Pressure halter training

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After an 'interesting' time trying to load Frodo at the weekend I ordered a pressure halter (a 'Be Nice' one) which arrived yesterday - first training session was today. The only problem is that Frodo is as good as gold to lead! I used a lunge line and kept trying to make him move away/resist which he was very confused about, he just followed me perfectly pretty much all the time & didn't display any of the barging horrible behaviour he uses when I try & load him.

I'm not really sure what to do now - do I try another session on the flat? Or do I just try loading him with the pressure halter on? I walked around the paddock, did 90 degree bends each way, over poles etc etc....
 
Have you had a look on you tube?

I haven't used a pressure halter but I did buy a dually to load mine. The only exercise I really did was asking him to go backwards then immediately forwards. As yours mine is a poppet to lead and now loads beautifully!!
 
As you probably know it's a very firm back up and the same when you go forwards. It must have purpose. I use the back up technique when I first arrive at a venue. MY lad can fidget and kick out when saddling so I now back him up as soon as he lifts a leg. It's worked wonders, to the point that he lifted a leg on sunday and backed himself up!!!
 
To be honest, I've never found using pressure on the head to be successful when loading. Pressure on the head (even when they are responsive) can often cause them to throw and bang their heads. It's also easy for the handler to accidentally hang on to their heads when they back off the ramp. I'd be using the halter to teach him a 'go forward' cue that comes from a long whip. My training whip is a lunge whip with the lash removed. My horse knows the cues, and we've practised them enough that when it came to loading him onto a trailer (he had a phobia) he was confident in what was being asked. If standing in front and to the side, I tap the ground with the whip as a cue to move forward, at the same time clucking with my tongue. He also responds to the cluck, and that's the best cue when I was want one more step, but I know he's starting to feel the pressure. I can also tap him on the shoulder, and he knows that's his last chance to move forward before he's backed off and lunged. I never stop them going back, they've made a choice, but as soon as they are on the ground they get lunged on a small circle. Within two sessions, my guy now self loads into either bay, stands while I close everything up, stands while I open the back again, and waits until I say 'back' before exiting. It's taken hours to get the ground work solid, but it's made everything so much easier, with the horse confident because he understands what's being asked of him. Good luck, it's frustrating when they are taking the pee, but lunging does work, they would much rather stand in the trailer/lorry than run around!
 
There are lots of methods to use if one doesn't work. I was lucky in that both the horses I used a dually on only needed it the once and were no further problem. My friend had a bad loader and he only needed it once. Good luck x
 
I have no idea how the be nice works as I've never used one.

However I've used a dually and a simple rope halter. It may be that a couple of sessions with a rope halter may help you to start with. You can teach them how to yield to pressure by asking them to lower their head. Move their heads side to side.

Also possibly worth watching the Monty Roberts dually instructions on you tube, I found those helpful for identifying where my own horse had problems
 
Before using any form of force head collar, I'd suggest it is important to eliminate any fear of the trailer. Hauling a horse around that is already fearful of loading will just increase the fear. I like Lyle's approach. They have a choice. Load and get rest and a full hay net or back off and get worked! That's what we do here and even the really bad loader (SIX rears in one session!) ended up learning to self load. Now they are all taught to self-load. It makes life a lot easier.
 
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