Problem Loader...

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vikkiandmonica

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After going to a clinic last Wednesday, it really came to my attention that Wings is terrible at loading, and it isn't improving. It took my about an hour to load him on Wednesday, and on the way back, we had to park the trailer by a wall to block off his exit (always runs to the right). Have tried putting a lunge line on that side to block his exit, and also behind him for a big of encouragement, but doesn't work. Tried to load in a bridle too, but that didn't work either. We have also tried with food, but he is not a greedy horse, so this doesn't work either.

With me, he has never been anywhere in a trailer that was nasty, such as the vets, and once in the trailer, he normally stands fine and travels happily. When I got him home on Wednesday, he even wanted to stay inside and finish his haynet, so it is not him being scared, I just don't know what it is. Opening the ramps to make it lighter etc. also does nothing to help.

If anyone has any ideas, they would be really appreciated, however I don't really have the time to spend hours a day trying to get him in and feeding him in there or anything, as I have exams etc., but I feel we are limited to go places, as his loading time can vary, which means we can be late for shows etc.

Thanks for any help, it is much appreciated (have a slice of cheesecake for the help :D)
 
I know you said he is not a greedy horse, but a lady at our yard has a tricky loader, he may go on fine or he may not no real reasoning behind it, anyway she tries to make sure that he hasn't had a haynet for 30-40 mins before loading, and she finds that he goes on best if as soon as she gets off him she puts him straight on rather than tie him up etc. She also walks him around in a circle in front of the ramp if he is being tricky and eventualy he gets so fed up with walking calmly around that he gives in and wants to go up the ramp.

Phew sorry got a bit carried away, hope it makes sence though :o
 
Yeah, that does make sense. I could try the no feeding thing, and the circling, suppose I just need to figure out what changes when he doesn't load/does load.

Thanks for the advice :D !
 
Sorru ofcourseyoucan, missed your post. In short, yeah, I do think he is taking the p. He travels well, other than round roundabouts, where he stamps a big, but other than that he is perfect. Did sweat a bit the last time he travelled, but I think that was just that the situation got out of hand, what with the hour trying to get him loaded, then the travelling. I just don't know how much changes that stops him loading. Weird horse :p
 
Hi,
Tbh the best thing to do is set aside a whole day.. it makes a huge amount of difference getting a horse to do something, ie load, when you arent rushing due to a time limit.
But if you arent able to do this, maybe you could try practicing loading instead of riding one night, im sure there would be an improvement once your not loading to get anywhere (from your post im guessing you load up mostly to get to shows etc, and are likely to be rushing and feeling stressed or tense, and would get more so if horse wasnt loading.).
and also reptition, try loading every day you're at the stables, and he should get the hang of it more quickly. Also, he may not be a greedy horse, but if you gave him his evening feed in the trailer after a period of time he would be walking himself in there, expecting a feed rather than travelling anywhere.
This obv takes time, but by setting aside time to practice loading, even if it means not riding as much/at all for a few days is pretty crucial. once you can get him loading more quickly, you can continue practicing every day and soon he will walk himself onto the trailer himself!
sorry its prob not what you wanted to hear/knew already, but it definately works..
x
 
Thanks for that. I really do get what you mean, but other than weekends, which even then are limited, I don't have enough time to set aside. Also, as I can't drive, I would be relying on my father to help. Will try that sometime this weekend hopefully.

As for rushing, we normally set aside enough time just encase he is going to be an idiot, but I suppose I must get stressed out a little.

Thanks again for the help :D
 
Haha i had same problem so convinced my (non horsey) dad to help load the horse. granted i've had horses long enough, and my dad is one of those really calm people that would have made an excellent horse person, that it wasnt so bad..
anyway managed to convince him to help me load up problem loader (who not only took hours but also reared up) and it became a bit of a project for us both. Dad got really into it, and took it on as a challenge (although he did little more than move trailer to suitable places and top up bucket of bribes when necessary). he drove me up every evening after work until she loaded like an angel. :D
 
pretty much :) , blocked off sides so could only go up ramp or backwards and just let horse come to me. took forever first time! and then circled round and did it all over again. by the third night it took 15mins to load and unload several times, and after a couple of weeks, just let the horse walk itself on (not literally!) looking for feed!
this horse wasnt particularly greedy either and was genuinely scared of loading after bad experiance.
Maybe if you also tried blocking off sides, you could get someone to encourage (clapping etc not smacking!) horse when you can see he is just starting to take the P.!
Hope you figure it out!
x
 
I stood with my NF for 6 hours once....thinking she was scared....she'd get so far up the ramp and then come flying back out....eventually my mum got p'eed off and shouted at her from behind....she went straight in and stood up ready for the partition.....
 
Thanks PP, will definately ask dad to help tomorrow, even if he justs gets the trailer out and abandons me and Wings to do it alone. T_K, growling doesn't work, neither does flicking a whip in his direction, he just completely ignores it, little t!t :p
 
I've found the control headcollars really help (I just use the shires one), you need to do some groundwork with it away from the ramp the idea being to get the horse to follow you anywhere, we also left the trailer in the yard and only fed in the trailer for a week, she's great now
 
We have exactly the same situation with my OH's mare and it has been going on for years, we have just done two things that have dramatically changed the situation: First, we got some professional help from a behaviourist and second we used a Stallion Ring.

