Plan of action for tomorrow – Loading

asommerville

asommerville

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Does this sound reasonable folks?

I have taken time off work to practice loading my boy after our disaster last time where he wouldn’t go in, then eventually did and would not load to come home. Had to walk him home at 10 o’clock at night and could have happily murdered him, anyway…that was about a month ago and I have given him a break from loading until I had lots of time to be getting on with it.

Plan is to put him out am, small brekkie only. Bring him in to stable with no haynet, boot up, bandages on and take him out past the trailer and lunge.

Then back in stable, still no haynet (not a lot of grass in field either) give him a pat and then attempt loading with a bucket and a haynet in trailer.

I have literally got ALL day Thursday. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Was thinking when (being positive you see) I get him in go in and out a few times and then shut him in with a hay net for ten minutes.

If I get him in ok should I then put him back in his stable and take him in again later or just leave on a good note? Plannign on practicing all weekend and then hopefully during the week and at least once a week thereafter….difficult though as I need OH car!

Thoughts/opinions/help most welcome.
 
As bonny says. Does he actually have a fear of it or is he just not wanting to go in?

Basically what I did is - take him in front ramp first and out the back so it's different. Do this a few times then try normally , each time having sweeties to nibble on. Keep going then stop inside etc and maybe even go for a run out for 5minutes then back ....
 
Also you seem to be using the hay as a reward sort of thing. What happens when you're out in the summer and there's free grass all around ? Only saying this as been through the whole feed as reward thing and unless its something good like a sweetie then he won't have it !
 
the hay is a reward on this occassion for going in, cant decide whether he is actually scared or not as one day he walksin and the next he doesnt!

as he 'won' last time and walked home i need as much help as i can get! ive been bandaging him up to ride too so he doesnt associate bandaging with the trailer

hell prob bloody walk in
 
When my girl went through a phase of not loading I took all the partitions out and opened the front ramp to make it as light and welcoming as possible.
I walked her through a couple of times (treat after she unloaded)
Then we walked on, paused for a treat, then walked off a few times.
Then I gradually re-built the trailer and loaded her a couple of times with front partion in/ both partitions in.
Then we stopped, tied up in the trailer and put the bars across and closed the doors.
Admittedly my girl was just stubborn, not scared so I wasn't too intense a session.
How long you take and how many breaks you have will depend on how he reacts.

Is it the loading or the standing on the trailer that is the problem?
If he's calm once he is on I wouldn't bother with the shutting in with a haynet for 10 minutes bit - it's the getting him on that's the challenge.

I also would treat with carrot/apple/polos etc rather than a whole feed or haynet.
The carrot can be a quick and instant treat for going on the trailer, a whole feed seems a bit long winded and a faff.
 
yep ok once on but he plants then runs from side to side then sets his neck and tries to run away!"!!

really hurt my hand last time!!

the partition is out and we have full length breast bars in will try carrots instead of feed thanks
 
This exactly how I approach bad loading I spend days on it at first and I only feed in the trailer and will do this for a Long time if I need to.
With young horses I am careful not to sicken them and will load say three times in a day .
I took on a thirteen year old notorious for refusing to load into a trailer he was bolsy rude and had no respect he was definatly not afraid.
First day he put up a spirited fight but loaded after one hour .
I loaded him a further thirty five times before I left him to stand there and have a feed he started kicking ( his other party piece) it took him three hours to settle I gave him a drink I left him for two hours more and then turned him into a tiny bare paddock on his own .
The next morning I presented him with the trailer and he walked straight and stood like a lamb interestingly although always a bit rude he became much less bolsy and became much more pleasant to work on with after that.
I fed him in a trailer for a while and always had a few pracise sessions after a holiday , he remained a good loader till he died.
Good luck with yours OP stay calm and focused and just don't give in.
 
I'd carrot/polo type treat for reward and just keep going until she walks in as calmly as she walks into her stable, then repeat ten times, then do the same the next day, then the next day, until she associates going in the trailer as no big deal, a bit boring even, then repeat a week later, and hopefully that will be enough for her to be okay in future?
 
Okay my boy does/did this too. What headcollar are you using? If its a big standard one change to a dually or put lead rope round nose/poll. If he's still at it try bridle with snaffle. If all fails use simple headstrap with chifney . I only need to put this in and my boy will walk like an angel. Anything else and he'll bog off!
 
Get a chifney, get 2 people to help you and clip a lunge line either side of the ramp and use them to guide your horse in. He sounds as though he is being a toad.

I've got it easy with me shetlands to be fair as if they don't load you can either pick em up and chuck em or you can pick all four feet up until they are on the ramp then lift the ramp to tip the pony in. I would say that this is in jest but I have been known to do it ...
 
EKW said:
Get a chifney, get 2 people to help you and clip a lunge line either side of the ramp and use them to guide your horse in. He sounds as though he is being a toad.

I've got it easy with me shetlands to be fair as if they don't load you can either pick em up and chuck em or you can pick all four feet up until they are on the ramp then lift the ramp to tip the pony in. I would say that this is in jest but I have been known to do it ...
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Love it
 
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