Now he's hurting my feelings! Loading issues again!

asommerville

asommerville

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I have posted here before re my 5 year old and his loading issues. I have just bought a brand new ifor williams 506, we took the partition out so he has plenty of room. I practiced loads with him and was managing to get him in with no issues, took him out to a local dressage event with the aim being that he went and had a good time and came home - nothing else mattered so no pressure put on horse at all! I think he enjoyed himself, he was really calm, travelled well - was a wee bit sweaty but MUCH less than ususal. Came out of the trailer and stood and ate his hay and generally seemed really happy - I was so proud of him and thought we might be getting somewhere, Until we tried to put him in to come home and he wouldn’t go in! to be fair to him by this point I thought he was tired and there was a bit more going on for him to look at, he didn’t appear stressed at all and after 20 mins of trying I stuck a lunge rope round his bum and in he went, travelled home really well and seemed happy to be home (that’s the first time he’s ever been out somewhere and gone home btw – which I think is part of the problem) Took him out last night (it’s been about a week since he was alst loaded due to lack of time/dark night etc) and he saw the trailer from his stable and wouldn’t even go out of the shed! It took over an hour to get him in the trailer (again with a lunge rope) Once he was in though he was fine, he definitely doesn’t appear frightened and once he went in once he then went in another 15 times  with no issues at all.

This is a bit of a pointless post – just wondering if there is anything else I can be doing with him? I feel like he is going hrough the terrible 2s – everything you want to do with him is an argument, if he could stick 2 fingers up at me he would!

If anyone has any suggestions that could help then I’d appreciate it, otherwise thanks for reading as my title said he’s hurt my feelings – sometime I feel totally useless!
 
If it was evening & he was settled for the night, it could just be he didn't fancy doing anything just then, rather than loading being the problem. Of course long term that isn't on, but short term while he isn't 100% with loading I'd avoid it. For now, depending on routine I'd stick to practicing at times that suit him best. Eg if when you bring him back from the field he always tucks into his hay straightaway, I'd take him straight to the trailer for hay. I'd tie a net to the outside of the trailer where he can see it, let him have a few mouthfuls, then untie it, & load him with the net over my shoulder. Then leave him in to eat it. If hay doesn't interest him much, do it with his evening feed. Basically make him want to get on the trailer. But, whatever you use, make sure he can see it on approach. Otherwise he's likely to think 'trailer, no thanks, I'm going in my stable its teatime!'
 
you might have a point littlelegs, i had just lunged him and put him in his stable so maybe thought he was done for the day. yo brings him in for me but hes used to doing something in the evening so.maybe do the trailer while on the way to the school so he doesnt think hes done

thanks
 
I don't think thats a good reason they should load when asked.

You might need to go back to basics one step forward one back, two forward two back etc on a regular occasion and make sure you reward the good behaviour and ignore the bad stuff, you don't want the float to become associated with punishment etc.

Feeding on there is a good suggestion and if you need to use bum ropes for a while then that is fine as one it is established you should be fine without them.
 
Get Richard Maxwells book train your young horse. He suggests to concrete it in their minds you need to load and unload correctly 300 times in one week. And I think he is spot on.
 
Put him in and give him a feed then take him back out? Build up to short jorneys, then taking him out elsewhere and taking him off/reloading. xx
 
He is taking the 'P' - but having said that I am always amazed when any horse wants to willingly go in a trailer! But, I find that if mine know that something really exciting comes about from going in the motorised coffin (i.e. hunting / pleasure rides et al) at the other end - then they are very enthusiastic - my old racehorse - thinks he is going racing, or to the gallops, so loads himself!
 
If he has been loading well with the trailer going nowhere, then the trailor moved and he ended up somewhere new, he may well be a bit anxious about it. How about loading him to eat, in the manner that littlelegs suggested and then taking him on a ten minute journey, which ends up back at the yard? When he realises that he always gets home, he may well get better at it.
 
should have said before i took him out we had been going on ten minute journeys so he was used to going out and going home, by the tine i went to the show he actually travelled better than he ever had.

honestly last night he spat the dummy - when he wasnt allowed to go backwards he started swishing hia tail.and stamping his feet!!!!

i will.look.into the Richard Maxwell book. i had also hoped he would be leas stressed aboit it as he enjoyed himself when he went out and came home

when he goes in he just stands there and he coild easily get out if he wanted as the front door is open, but he stands and waits, thats why i dont think hes scared!

ill go back to feeding in it and wee short journeys. he went in 15 times last night so fingers crossed better next time (hopefully tomorrow)
 
I wouldn't under estimate hunger (not starvation!:D) as a training tool, coupled with some of the suggestions above. Maybe take away the hay net for a few hours, then load using whatever method works with a hay net full of really palatable hay in the trailer. Then leave him alone to feed quietly.

Making a short journey which ends with something he'd enjoy is another good one.

I've a couple of youngsters who load without problems but have never travelled. Their first journey will be to another field where there is some lovely aftermath.... Just wondering how long it will take them to realise that not every journey ends so sweetly!:)
 
Another thing is short journey is not really good, should be an hour on motorway if possible to let them settle. Then come home and put in and out another 50 times. ;)
 
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