[Steerpike]

We tried sweet course mix which he never normally gets and carrots today with no luck!

 

[Shay]

How about travelling with a freind or using a mirror? Would that work? At one point - before we figured out the bribery - we would have a freind load theirs, load ours and then take the spare one off again. Although that does require you to have the ramp on the left or a horse who will back off easily.

 

[Steerpike]

I will look for a mirror to try, I've got a van conversion so I couldn't put a horse on first sadly!

 

[Spottyappy]

I had one that did this,came to a head when we tried everything to load her at the venue, including riding her in, and failed.
Went and did a Kelly marks course and that cracked it 99% of the time.
What we learned, mostly, was to back the lorry into a corner and then the only way was up. We also took wind breakers that you use on the beach to use as a ‘corral’ in the event there were no available corners.
A blind fold also works for the people that now have the horse.

 

[Brownmare]

I had one that did this. It turned out to be back pain so I would recommend a check up by a good chiro / osteo / physio before going anywhere else.

 

[Steerpike]

All check ups have been done with in the last couple of weeks with nothing found.

 

[Follysmum]

One of mine was like this he would load great at home but was a problem coming home, after taking 3 hrs to get him home one day I knew I had to do something.

I bought a dually, he has never been a problem since.

 

[naza]

I bought a dually, he has never been a problem since.

What ground work did you do with him first? I bough a dually to help with loading but haven't tried it yet largely due to the fact that he's not bad to lead/do anything else with, just when loading

 

[Follysmum]

Mine was the same really never barge just used to stand at the ramp and not want to move.

I spent about 20 mins with him getting him used to the pressure and release. Backing him up and moving his feet around , also did this on the trailer ramp, moving him across the ramp and also up and down the ramp.
He was very easy tbh that’s all that was needed.
There are YouTube videos I think that maybe of more help if you need any.

 

[charterline]

Get the lorry checked for floor being ok and tyre pressures all ok.

 

[Steerpike]

My van is religiously checked before every journey as my husband is a mechanic

 

[oldie48]

With a couple of horses that would run backwards off the ramp I used a Richard Maxwell controller halter, obviously did some groundwork first to ensure they understood how it worked. With a couple of planters, I found a jet of water from a water pistol was very effective, a cup of cold water has the same effect. BTW all of these horses travelled well and were not frightened of going on the lorry etc I've also found the water pistol works well with door kickers. It is a real pita when they are not reliable loaders and as I travel everywhere on my own, I really need to have horses that walk straight on.

 

[Lois Lame]

I've a connie that is tricky to load after hunting. Loads like a dream at home but really hates to leave his mates after a fun day. I'm afraid we opted for the "bribe him on" method. I needed to get something warm and wet into him one time and discovered he loves a warm wet beetroot mash so with the use of a thermos of boiling water he has a small hot mash in the trailer before we set off. If we have trouble in the summer from rides or events etc I just bribe him with whatever is available. Ice cream seems to be a favorite at the moment! Probably not the best solution - but it works for us. He isn;t afraid to load or worried about travelling - he is simply keyed up and wants to go again!

Interesting. My impression when I read the first post was that the horse just wanted to continue the journey on foot, rather than stepping into the vehicle and be driven. Exercise can be so stimulating (if it doesn't tire) for the one doing the leg moving.

I love your method of getting your Connie on the float. Very cute.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

What does he actually do?
My mare was terrible for running backwards when trying to loaded so when she did this I continued to keep making her go backwards until I wanted to stop and then ask her forward again n repeat each time she ran back.
She eventually worked out to go forwards where I was asking was easiest x

 

[Hipo]

What ground work did you do with him first? I bough a dually to help with loading but haven't tried it yet largely due to the fact that he's not bad to lead/do anything else with, just when loading

We bought one after a recommendation and a two and a half hour load. It was the best money I’d ever spent.
It was difficult to do much groundwork training with it as she was very good to lead and handle it was just loading.
She would get her front feet onto the ramp then plant. So we would stand a bit above her, gently put pressure on, she would eventually move forward slightly so we then released the pressure but not enough for her to go backwards, gave her a pat, and kept on until she was at the top. First time probably took 20 mins, we had got it down to no more than 10 minutes or straight on.

