Safe procedural advice for loading and unloading

[Achinghips]

Following the Ivor Williams thread, can anyone post some safe procedural step by step advice for loading/unloading please? I'm daft as a brush when it comes to sticking to procedure, being incredibly scatter brained and my concentration isn't what it was when I was young.

I will shortly be getting my own trailer and the danger of doing it wrong, with an incorrect procedure cannot be underestimated no matter what age you are(I'm a former Tb owner, so am inherently aware of the damage one half tonne of stressed horse can do and loading two of the buggers together fills me with dread, tbh)!

Anyone learned by some mistakes?

 

[jeeve]

I make sure my horses are comfortable with being on the trailer, before I need to take them somewhere, rather than leaving it until last minute.

I also never tie a horse up in the trailer until the breach bar/ramp are up, and always untie my horse before undoing breach bar /ramp.

I do not have anyone standing in where in the float where they are unable to exit easily, usually no one in float at all, but if kids are around insist they are near (outside) or just inside door, and not anywhere they could get trapped if the horse did swing its head around, or bump them if it panicked.

I use straw or shavings on the floor most times, particularly in wet weather or longer trips to help horse stop slipping

I drive slowly, avoid braking excessively, take corners at a low speed when travelling, so that when I arrive at a destination the horse is not upset

I always double check that the brakes on float are off, the safety chain is on etc before I depart

If a horse is really not comfortable travelling, then don't there is always a next time.

NH instructors have been invaluable in assisting me with a difficult horse, and i have used the same principles to float train all the kids ponies, I just have to point and they self load, which was not the case when we first got them.

I also practised driving the float without horses a few times when I first bought my float, until i felt comfortable with it.

 

[Achinghips]

... and the jockey wheel is upbefore moving off - lol THATS one I learned by error!!