Positive loading stories? Need cheering up :(

[huskydamage]

Wondering if anyone can cheer me up with their 'overcoming loading problems' stories after my nightmare day?
I've had a lovely horse for 1year but despite me trying every trick and getting a recommended trainer to help she still generally takes 15-30mins to load. I could deal with that but today after 2hrs of epic loading fail and her rearing & falling over backwards. I had to leave her at the venue! Something I've never done before. I have someone coming out to help me get her home Tommorow but I'm gutted. How much money can I throw at this problem and will it ever improve? She fantastic apart from this but I don't want to give up competeing etc and going to stuff. OH says sell her but I really like her and how can i sell a horse that wont load anyway. Feeling really shit about it and just hoping other people have some positive stories to cheer me up!

 

[be positive]

First question is what are you loading her into, some horses are fine in one form of transport and not another, often with no obvious reason and changing the transport if possible may solve the issue.
I have had a few over the years that were bad and most became really good although the solution varied from horse to horse, 1 had always been tricky until he had to go to hospital for colic surgery when it took an hour to load even sedated with numerous helpers we were verging on giving up and pts was the only option left when we finally got him on, when I picked him up I was dreading loading but he went straight on and never caused a problem from that day but that was an exceptional case.

 

[Walnuts]

I really feel for you and do not have the skill and knowledge to offer you a solution, but what I do know is this. I know what it is like to compete at a high level in a tough rough sport, you have great days and shit ones. When you have a great day this will float back to the back of your mind. Take a deep breath, no one died, you will find a solution xxxx

 

[elliejhb]

I feel for you, 2 years ago my boy took 4hours to get into a trailer. He would rear, leap sideways,plant & drag. I thought it was because it was a trailer as he's a big lad. At the same time he's started pulling back when tied up in the shower bay and also did it outside when I hosed him, which made me think it was confined spaces.
6 months later when we came to move yards he did exactly the same with a 3.5t and broke the ramp so ended up having to hack him to the new yard, and we'd also just paid a deposit on our own box (good timing!).
So I tried working with him when our box arrived, I couldn't even get him to put a foot on the ramp, I persevered giving him feeds and scratches by the box and slowly we got up the ramp but would not go in the box.
I then realised I needed professional help, so got a horse behaviourist involved. Within an hour we had him on the box and standing still in there for me, sadly he freaks if the partition is closed so we haven't progressed much more. But the behaviourist did feel that it could be due to Flynn having arthritis in his knees and we're pretty sure it's also in his hocks that for him to balance it hurts and he remembers this pain.
How old is your horse? Have you had any lameness or stiffness issues lately?

 

[millikins]

Our 1st pony was a beggar to load. We solved it with a Richard Maxwell rope halter which she responded to instantly. We had tried other pressure halters, lunge lines etc and she just fought them. She can still be a witch (she's 22 now) if she isn't wearing it when you load her but pressure no longer needed. I sympathise, it is so depressing.

 

[GTRJazz]

I have three all load in a different way the first will always refuse twice then I can run up beside him, the second a IDH likes me to stand at the top of the ramp and pull the rope, then as soon as I relax it will run up. I often hear that will never work from people watching. And the last you can walk up in the normal way by his shoulder. Two of them hated the old type IFor trailer with only a small front window so I ended up with a 7.5 Lorry. So just a case of finding out their preferences really and staying calm and not been in a rush. More onlookers causes more tension but one helper is good. We always buy haylage for the journey which they remember and makes it easier next time.

 

[laura_nash]

My first horse was terrible to load initially, took 3 hours and five strong men when I collected her and this was from a professional yard with talented horse people. Then when I moved about 1 year later it was a similar struggle. I moved her somewhere where I could have her outside my window and as a result spent a lot more time with her, I also did a LOT more groundwork with her and resolving handling issues including her terrible fear of farriers (I was doing an equine course so I tried stuff out / practiced on her a lot, plus I was riding as part of the course so was happier to swap riding time for handling time).

When I came to move again 2 years later I hired a trailer for a week with all sorts of plans to work on the issue, but it only took about 10 mins to have her loading happily. I still fed her on the trailer etc for the week since I had paid for it! She loaded perfectly after that (I had her for 7 more years), including trailers and lorries of different sizes and even for my non-horsey OH and my YO at various times.