 

[Steerpike]

I've done ground work with him in a rope halter with long rope, he just gets to the top of the ramp and plants. This morning it took me 30 minutes to load him then he loaded several times perfectly. It's when I get to venues he takes between 30-1hr to load coming back, last weekend someone used a lunge rein behind him to get him on.

 

[oldie48]

Try the water pistol but you need to have someone behind him but all they need to do is aim at his hindquarters. Try it at home first if he can be a bit sticky. Good luck, it is so frustrating especially when once on they travel fine. However, it is worth thinking about why they don't want to load, is it because they associate going out with doing something they don't want to do/causes them discomfort etc? Is it something new or has it always been an issue?

 

[Steerpike]

The problem I have is I am on my own the majority of the time, my husband comes along to events but his horse skills end at just holding the horse!

 

[gina2201]

When I bought one of mine he loaded like a dream to come home and then again the first time i took him to a xc practice, thinking i would have no problem. To get him home though he planted and we were there for ages, he didn't want to leave the other horses!

I did some homework with a Monty Roberts and he is far far better, and i think the more regular he goes out the better he is. Once a foot is on the ramp he sort of gives in, is very calm on the trailer and when travelling, so it's a bit of a mild protest at leaving others.

I've worked up to now feeling confident going out on my own with him, whereas early days I'd take my bf for help and even my other horse just to make sure he would load!

 

[HorsesRule2009]

If he is just planting, then maybe try backing him up, but not just a few steps, I even used to back my mare up in a circle till we were near the ramp again (so it was a few forward steps away).
They should soon realise going forward with you is the easiest option
Plus this can be done on your own.

 

[D66]

You could try tickling the horse's shoulder with a whip, you stop doing it if they move. This worked with a horse we had - he would load perfectly at home but then either didn't want to leave his friends or we couldn't get his attention.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Have you had a vet check him over? Trot up, flexion tests. Not just a physio, as 3 physios cleared mine and he had underlying issues.
Only saying this as I honestly now believe all mine have been bad loaders as they've had a underlying issue somewhere.

My gelding has always been bad to load for the last 3 years, the 2 years before that he was ok to load. I got the vet out those 3 years ago, had x-rays of his back and back legs, trot ups.. nothing was declared wrong by 3 vets. He had another vet check him over inbetween, nothing found (all related to the loading, as he'd rear some days or take hours to load - even after weeks of practice and even a specialist was stuck!) It took until 3 years later, a better vet and we x-rayed the neck to find severe neck arthritis right where the single breast bar would lie. He had it medicated, and the first few months while the steriod was at its strongest he turned into the most perfect pony to load and travel.

My other gelding started to refuse to load last year, I also done lots of training to get no better off. Turns out he'd done a suspensory, but it was thickened so could of been done at any point within that year. Since having it operated on, he has been loading very well (touch wood!)

I honestly would consider getting a vet out to just ask his opinion if he doesn't improve. Mine were similar, would be terrible to come home but not bad leaving. I think it was because after work they hurt more. Sorry if this is no help, but daily training etc never helped mine so if you're in the same situation I thought it was worth saying.

 

[still standing]

My horse started to plant a couple of months ago, after a year of loading perfectly. Actually it started with her reversing off the trailer before I could get the ramp up, then progressed to the planting. It was only taking a few minutes to get her loaded but I could see it would get worse if I didn't sort it.

My yard owner, whose job is to 'bring on' young horses including training them to load, showed me this method which worked in 10 minutes for us and I've had no problems since. And I can put up the ramp on my own.
For the practice session, my trailer had the jockey door open and top half door of the off-ramp open. Breast bar fastened as normal. All partitions now out.