During the first training session they used a Dually headcollar, which worked well, but as soon as we moved the trailer Fol would not load again and the Dually just did not seem to work, so we got the horse lady back and she went to the stallion ring, which does the same thing as the dually, but more firmly.

In the second session they moved the trailer all over the field and Fol loaded every time. In the end she was practically self loading. Not bad for a stubborn, 17 year old chestnut mare (does it get any better?).

Good luck, I know EXACTLY how frustrating it can be.
 
Not read all the posts but my horse was a fab loader and eventually it took longer and longer to load him. He didn't do anything, just stood at the bottom of the ramp looking round. Tried bribing him with food but he still took his time. RI pointed out he's not bothered just taking his own time. She suggested using a chain rope across his nose and he loaded straight away. Now I use an ESKADRON CONTROL HEADCOLLAR WITH BUILT IN CHAIN and he loads perfectly.
 
Thanks LMuirEDT, if I can't load him well with a normal headcoller, I may try another type of headcoller, such as that you suggested.

Neil, what is a stallion ring?
 
I just googled it and found http://www.kmeliteproducts.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=acc007

I personally like the Eskadron head collar as you can use it with the chain or clip it onto the normal ring and it's a normal head collar. That way there is no faffing taking stuff off/on once ur in the trailer/lorry.

I've also got the Shires controller head collar which is a good medium (mine can be a bit of a handful coming in from the field) but I still prefer the Eskadron for loading.
 
My pony took the pee when loading - he was not scared in the slightest, just stubborn! He would either plant his front feet on the ramp or come off the ramp to the left, pushing me out of the way as he did so. Once I had to load him on the edge of a road and he came off the side of the ramp, pushing me out into the road. I had my schooling whip in my hand and I honestly don't think I've ever smacked him so hard. He then went straight on and now trots on first time every time as long as I have the whip with me (I don't usually need to use it). I know this would not be a preferred solution for a lot of people, but it worked for me.

The other thing with my pony is he likes to load himself - he isn't keen to follow me on to a trailer. I walk (or jog!) alongside him and once his head is in the trailer I wait by the side and in he goes. I'm happy for him to do it himself but it must be on my terms - first time, every time. The joys of a stubborn coblet!! ;)
 
Just watched the harness video, and it seems to put the pressure on the back end? This, however, does not work with my horse, as we have tried to do the same sort of this with a lunge line?
 
I have a problem land paid alot of money to do rope halter training etc. which only worked for a short period of time then went back to not loading, really frustrating. You have to make the inside of the box a nicer place to be than the outside so tie a noisy plastic bag to the end of a lunge whip so when horse gets to ramp (you need 2 people) person makes a loud rustling noise behind the horse and don't stop until horse goes in. |Loaded her last night and she took one look at me out of the corner of her eye with the bag on the end of the whip and she trotted in, on the way home she just walked in no problems...good luck it is damm frustrating when they will not load.
 
vikkiandmonica said:
Just watched the harness video, and it seems to put the pressure on the back end? This, however, does not work with my horse, as we have tried to do the same sort of this with a lunge line?
Click to expand...

When I was testing it, I tried it on a horse who went ballistic if you tried to cross lunge lines behind him and he loaded instantly (see 'Alison and Monty' in the testimonials on the website). It doesn't 'work' for every horse though - it's not designed as a solution but rather as an extra pair of hands (or several extras) especially if you are loading on your own, hence the name.
 
I think you really need to look at why he wont load. What are car are you towing him with? Are you driving slow enough especially around corners? Something is worrying him enough not to want to go in and just because he is happy to stay on once stationery does not mean that something is not worrying him enough to not want to load. Have you recently checked the trailer floor to make sure it is 100% sturdy, horses can very quickly pick up if something feels slightly not right under their feet. Have you checked there is nothing that bangs about and startles him when driving.

You need to break down loading, even 20 minutes a day dropping the ramp and loading him and walking out several times. Maybe if time is short, load him up and give him his tea in the trailer, so he sees it as something pleasurable. Once loading him staight away take him on a 5 minute journey, then back home and tea as a reward. If he is then reluctant to go on next time, something is wrong with the way he is being towed.

How big is he? Does he need the whole trailer to help him balance and feels unstable shut in one partition? He doesnt have to crash and bang about to feel unstable but it is something worth thinking about.

I would really look and see that there is nothing wrong, before resorting to using force to load him.
 
Thanks guys, will look into the plastic bag and the harness.

Scally, he is 16.2hh, but does travel well, and is normally fine at the other end, not sweaty or anything. Not sure if he needs the whole trailer for himself, but he travels/loads the same with different trailers (mine and my friends that we used). The only thing he loads really well in is a lorry for some reason, where he loaded first time (went with Louisa at work experience, never been in one before with me, but travelled happily).

We tow with a Nissan Toranto, and my dad does slow down a lot to go round corners, but may try going slightly slower.

Hope this helps??
 
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