Side ramp loading issues... a bit epic

[Carlosmum]

I’ll try & keep it short. I have changed from an Ifor trailer to a rear facing Equitrek. One pony loads no problem, the other is struggling with the concept of turning at the top of the ramp. After many hours of practice he will now ‘reluctantly‘ walk to the top of the ramp. Front feet in trailer, hinds at top of ramp or in dip between ramp & trailer floor. If I ask him forwards he shuffles to the left with his front feet leaving his back feet outside. I can move him over to the righthand side to give him room to swing in and round to left but he will only move his front legs when I ask him to swing left. He has managed a couple of times to come right in & turn at the top & come down the ramp forwards but when asked immediately to perform again has ‘forgotten’ what he just did.
I have come to the following conclusions:
1. He finds the aluminium strips across the ramp difficult and he doesn’t like the gap at the top of the ramp.
2. When faced with the far wall of the trailer he is confused about what to do next (bless him he’s not very bright!)
3. He finds turning to the left quite hard probably as his left foot has some pedal rotation & taking weight on one foot is uncomfortable. He will make this turn on the ground.
So my options are:
1. Take the strips off the ramp & replace with ridged trailer matting ( I have just re-built the ramp as the wood was rotting)
2. Somehow fill in the gap at the top or lay a stable mat over the gap but I am worried it will slip.
3. Wait until an experienced friend can come & help in a couple of weeks time.
4. Give up & go back to a rear loading trailer.
He is 16 yrs old, 15hh & there is plenty of room. At no time have I got cross with him & we are doing all the work in a ‘dually’ headcollar. I’m stuck, having to do all this on my own as no help available. In an ideal world I would ask a IH or equivalent expert for help but finances will not allow this.
Your helpful comments or observations would be very welcome.

 

[Tobiano]

I do sympathise, as we had a similar issue with my bigger boy, who cannot work out how to get on the near side of our side loading lorry. Fortunately we have the option to let him go on the other side so it is not really an issue.

FWIW my comment would be - if you have tried all the above and not having any luck, I really would go down the IH RA route. Yes it will cost you money but it is an awful lot cheaper than changing trailers! If that really is not an option then I suspect what they would do is to start you moving his feet around on the ground well away from the trailer, backing round an L of poles, etc. You could try that for a while but IME the RA route will decimate the time it takes you to get there.

Good luck [edited to get the smiley here instead of in the title! ]

 

[hollyandivy123]

hi have you tried using poles as a marker for the space on the ground and practice the movement with voice commands until he can do it on the flat and then try again in the trailer?

 

[Carlosmum]

Thanks for the replies

hi have you tried using poles as a marker for the space on the ground and practice the movement with voice commands until he can do it on the flat and then try again in the trailer?

Yep I tried that, built him a trailer sized pen with poles & blocks, negotiated it perfectly, but can't seem to transfer skill to the trailer.
Tobiano... He has the whole of the trailer to go into I don't mind which side he stands. You may be right about the RA my friend is actually my mother's head stud groom & has 25 years experience of problem ponies & knows my boys parents! I may end up waiting for her help.

 

[Mari]

Has horse previously been used to going in a forward facing trailer / horsebox or a herring bone horsebox? (Where they stand at an angle). If he used to go up ramp & turn to the right he will find it confusing to have to turn to the left.
I had a herring bone horsebox where horse went up ramp & turned left to stand diagonally across box. When I changed to a 3.5 side ramp where he had to turn right he didn't understand. I found if I led him up the ramp into the box & turned him left in a full circle so that he was standing correctly then shut the partition & off we went after a few times like this he got the message.
I helped some people at a competition do this. They'd been trying to load this horse for over an hour. I asked if they would like help. The (long suffering) dad said 'yes get this horse in the box for us.' Turned out they had hired the box for the day with a view to buying one! I explained how I had resolved the situation with my horse & offered to try with theirs. He went straight in, turned around & stood there ready for home.
It might not work with yours but it's worth trying.

 

[TommisMum]

I have taught my 4yr old to load using Richard Maxwells pressure halter and his technique. She took 4.5 hours to get on and turn right in a lorry and the same to get on and load to the left in an equitrek!!
Pm me and I'll talk you through what might work.
I didn't fill the gaps or changed anything as I'm of the opinion that in an emergency she needs to load!
My next challenge is to get her to load into a rear load trailer.

 

[Carlosmum]

Mari... He was previously in a forward facing trailer, but has been on a rear loading left facing lorry a couple of times many years ago. Might try the full right hand turn if I can keep his hind feet in the trailer & just replace the front feet if they come down onto the ramp.

TommisMum... Thanks I'll PM you