Loading using pressure halters - any advice?

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darksecret99

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Hello

After spending several fustrating hours yesterday trying to load my horse (luckily, we had nowhere to go, I was just practicing!), I was wondering about using a pressure halter, and if anyone has had success with them or got any tips?

My horse is happy to walk half way up the ramp (and stand there for the rest of the afternoon!), but will then go forward a step, backward a step, forward a step, back wards 5 steps etc..... he did go in in the end after lots of coaxing with food... (and then out again at full speed!!!)

Putting any sort of pressure on him made him stress and back up more.... so, would a pressure halter still help (or do I need to face up to the fact that I will have to spend several hours each day pretending to eat my horses dinner until he gets brave enough to come into the trailer on his own!)

Putting another horse in in front of him didnt help at all either....

He is 5 years old and has only been travelled to move home in the past, so its understandable that he gets stressed..... so I know it will probably be a long process..... but.... any tips would be greatly appreciated!!!
 
I had a very similar problem with my youngster who'd only travelled to move home before I got him and was very unimpressed with the whole loading business! I used a Richard Maxwell pressure halter - same principle as all the others, I imagine, in that as soon as the horse makes even the tiniest move forward the pressure eases, and he won't associate any discomfort with you (in theory!). It worked for me almost immediately.

I found it important that I didn't look at him at all - and also had to be careful that he didn't see me as blocking his way ... it's surprisingly easy to find yourself unconsciously standing where you want your horse to be, and he thinks there's not enough room for him too.

Good luck!
 
Presure halters are great but you have to teach them to give to the pressure and not lean into it. You need to do this away from the trailer. Richard maxwells one comes with a DVD and explains how to use it. Good luck
 
I used a Richard Maxwell halter for loading my Welsh Cob, I found it works a treat, but its very important to do all the ground work before trying to load with it.
 
have you tried tying him up near the lorry/trailer, and letting him watch you lead another one in an out, in and out? to show him that it's safe and fine. this is what i did with my little mare the first time, then switched to her doing it, and i spent ages stomping around on the ramp so she learnt it was strong and solid (i think that's usually their biggest fear, putting all 4 feet onto something they know isn't solid ground), feed a bit, stomp around, move feed further up ramp, etc etc. no pressure, tons of time, tons of reasssurance. this worked brilliantly for her, she has never had any probs loading since.
 
Yep, he quite happily stood and watched others go in and out quietly, but still didnt want to go in himslef!

And I tried giving lots of reassurance etc with me stood on the ramp or in the trailer, and saying "good boy!" every time he moved a foot forward even an inch.... but he still wasnt happy.....
 
i got a richard maxwell halter for my old Welsh Cob who was a git to load and would just plant at the bottom of the ramp. Worked with him in the school first teaching him how it worked, doing lots of in-hand stuff and then used it to load. He tried once to plant, I just put the pressure on and he walked straight up. He hasn't tried it since as long as he's wearing the halter, but I can never go anywhere without it because he knows when it's not on!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I used a Richard Maxwell halter for loading my Welsh Cob, I found it works a treat, but its very important to do all the ground work before trying to load with it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto. Years ago we boxed my Icelandic out to a ride and he refused point blank to get in the box to travel home. Luckily, it wasn't too far away as I had to ride him home in the end
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I got Richard Maxwell's halter and video (before the days of DVD
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). I spent 2 weeks doing daily groundwork with him so that both of us were completely used to the halter. I then took him to the box to load him, first time it took 20 minutes, after that he has always gone straight in. Even now, 10 years later, I wouldn't load him without it.
Regards your youngster not liking pressure, this is why it is so important to do lots of ground work first.
 
Thanks.... sounds like its definately worth a go... fingers crossed we have the same success as you guys!!

It will be money and time well spent if it works!!
 
Buggers are'nt they.

Donkey just stands on the ramp with her bottom lip hanging plants her feet and won't budge - eventually and some tugging on the chiffeny she wanders in - loads fine at home.
 
Hiya, I tried using one a few times on my yongster, I had done alot of groundwork with her etc, and it was fab then, but for loading was not ideal and she threw her head up and reared a few times. Time and patience and hours of practice and I have a horse that loads really well. I would try it, but please put a poll guard on horsey.
 
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