 

[asmp]

My horse still isn't the best to load but is so much better since I changed my trailer from an old Bateson to a new Ifor Williams one.

I was once told to wrap everything in vetwrap to stop the rattles - have you ever stood and listened to some trailers going over a field at shows? Also mine will follow another horse straight on - what's yours like travelling with another?

 

[DabDab]

Pah, two hours is nothing!

When my gelding was a youngster he was taught to go onto a lorry. He went on, he stood there, had dinner there, went for little drives and then I started taking him out for little hacks away from home. On the third one of these I loaded him up and drove us 15mins up the road to some woods, where we tacked up, got off and went for about an hour's hack. We got back to the lorry about 10am (it was a December Sunday so I wanted to get done and home earlyish so he still had decent turnout time), untacked and went to load for home. As he got to the top of the ramp, a dog walker walked past behind him, he shot his head up to turn and look over his shoulder, brushed his ears on the doorway, startled and reversed down the ramp.

At 4pm I accepted the offer from the lady up the road of a stable for the night.
Went back with tack the next day to pick him up, fully expecting to have to ride him home. He walked straight up the ramp 😒

He was loaded onto the lorry twice day for a month after that.

ETA: btw he never flat out refused to go on again and these days he loads himself onto a lorry (he was 5 at the time and is 9 now(

 

[Spottyappy]

How I feel for you. We had to leave our NF mare at a venue a few years ago, as she refused to load. I had to hack her home the next day, all 10 miles of it on main roads. Was not ideal.
We then took her onto a Kelly marks course, as simply could not be dealing with this.
What we mainly took away from this course, was to position the lorry (in our case, but would be the same with a trailer) in a corner, so the only way was in. We had to block any exits off, and used wind breaks for this. Rarely had an issue then.
She is now on loan, and the loaner knew the issues. She has used a blindfold with success if a corner is not available.
Good luck and hope your mare goes on.
I can thoroughly recommend Kelly if you did want more help.

 

[jojo5]

Slightly similar to DabDab above, in that one thing can be the key to loading probs - my first transport was an Ifor W box on a transit which took all my ‘box pennies’ at the time. After a couple of trips my down to earth genuine cob who had always loaded on lorries before refused to get on it, and tho we managed to ‘persuade’ him, I knew he must have a reason. I did what you are not supposed to do and travelled some yards with him in it and also stood in the back pretending to be him while my partner drove it. Who knew? - the suspension was unusually high and the box therefore turned out to feel quite tippy on corners even at very slow speeds. I had already suspected that the ramps were marginally steeper than others. I gave the box away to a charity for rug storage, and started saving again.......... I eventually bought an ordinary IW trailer, and my boy went on it from the day I brought it home. He had a thought bubble above his head saying ‘Finally, you listened!!!’

 

[jojo5]

Not sure why I have two comment boxes??!!

 

[JennBags]

What have you tried so far?

I've had 2 horses that became tricky loaders, I spent 3 hours once trying to get the first one into my trailer, I had to cancel my plans and just refused to give up until he went on. However after that I got my instructor involved who first did some ground work with him, then basically made it uncomfortable for him to be anywhere except on the lorry. By then continuing with the ground work, just simple exercises like stopping, backing them up and moving them on my commands, I didn't have another problem. I then experienced a very similar problem with my next horse, again I asked my trainer for help and this one was more tricky, so we followed a very similar process but used a rope halter this time, again after a couple of these sessions we didn't have a problem again.

A friend has a horse for whom none of the above works though, although the rope halter does help as it's true pressure and release. With him, it's a case of having to do it week in, week out, when he's had a break from travelling, she has to start from scratch again.

 

[PapaverFollis]

The Beast loads well but is majorly put off if the trailer is at all unstable during entry or exit. We have to put the jockey wheel down and the break on for all loading and unloading else she becomes sticky the next time.

Granny? Hmmm. I've had moderate success with positive reinforcement methods, including using a clicker. Also a bit of success with pressure release. Sometimes giving her a smack up the arse works best which annoys me no end! 😂 Nothing is guaranteed though except following her current pair bond horse on and apparently me really, really deep down deciding to take no nonsense... but I have to really mean it from the bottom of my boots and I just can't fake that and mostly part of my mind is asking myself if it's fair to be asking her to load so it's hopeless 😂. We never really went anywhere apart from yard moves though which really doesn't help.

