Loading

[Bevjane]

Hi to cut a very long story short, I have a ex racer, I’ve had him for 4 years, we have had mixed experiences with loading and traveling over the years, it started with an accident in the box the day I brought him and due to that and having kissing spine surgery last year I think he associates traveling with the vet, although we have gone to do nice things in between, I’m now on my third lorry as the others he didn’t like, now gone for a 7.5t, tried him for the first time today and 3 hours later he would not go in, he’s not scared or stroppy he dosnt pull me about, rear, buck he just gets his 2 front feet on the ramp and stands there, he can stand for 15-20 mins at a time then step back and do the same again, he sniffs the ramp, looks around, even has a snooze but he won’t go in, if you put pressure on him from front or back he goes backwards and then happy to represent again with no fuss or stress, don’t know how to get him in! In a way I would rather he rear or do something but he just stands there! Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Patrick gracey is your man!!

I had one years ago that wouldn't load, it took hours. One day I got my book and a flask of tea and sat on the lorry ramp. I didn't ask anything of the horse other than she must face forward . She wasn't allowed to turn her head. I can't remember how long it took but it was quite a while. She then just walked on!! I had no issues loading after that!

 

[Red-1]

For a 'cure' I believe they have to walk on under their own steam and with their own free will.

Rigsby, one of mine, was bought as a non-loader. He was a master at it. He too would stand front feet on, but any pressure and he had a whole host of tricks. Rearing, striking, grass or gravel skiing, spinning, barging, cow kicking, he knew the lot!

I made life on the yard less appealing. He was asked to back, side, turn, do all sorts of work, or was invited stand on the lorry. If he was facing the lorry, focusing and paying attention, he could rest. If he lost focus and looked round or went to sleep, he was asked forwards. If forwards was a bit stuck, but he wasn't going backwards, he was asked side to side until he either paid attention and focused on the lorry, in which case the pressure was removed, or he would jack it and back off, which was great because we could go and practice turns, backing, circling etc, on the yard until I invited him back into the calm lorry space.

He would then almost get on, as in take more steps up the ramp, then lose courage/ the will to and that too was great, as we could again back, turn, back, circle and do loads of work on the yard. The moves had to be done with urgency and accurately. Then, he was invited back to the lorry.

I should say, I practiced this all away from the box first, including the correct response to being asked forwards, the way to turn once in the lorry etc. so he knew all the correct answers to my requests.

In the end, he decided that loading was good. He had a net and was taken off again.

A few times, he loaded but was not settled and wanted to come off the lorry. Great, if he wants to get off then fine, we can do circles, side passes and backing all over again. In the end, he went on, parked up and had no wish to get off. Standing and eating on the box was his happy place.

I think it's important not to jump on them as soon as they load and lock them in. Rigs was free to leave the box whenever he wanted, but was immediately put back to work on the yard, backing, turning and side passing. He soon wanted to go back to the lorry as the lorry was the place where there was no pressure to do anything other than focus on the lorry.

 

[jofwigby]

My ex racer did not like lorry ramps - perfect going on trailer - now I think it hurt his back going up - perfect gentleman in all other respects

 

[Jambarissa]

Agree with @Red-1 , the lorry needs to be the resting happy place and everywhere else needs to be hard work. Resting on the ramp is fine if he's actively thinking about going in and his attention is on the lorry but if yes just planting ghe needs to back off and do some circles.

Itd be easiest to just get a NH trainer, and really not that expensive. He sounds like a good one to work with ie not dangerous!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I had one a bit like that if he stopped I made him walk backwards a few steps then immediately forwards and eventually after a few goes he went on.

I did do some ground work with him first so he understood reverse.

I never circle a horse once they are stood at the ramp they go back or they go forwards.

 

[dorsetladette]

Is there anywhere you can park it up and leave him to investigate loose? My youngsters have all learnt about loading by investigating for themselves first (supervised).

I've started doing similar with my nervous older pony too. He's recently done a stay away show 6hrs away from home and since then loading has become inconsistent so we spent a morning with the ramp down in small (ish) enclosed spot with sliced carrots and apples dotted around the lorry and ramp. OH sits in the living with the middle door open and watches quietly while they figure out it's a nice place to be.

We've found that this works well with the youngsters (we now have 2 'self loading' youngsters that love the lorry) and it's working well for the nervous/badly treated pony where any kind of pressure works against us.

Not everyone's way of doing things but an option to break the cycle.

 

[Bevjane]

Thank you everyone, I’m not giving up, he’s not the best traveler so my plan in the new lorry was to load and just feed, fuss with no partitions and not shutting the ramp, planed to do this for as long as it takes then do short trips, just the problem of getting in, think patience and just repeating and hopefully he will give up and go in, I tried not to let him turn and he’s very responsive at backing up, he’s clearly not scared just stubborn, definitely need to set a stool up with coffee and cake, do have local NH trainer local that could help if all else fails

 

[blitznbobs]

I’m a believer in never letting them stand after a few seconds sniff. I make sure they understand and respond to forwards and backwards and are able to turn their haunches around me on a circle… then if they stop they go a long way backwards… then walk forwards again. Any time they stop they have to go backwards - and a lot backwards not one or two steps. Once a long way from the wagon we might do a few tight circles away from the pressure… then we do the walk up again … any forward onto the ramp is praised - usually takes about an hour the first time with a difficult loader but the second time they just walk on

 

[AnShanDan]

I really rate Richard Maxwell's ideas on loading. Never known his method not work if done properly.

A friend's daughter was really struggling with her horse; he would rear and run back or just stand and she spent hours luring him in with food etc. I taught her the RM method in one session and he loads perfectly every time now.

 

[irishdraft]

My mare was exactly the same in the end I got Jason Webb to help and he got her loading with no hassle so it was really worth it. He showed me a technique which I can use if she gets reluctant.

 

[canteron]

I am also in a loading ‘black hole’. My horse got to load perfectly - until we went somewhere, then would refuse to load, even though she seems to cope with the journey just fine!

After this happened a few times, it clicked that it is probably a form of separation anxiety and until she is confident on the box on her own, the problem will never get better.

She will now pretty calmly stand in the box for half an hour munching, without getting anxious (a lot of work). Next step small journeys and then standing on box until calmly eating hay net.

Don't know if this helps, but i need an easy traveller and will put in the work, so it is a matter of consolidating every tiny step before moving on?

 

[Milliechaz]

Guido Louis Equine Behavioural Training

Guido Louis Equine Behavioural Training. Gefällt 5.538 Mal · 24 Personen sprechen darüber. In the words of the horse: "Listen" by observing me and communication between us will come naturally

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[Milliechaz]

I have experience of using Guido with loading issues and I've never had a problem since. Highly recommend him and he covers all areas