Problems with loading away from home.

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FAB_FERN

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I rescued a horse early Feb and now he's back in great condition. We have been having lessons and he was coming on greats o I thought we'd start doing a few competitions. Walk trot dressage to start and some funrides.

Anyway I knew he wasn't a good loader so we spent weeks feeding him in our box before even trying to shut him in etc. Walked him through (trailer type boxvan) loads of times and then started putting the partition up. Our 1st trip out we didn't go far with a friend and we rode home so he didn't have to load again so soon. He was really good, I stayed in the back with him and he was calm when he got out at the other end.

All good I thought. So we decided to try a few trips close to home before going too far. We did this on monday. Went to a yard about 1 mile away and parked up. Unloaded rode for 1 hour with friend and then tried to load again. I took us 1 1/2 hours to get him back in. He firstly went straight up the ramp and then decided he didn't want too. I lunged him in the school after 45 minutes as I was getting annoyed. Thought if he was more hungry he would go in. NOPE. It took 5 of us to get him in and once in he was ok, other horse loaded fine and we went home.
Did the same on Thursday and same again, he wouldn't load. Took 3 of us 45 minutes (whichis an improvment) to load him with food and lunge lines up his bum. Shouting or forceing him doesn't work.

He loads perfect at home and my friend has been driving super slow. I can now travel in the front without him worrying but i'm worried about taking him anywhere too far that I can't ride him home from.

Tips anyone. Why would he load at home and not to get home???
 
Try loading at home going for a drive then park in a different area at home or even just park in a different direction then try loading again. It will take the pressure off. Good Luck
 
Have you tryed putting a lunge line behind him? Mine loads straight away when theres another horse already in the trailer but if hes by himself he will stop at the ramp and plant his feet, no amount of persuition will get that horse on! BUT as soon as you put a lunge line behind him (dont need to touch him with it) he walks straight on, its just if he nos its there he goes on, otherwise no goer :p Even the vet thought he was a stubborn pig hehe ... Last time we went out we were in a lorry and he would not under any cercumstances get back on to go home, he lay down on the ramp numerous times, its so annoying. If i hada none that he loaded with a lunge line then we may have got the beast on :rolleyes:
 
We had two lunge lines up his bum, we tried the other horse in 1st and that makes no difference and other horse ends up stressed. You can get him almost all the way in and he starts to back up again and jumps off the ramp.

He's got me baffled. My own mare loads herself so him being a totalarse is all new to me.

I don't understand why he loads at home, i mean he could end up anywhere. His previous owner bought him at Beeston so he must have loaded to get there and for her to get him home but when she came to our yard from her previous one she walked him as he wouldn't load. So i have atleast made some progress with him as he will load every time at home.

We shall try again tomorrow as we have hired the indoor school where we will be doing ur dressage next week. I could be riding home!! may take me about 1 1/2 hours. I hope it doesn't rain. lol
 
lots of treats and food and fuss when they are in keep calm and relaxed as well
i had an incident with my little devil ata show we nearly had him in and he shot ot backwards and ran off into a crop fied so embarasing!!! everyone was watching
hope your horse gets better at it
p.s my pony got in first time with a lunge whip behind him
 
He would freek out if I got a lunge whip out!!

Anyway we have an update. We've made great progress. We hired the local indoor and we managed to get him back in, in 30 minutes and 3 people. Then we went back the week after for dressage. Came 4th....whoo and then loaded in 20 minutes and 4 people. Getting better.
Last wednesday we ventured a little further to my riding instructors. She was going to come out to us but we bit the bullet and went the half hour drive to her yard. We had a lesson in which he was very good and then we had a go at loading with just 2 of us as instructor was busy. He loaded in just FIVE minutes. Totally shocked. I think he's getting the gist. lol
 
Hmmm. Just wonder if he loads OK at home coz its his "safe" zone, i.e. where his herd is, but away from home he's feeling insecure and looking for his herd, tho' I'm surprised he plays up with the other horse there too.

Just a hint: I had a natural horsemanship lady help me with mine - and that's not to look back at them when you walk up the ramp. If you do need to look back then wear a hat with a shade over your eyes, coz apparently looking back at them down the ramp looks like aggression to them.

With mine, I had to go right back to basics; he needs to be confident at following you on the ground first, and that means following WHEREVER you go, i.e. over tarp's, through cones, under low things, etc etc. He has to respect you as herd leader, that what you say is safe, is safe, and that he will then follow you wherever you go. This stage may take time, and you'll have to get his confidence.

It may be hun that you just need to take a step back if you can, and work a little bit more on the ground with him; also with mine it helped to get someone to help and suggest an alternative approach - not that we're there yet, far from it, but it does help to get some ideas.

The main thing to bear in mind is that he must follow you into the transport because he Wants to, not because he's being Forced to, that's the thing to aim for.
 
Thought i'd update you on Bill and our travels. He now travels at home and away from home. We used to use a chifney to get him to load. (not forcefully just so he knew he couldn't just run off like he had been doing).
He will only travel with another horse so far but he loads 1st time everytime withou fail and without the chifney, infact he now runs up the ramp and is keen to get in.

The only odd thing is that he ALWAYS travels on the right leaving the yard and he ALWAYS travels on the left going home. lol What an odd bod. hehe.

Just so pleased that he now loads without a fuss.
 
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