Loading up and doing a few journeys where they come straight home again with no unloading anywhere else can be helpful.

 

[Celtic Fringe]

I don't have a huge amount of experience in this area. However, with two tricky loaders I found that lunging them in worked better than rope halters, lines round the back end etc. Obviously the horse and handler need to know the basics of lunging! I did this all in walk - I cannot move quickly due to arthritis and it keeps adrenaline levels low! I found that standing on the side of the ramp worked ok - though if you cannot get the horse near to the bottom you may need to lunge them in a smallish circle a short distance away and gradually move the circle nearer to the lorry/trailer. I used a long lunge whip so I could easily reach behind the horse with the thong and gently encourage it to move forwards. The line helped keep the head straight, but was fairly loose unless the horse started to resist in any way - essentially pressure and release. In each case the horse dropped it's head to sniff/look at the ramp and after a few moments walked on.
I think this worked because the horses involved were used to being moved forwards on a lunge - essentially they were being pushed in, rather than pulled so the process was familiar to them even if the situation was not. Make sure the lorry/trailer are as light (not dark) as possible as horses eyes don't adjust as fast as ours. An audience is generally not helpful so send them for coffee/treats/cake!
Good luck!

Edited to add that both the horses concerned now lead in without any issues.

 

[ihatework]

What are you travelling the horse in? Have you tried various modes of transport?

What loading techniques have you tried to date?

 

[claret09]

I could write a book about loading my boy. he has had issues right from being a youngster - now at 21 we have reached an agreement about what works for us. at home he likes the trailer in it's usual spot, he likes the front and back doors open with no bar across so he can walk in and out a couple of times, he doesn't like an audience, he likes to have at least one poo before he goes on, he likes to once the front is done up go on part way and back off a few times, but he does load - usually within 10 - 15 mins. he won't load if his adrenaline levels are high, if people are around, if my adrenaline levels are high, etc, etc. I have learnt over the years how to manage, he loads because he trusts me, ironically he travels beautifully - you wouldn't know he was there. we use a dually and a long line. grant bazin really helped us. I never, accept offers of help when we are out (he generally loads better coming home - but does like the front and back doors down and no bar across) - people love to help but in my experience they rarely do - generally they make the situation worse. I will shout at people to get them to shut the front and then the back ramp up. we have spent many many hours working at loading - we manage and go all over the place - I deliberately take him to our trainer rather than him coming to us - it's 10 minutes down the road - over time I have worn my boy down with patience and a very quiet approach. you can win - it's like playing chess - you have to work out which moves result in check mate. good luck

 

[Gallidgirl]

A few of the bad loaders on our yard had a specialist out who used the ‘tap tap’ technique.

They all now load beautifully without problems as long as not given too long in between ‘practice’. If so, a simple resort back to the tap tap and 2 minutes they are in.

I don’t suppose you are in the area or I would pass along her contact details, maybe there is someone similar near you that could help?

 

[JennBags]

....people love to help but in my experience they rarely do - generally they make the situation worse.

Oh yes, ain't that the truth!

 

[Ambers Echo]

DabDab what a nightmare!! But proves anything is possible with time and patience.

OP, who have you used to help you? There are people around who are particularly skilled at dealing with loading issues. It's a nightmare when a horse won't load and I totally agree that most people around are a serious hindrance and rarely much of a help! Good luck with it.

Incidentally I doubt the problems with loading will make him unsellable. If you were seriously considering that.

 

[Landcruiser]

