Loading - this is getting boring now

[skewby]

Up until I bought my own lovely lorry, I had the best loader in the world. He's travelled regularly in a cattle truck for 4 years, and I've never had one second's problem with him.

Bought our own lorry, a fab 6.5t conversion done especially with the larger horse in mind

he was apprehensive about loading at first, but loaded fine when I got it, fine on a trial run out, and fine to our first outing (a fun ride).

Went to come back - wouldn't go on. Eventually two blokes from the hunt lifted him on for me. But this was after hours of trying. Just, no, not going on. He stands at the bottom of the ramp and says "I can't". He will try and put his feet on, but clearly he isn't keen on the ramp for some reason. I've taken some of the slats out and this improved matters. But I've just spent 2 hours of forfeited riding time, asking him to go on, and eventually got him on for his feed. Asked him to go on again, and had to settle for 2 front feet on ramp - cos I do have a life to live!

I've been practising at home, but we don't seem to be getting better. I can get him on if his feed's in there, but that takes time, and it's the only way. If it's not there, then no go.

I'm fed up with this now. Last summer he was injured so we did nowt. This summer is fast disappearing and if we don't get this sorted soon, this year will be the same. I'm going to get my instructor to load him for me on Saturday, which should help. But in the meantime has anyone had this happen, and what did you do??? All advice gratefully received. Thanks loads

 

[Loubiepoo]

Is he scared or just taking the mickey?

I have just sold my trailer for a lorry, spent 6 months trying to get him on the trailer with no luck - having much better luck with the lorry now.

Have you tried using a pressure halter (Richard Maxwell or Dually type) they worked well for me?

If time and patience are running out then I would look into contacting a Natural Horsemanship RA in your area for some help.

 

[meandmyself]

Sounds like there's something about the new lorry he's not keen on.

What is the floor made from? Could it be a bit slippy? Is the ramp steeper than the old one?

 

[the watcher]

Take some time to go back to basics on ground handling - this isn't time consuming you can practise on the way to and from the field. Walk and halt and get him to the point where he is anticipating your body language and will halt just by you throwing your upper body back and will move off smartly and with enthusiasm as soon as you step forward to walk. Do lots of that, then practise with the rope getting longer and longer until he is still watching and following your lead even when you are at the very end of the rope.

Once you have this established (could take 10 minutes, could take days), revisit the lorry. Do your ground training then head for the ramp, don't look at him, just expect him to follow you up on a long rope and stay out of his way.

 

[ajn1610]

It is about judging his behaviour, you know you horse best.
If you think your horse has a genuine fear of the lorry and you can identify what it is then work on that. If it were mine the fact that he'll go on for food would make me think he is taking the p*ss. My mare is a difficult loader - not frightened at all and she travels beautifully but she is an awkward baggage and has chosen this particular issue as the battle ground (TBH I'm quite glad because if she threw herself about like that when I was riding I'd have had it by now!).

This a list of things that work, if I change tacks regularly it seems to avoid a big blow up.
Pressure Halter, Lunging/ground work (that I saw Robert Maxwell use), food, flicking water at her bum, a lunge line behind. I find a whip winds her up and provokes a big fight but a can pat her bum with a yard brush handle (so she responds better to a steady even pressure than a smack).

She is much improved by repetition, I've loaded/unloaded her literally 250 times over a weekend. Once she's on I tie her up give her a treat shut up the lorry leave it a minute then unload and repeat. It is boring but it honestly helps. She still has her moments but I know I can get her on now and it never takes more than half an hour even when she's bad, where as before it was a four or five hour job.

You just have to find an approach that works for you and your horse. I also would try and rope in some helpers once they have found they can plant their feet it is almost impossible to get them going in on your own.

Good Luck!

 

[PippiPony]

Polo's or carrots in a trail up the ramp. I tried everything, lunge reins, pressure halters, whips etc. But time, patience & treats was the only sucessful way, along with feeding in there at night. In 2 weeks of doing this & turning it in to a gmae my mare loaded brilliantly.

 

[imyourstalker]

everyone is going to hate me for saying this and is going to critisize me and stupid things will be said BUT natural horsemanship and PARELLI *yes the swear word of the forums

* LOL! it worked and now henry LOVES the trailer, he was taught it was a good place to be and now we have no troubles.

Sorry

lol!

 

[merlinsquest]

Merlin does the same thing.... just plants himself.

I have found that putting a lunging roller on him and then a lunge line round behind him and back through the rings so that you can hold it at his chest, then you can kind of pull him up the ramp.

It works because he is a reluctant loader rather than a scared loader!!

I tried him in a horsebox for the first time last week and he walked on no worries each time....... he obviously has expensive taste

 

[Firewell]

My horse has been difficult to load in the past and every now and again she will try it on again. Shes a TB and you cant get angry with her because if u do she will literally throw herself on the floor and refuse to go in. She would rather kill herself than go in (stubborn cow bag!)

We got round it by feeding her on the ramp and then gradually over weeks moved the feed into the lorry, and one day she went in! yay! lots of patience it took. Then we gave her confidence by travelling her with another horse for a few times and made her time in the lorry as nice as possible, so she thought it was nicer in the lorry than outside.

Now if she tries it on, i know shes not scared and i have a method.... I poke her in the side!

I dont get angry, I dont get anyone to help me other than 1 person inside calling her and rattling feed. everytime shes backing up, trying to turn around or walk off or she just plants and wont move, I poke her in the side, I dont say anything just keep poking. She hates it! she swishes her tail and gets grumpy but she cant get angry with me coz im not angry with her! Every time she takes a step forward up the ramp I stop the poking and tell her shes good. It only takes me 5/10 mins max to get her in the lorry with this method.

You could give that ago?