She attached a lunge line to my horse's headcollar (I had a Richard Maxwell cord-type one but now use an ordinary leather one). She walked my horse to the foot of the ramp and when horse planted, YO just kept walking up the ramp to the front of the trailer and passed the leadrope round the breast bar (over the top and under). She then walked back out, keeping the lunge line pressure on gently and stood beside my horse. She then pulled on the line to get things started and of course horse then pulled back and spun sideways, jumped around a bit,then planted again. While this happened, she allowed some slack for safety, but immediate took up the pressure again. Horse jumped around a bit more and ended up at the side of the ramp.
I offered to go around and straghten her up but YO said No, she can easily step onto the ramp from there, and just kept up the pressure. YO said the main thing is to keep them looking into the trailer, so it is finally their choice to step in there rather than being driven or bribed.
And sure enough, after another couple of minutes of swinging around, jumping up and down in tantrum a bit, she put one foot on the ramp (from the side!). Lots of praise. Foot off again, gentle pressure, foot on again, then other foot. More praise. Now she was standing sideways, half on and off the ramp. I asked again if I should go and straighten her as I didn't see how she could get her hind end up, without going straight across and down off the other side of the ramp.
But again, YO said NO, it's not difficult for her, just keep the pressure on so her head is facing INTO the trailer. And sure enough, about 1 minute later, she stepped forward into the trailer and hopped up with her back legs. Then walked right in and stood perfectly.
And the great thing is, since we were behind her, holding the pressure and by lifting up the lunge line high (standing to one side of course), I could easily put up the ramp. I now have a back bar and she stands with no pressure at all, while I fasten it and then put up the ramp.
She also just walks in now beside me, as normal.

The knack was in the timing I think, knowing when to keep on the pressure and when to allow a bit then immediately take it up again. I practiced for the next 2 days on my own and then once a week, never a problem again.
It is a great relief to be able to go our and about and know your horse will load to come home, when you are on your own. I do hope that if you try this method, it works as well for you as it did for me.

 

[Mahoganybay]

My friends horse was a tricky loader, would plant at the bottom of the ramp and then go sideways with his back end.

We tried many different methods, but found the following sorted it.

Dually halter, longline, friend with hat and gloves on and a pocket of treats.

She walks purposefully up the ramp and I stand to the side with a long schooling whip, when he either plants or goes to the side I tap tap tap him, my friend applies pressure on the long line and when he walks forward, the pressure and the tapping is stopped.

Once on, lots of fuss and a treat.

 

[Brownmare]

@still standing I used your method last night on my new horse and it worked like a charm. Thanks x

 

[Hormonal Filly]

She attached a lunge line to my horse's headcollar (I had a Richard Maxwell cord-type one but now use an ordinary leather one). She walked my horse to the foot of the ramp and when horse planted, YO just kept walking up the ramp to the front of the trailer and passed the leadrope round the breast bar (over the top and under). She then walked back out, keeping the lunge line pressure on gently and stood beside my horse. She then pulled on the line to get things started and of course horse then pulled back and spun sideways, jumped around a bit,then planted again. While this happened, she allowed some slack for safety, but immediate took up the pressure again. Horse jumped around a bit more and ended up at the side of the ramp.

Intrigued by your comment and a bit confused.
Are you saying to open the trailer, keep the front bar in (partition out). Horse stood at ramp, lady puts the lunge line over and under the breast bar and then walks back out the trailer the same way. So their is no one on the trailer exactly but the lady holding the lunge line is stood outside by the horse, yet the pressure comes from inside the trailer. Like that almost winching them in? I now you aren't winching them, but thats how it would look... is that the idea?

 

[Steerpike]

I don't think I could do that in my van, I loaded him on Monday, it took me 30 mins initially, I kept moving his feet, as soon as he was on lots of praise, today it only took me a minute to load him. The test will be Saturday when I go to a event, in the meantime I will load him again tomorrow and Friday.

 

[still standing]

Brownmare - pleased that the method has worked for you, fingers crossed it continues, as it has done for me. I did repeat the practice though over the next couple of days and weeks, as I said, just to reinforce the training.

ForbiddenHorse, that is right - there is no one in the trailer. And no, it is not winched in, in any way! The horse has to make the decision to go in by itself. There is a constant gentle but persistent pressure from the lunge line (which can be yielded instantly if necessary for safety of course) keeping the horse looking towards the inside of the trailer. As the horse decides to take each step forward, the slack is taken up so that the pressure remains gentle but persistent.