My lad is a poor loader but we have managed in various ways over the years. He has a real issue with things behind him - I think he's been hit from behind in the past. So he's very suspicious of the back bar and ramp going up, which results in him not wanting to load at all, or shooting straight off backwards if I take a step back to put up the bar. When I bought him (nearly 10 years ago) he was a non loader, needing 4 people to bully and drag him on.
I practiced trailer loading ad infinitum, using yard corner, barriers, having the front ramp down, treating/feeding on the trailer, no partition,all of which helped, but it was still difficult or impossible for me to do it alone - which I need to be able to do sometimes. So I bought a lorry. The ramp was steeper which he didn't like but by now I had worked out a "domesday weapon" which was guaranteed to get him on every time. Because of his nervousness back end, I was able to shamelessly use this to help - the second he hesitates, I loop a 15 ft rope from his headcollar, round his bum, and back to me (he's totally "rope broke" around his legs, so no worries about him panicking or getting tangled). Just the feel of the rope sends him on like a scalded cat. In the lorry I could just shut the side partition, happy days. As soon as he's on I drop the rope, and retrieve from the floor it once he's all shut in. (I started by using a lunging roller to keep the rope in place and organised, but it was a faf threading it all through and it's much quicker without, but it takes practice to manage the ropes).
Now we are back to a trailer again. I still have to use the rope trick if I want him on quickly, other wise it can take a while to get him on with front open etc etc. The only way I can guarantee being able to load him ALONE in the trailer is this:
Both ramps down. I have a stall guard fitted at top of front ramp, partition removed, full width back and front bars on the floor ready to go. I walk him to the ramp as if we are going straight on. Occasionally we do! But mostly he stops and sniffs the ramp and sticks there. So with no fuss whatsoever I clip on the long rope. Sometimes that's all it takes. At worst, the rope goes round the bum and on we go. Then comes the tricky bit. Because I can't get the back bar up and I don't want to tie him in case he panics, I TURN HIM ROUND in the trailer so he's facing backwards. This only works because he's 14.3 and compact and pretty supple. It's not ideal, and I'm not recommending it, but it works for us. Facing the back I can then get the back bar up, then turn again and get the front bar up, cross tie him so he can't turn back round himself, ramps up and we are done. He travels beautifully, thankfully!

 

[milliepops]

Incidentally I doubt the problems with loading will make him unsellable. If you were seriously considering that.

Agreed. Every horse I've ever had bar my first pony has been a bad loader to start with.
They've all ended up being happy travellers. It's time, endless patience and regular repetition of good experiences that transforms them IMO

Good suggestions above about doing an appraisal of your transport, I'd also take an honest look at general ground manners and handling. One of mine had to learn that she must never mow her human down even when she's really anxious, and to lead nicely *everywhere* without questioning, objecting or being rude. Then the issue of walking up the ramp almost solved itself. A lot of people don't really notice how their horse doesn't quite do what it's asked a lot of the time that kind of training is never a waste of time.

 

[rachk89]

I feel your pain. I had to leave my boy at a venue for 2 days after trying for 7 hours to get him to load. We even tried the venue owners lorry but he would not go in. Had to pay a trainer to come out and teach him how to load. She got him in, but the lessons didn't stick unfortunately, he just found new ways around it.

The only person I've found that could load that horse in under 2 mins and in tricky conditions was a wonderful woman who collected him from the side of a very busy A road after the truck broke down. She does trailering as a business and she got him on with no issues.

You have to move the back legs, not the head. Pull on the head and they just pull back, and they are stronger. We use lunging lines with him and eventually he gives in and just walks in. He's not scared in the slightest, he travels very well. Doesn't try to rush out or even escape from in there once in, he just refuses to go in. I've bought a loading aid thing now that you put around the horse and you as the loader hold it and basically pull their back legs forward. Works the same as a lunging line but you can do this by yourself. I haven't tried it yet as we havent had to take him anywhere, but hoping it will work.

Good luck. I know how much it sucks though. It was horrible for me when having to routinely take mine to the vets to fix him and he wouldn't go, even doing the same as yours and falling over. Only positive to that is they found a problem with him and sorted it. Without him falling over it wouldn't have been made worse and they'd have never have found it. But it's still awful.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Incidentally I doubt the problems with loading will make him unsellable. If you were seriously considering that.

Agree ^
I purchased NF over 2 years ago for well under what she was worth as a pedigree fuzzy, due to her man made issues, loading being one of them (catching, whips, men and lunge lines (or even standing at the end of a lead rope, thus not 'attached' ) being others). She was 'sellable' - just for not what she would be worth if had no issues.

First time loading took me nearly 3 hours to get her on.

