Lorry Loading Problem

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OliveOyl

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I have a young horse who has a bit of a lorry loading problem. She goes on the lorry just fine, no hesitation to march up the ramp, but when we get to the top where she's supposed to turn sideways (should travel herringbone) and stand to be tied up, she's panicking, seeing her exit and making a run back off the same way she just came up.
Any one else dealt with this kind of thing and how did you go about solving it?

Thanks :)
 
maybe try loading her and making her stand just for a minute ,giving a treat and unloading, making her stand a little longer each time you do it. its trust in you that makes her load for you but then lack of confidence to stay in the lorry alone. alternatively would you be able to give her a travel buddy?x:D
 
Get someone to follow her up and put the partition across using that to push her over.
Also have a control halter on her to give you more handling power.
Another horse might also settle her.
 
You've probably already tried it but, have you tried loading her with a calm horse already in the box at the far end, so she knows its not a scary place and that she's not by herself?
Is she ok to stand before the turn or does she get nervy then? You could try just standing her for a couple of seconds before turning her & taking her out, praising her & giving her a treat for standing. You could also try feeding her in there every day (even just a sprinkle of chaff or a chopped up carrot or something if she doesn't have a full feed) just so she realises it's a nice place to be - should work well if she's food orientated!
Both these things helped with our nervy traveller, he's fine with the ramp but works himself up when he's actually on the box.
 
My horse used to do this, we overcame it quite quickly - doing a little bit everyday.

We opened up all the partitions so the horse could be led to the back (more room to stop him running back off!). He wore a bridle for extra stopping power and there was a bucket of feed at the top. I led him up the ramp, as we got to the back, before turning him round he was allowed to shove his head in the bucket. Someone who is very quick on their feet (!!) then started to put the partition across, at the same time the horse was steadily turned around to the correct position (most of the time with head still in bucket!). As long as the partition was closed swiftly enough then there was nowhere for him to go.

Hope thats not too confusing!! It's difficult to type it out correctly.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.

I have done a little bit of practise with her, both with another horse and on her own. She's marginally better with another one, but still a bit panicky about it.

Sounds like I just need to do more of it with her really, but has been helpful to read that other people have overcome the issue - thanks :)
 
Had the same problem with my current horse, after years of sorting out loading problems for clients I felt a bit shown up! lol He is sorted now, fortunately for my reputation. :-)

To get her adrenaline down she needs to feel as unrestricted as she can safely be. I would suggest:

1. At first just go into the lorry (all partitions open), turn round and come straight out again - don't try to halt or hold her in there. (Lead with a lunge line to give you more felxibility) Repeat this about 20 times, until she is really comfortable that you are not going to try and force her to stay in. At some point she will probably offer to pause either at the back of the lorry or before she goes down the ramp, allow her to do this and let her sniff, look and be still for a moment before asking her to carry on.

2. When she is doing this *calmly* (lower head and neck, softer eye, breathing) you can start to ask her to stop inside the lorry. The key is not to be too close to her when she is at the back of the box - if you are close, you can only use physical strength, you may win, you may lose! If you are 5-6 feet away from her, you can shake your coiled lunge line towards her eye to ask her to stay still. Start with having her pause for just a second then lead her out again. Carry on this way and make the pauses longer, if she gets worried again go back to the last thing she found easy.

3. Once she is understanding that she can stand in there for a few seconds and not be held onto, start closing the partition part way, opening it and leading her out again. Gauge her reaction to see how slowly you need to progress with this. If she shows any desire to come flying out of the box again, go back to the last thing she found easy and build up from there again. Soon you will be able to ask her to stand while you close the partition.

Be careful never to get between the horse and a closed partition eg when adjusting length of your tying up rope - after the partition is closed some will body-slam against it - you don't want to be in the way!!

& would always recommend loading anything remotely tricky in hat & gloves, lead with lunge line and a training/pressure halter can be useful if you have been taught pressure/release.
 
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