Loading Queries

[Joanne101]

Hi,
I have had my dalesX for about a year, when we first purchased him he was absolutly fine to load, he went in in 2-3mins. Recently he has bee a bit of a pain to load. We haven't changed anything, but before he came to us he travelled in a horse van, now he is traveling in a single trailer, but he has loaded in this plenty of times before on his own. He doesn't apper to be scared or frightened and he is quite calm when we get there. The last few times we have loaded him the food has had temped him in after about 40mins. Is he just been clever and trying to test us or is there another obvious reason.
Thanks

 

[Kenzo]

:Feed your dales in the trailer every night (as a bucket feed) even if it takes you 40 mins to get him in, reward with food and let him stand and eat it for a few minutes then make him stand one minute and back him out. Dont attempt to load him again until the next night when you repeat to process. Basically you want him to get used to going in and out with out associating it with going somewhere or involving work.

Do not feed him on the ramp, he must get his front feet in, little tit bit but then come all the way for his bucket feed. No pulling, or anyone getting at the back of him, just do it by yourself just you and your pony with no distractions, he had to come in because he wants to not because he's being bulled to...there is a big difference.

If he does not load, he goes without his snap (if he's anything like most horses, that are just being awkward and not actually had any bad loading or travelling experiences then this will work).

Even putting your bags of feed in the trailer so he can wash you prepare his feed, and here the bags rattling, horses are terribly nosey and you want him to feel that the trailer is a good safe place to be...bit like his stable.

I worked for my previous cob, despite not travelling anywhere for over a year nor practicing loading for a year, he walked straight into a horse box this a few months ago and he's never even been in a horse box.

Just give it patience, lots of time and hard work and hopefully you will never have any issues.)

 

[PennyJ]

Have you checked your floor and tyre pressures recently?

 

[Donkeymad]

When you take him out in the horsebox, does he enjoy what he does when he gets there, or is it always a bit stressful for him, or not enjoyable? If he thinks he may be doing something he doesn't want to, every time he goes out, he may refuse to load. if this could be the case, then spend the time loading him with patience, take him somwhere where he will thoroughly enjoy himself. he will soon relax and start loading. If this is not the case as it probably isn't then you just need patience and take him in, feed, take out, progress to shutting the door, then unloading, then very short jouneys and fun journeys.
I'm afraid it will take patience and time.