I consider myself pretty efficient with dodgy loaders but decided to draft in another experienced specialist friend. This helped. I also then loaded her every day, twice a day or more - no feeding etc, but getting hermarching on and off. Went to anywhere I knew I could hack home from for the 1st month or more until I was happy with her attitude to loading. I didn't use any aids like whips brooms and lines, no extra people, no feed, no tapping, just pressure and release where she didn't appreciate it - and HAD to do it on my own - as she even now gets v upset if crowded (more than 1 person is crowding!).
Ok, on odd occasions she might still possibly plant, (but even 5 seconds can feel like a few minutes can't it?) but as soon as pressure is applied or even mentioned, then she's moving on and in.
Have managed to get over the 'men', mostly over the catching (she still wont be stolen in a hurry tho lol!), but not at all with whips yet.
But, she's a well behaved fuzzy who now doesn't stand up, spin and fall over/run away or plant when loading, which is what she did when I brought her.
Try and get an experienced person to help you, they might be able to point out a few tips

 

[blitznbobs]

My cob was a bugger to load when we got him... I have stood there for 4 hours before now... I have tried all the techniques but what worked for him was food - lots of people would tell you this is the wrong thing to do and I agree with them in general but it has gone from an hour at a time to load him to instant loading with a bucket I can get him on without a bucket but tbh I can’t be bothered anymore I just give in and make life more pleasant for everyone

 

[BlackRider]

I had to use a Richard Maxwell style halter too, after trying to load for nearly 2 hours at a venue and resorting to the vet for sedation to get him in, I got some hep.

It want instant with the halter but he quickly learnt, and after that as long as it was on he went in like a dream, if i tried without he'd plant.. Magic halter back on and in we go...

 

[huskydamage]

Thankyou for all your replies. Managed to get her home today with help. The general consensus is she is not scared just being stubborn. After some rearing I managed to put her on and off the trailer 30+ times and have been told to keep practicing and repetition. I hope I can sort it but a bit concerned to take her anywhere now in case I get stuck again. It's made more difficult by the fact I have no trailer/lorry licence so although I have access to a trailer to practice, I rely on family/friends to take me anywhere /move it. I feel awful when they have to wait about because horse decides not to load. This is the first time I have ever had to give up, 2hrs probably doesn't seem like a long time but it was pissing with rain and it thought it wasn't fair on them to wait any longer.

 

[Red-1]

One horse I had took 4 hours first time. He became very reliable.

We did take to loading on a daily basis, and at first I would use the box for a one way trip locally and hack the other half. Then little trips.

I think it can be overcome, but where it is safe I would also have a trip in the trailer (obviously on private land where it would not be illegal) to ensure it is all quiet and the ride is good. I would also check tyre pressures, floor, and that the partition - if you use one- is stable. I would also be cautious in case he has a physical issue brewing.

 

[Schollym]

Thankyou for all your replies. Managed to get her home today with help. The general consensus is she is not scared just being stubborn. After some rearing I managed to put her on and off the trailer 30+ times and have been told to keep practicing and repetition. I hope I can sort it but a bit concerned to take her anywhere now in case I get stuck again. It's made more difficult by the fact I have no trailer/lorry licence so although I have access to a trailer to practice, I rely on family/friends to take me anywhere /move it. I feel awful when they have to wait about because horse decides not to load. This is the first time I have ever had to give up, 2hrs probably doesn't seem like a long time but it was pissing with rain and it thought it wasn't fair on them to wait any longer.

We have a mare who we have had issues with the two hours plus scenarios we are familiar with.
It is my daughters horse, a sturdy 16.1 who is the issue. I have practised with her and currently she loads at home running up the ramp but won’t do the same on the way home. Get yourself a trailer licence and you will feel more confident about using a trailer and not inconveniencing others( this will be in your subconscious and influencing your behaviour) you can then practice as much as you like until it is second nature.

 

[oldie48]

I'm another who has found the Richard Maxwell halter works well, especially if you have a horse that backs out at speed tbh both of the horses I had to use it with would walk straight on wearing the halter once they understood that I had control. For a horse that plants, I've found that a cup of water chucked at their bum (or a water pistol) gets them moving. None of the bad loaders were frightened as such it was just rather stubborn bolshy behaviour. However a connie mare, who had always loaded without hesitation had to be taken to the vet's by someone else, the next time I tried to load her she planted and trembled. It took me three hours n the pouring rain to convince her that it was ok to go on, we went for a short run and loaded/off loaded her a couple more times and we never had another problem. i can only think that she had had a bad journey going to the vets.