Problems unloading safely - help needed!

[LFD]

Hi, I'm looking for some help.

The mare we travel with goes into the trailer no problem but barges out of the box when front unloading. She is in danger or hurting herself and her owner so I'm looking for any tips/recommendations to getting her out of the box safely.

Would it be safer to back her out?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

 

[*hic*]

Got it in one - back her out but don't let anyone stand behind her just in case.

 

[wench]

Yes get her to back out. My trailer is a rear unload only, and I take my horses out on my own. Not currently doing anything shows wise.

Make sure horse reverses ok. I used to go in the grooms door, undo lead rope and sling round neck. Dependant on horse, go to back of trailer and undo breaching bar, and bolts to hold partition in. Get out of trailer and undo ramp. Told horse to "go on then" and he'd reverse himself out, and I would catch the rope as he came down the ramp.

 

[CBFan]

My gelding did this - paniced a bit about coming out. He hated making the turn out of the box and down the ramp and would try and leap from the top of the ramp. He's a big lad at 17.2hh so I didn't want it to become a big issue. I always unload with a bridle and I make a point of making him stand and wait while I undo the partitions and fold them back (he always travels alone) and then I lead him out literally step by step. step, stand, step stand. I am very careful about how I steer him and try and keep him at arms length so that there is minimal rish of him leaping on me or my helper - Having someone to stick his head in a bucket of feed at every 'stop' also helped steady him coming down the ramp (kinda distracted him from the actual act of unloading if that makes sense?) I practiced this a few times at home and he is so much better -still need to check him at the bottom of the ramp but other than that he comes down sweetly.

It is worth folding your central partition back if you can so that he has more room to manouvre, thus reducing the need to panic. Particularly if he is a big horse.

 

[JanetGeorge]

When we teach our youngsters to load - and unload - we do the unloading with a bowl of feed under their nose and halt them every couple of strides - and reward them for stopping! Works well!

 

[Passtheshampoo]

I bought a 13yr old mare last July who loads well but charges down front ramp. After squashing my arm between her body and trailer on one such escape I decided she'd have to unload out backwards in future. As Janet George has said I get youngsters to stop midway down front ramp and feed so it's not an issue. Unfortunately my older mare seems so ingrained with this behaviour I'm not going to try to retrain as just too dangerous.

 

[Daytona]

My lad did this, almost panic when coming out

Removed partion and travelled him in trailer himself and the problem went away, looks like he felt their not enough room to get out comfortably.

Now he just walks out without a care in the world.

So if a trailer try travelling with no partion

 

[JillA]

And as has been said above, teach them to stop on cue, and also teach them to "wait" on cue, with a reward (treat) for staying put until you release them. Useful in all sorts of situations, not least when exiting transport or even a narrow doorway.

 

[CBFan]

My lad did this, almost panic when coming out

Removed partion and travelled him in trailer himself and the problem went away, looks like he felt their not enough room to get out comfortably.

Now he just walks out without a care in the world.

So if a trailer try travelling with no partion

Yes it's amazing how easily it can be resolved once you realise the cause of the issue isn't it?!

As I mentioned, simply folding the partition back helped to resolve my boy's panic - and making him realise that he had to steer himself round the doorframerather than trying to walk through it! lol!

Glad others have found the bucket of feed method works too Always worth practicing at home when you aren't stressed or bothered about going anywhere too

 

[Passtheshampoo]

My lad did this, almost panic when coming out

Removed partion and travelled him in trailer himself and the problem went away, looks like he felt their not enough room to get out comfortably.

Now he just walks out without a care in the world.

So if a trailer try travelling with no partion

Our trailer is a mare and foal trailer so has no partition. Think my mare has been used to a lorry with a big wide open door and it's the size of the front door opening that's the problem.