solo trailer loading

[Landcruiser]

My horse isn't a great loader, although he'll always go in with a rope round his back end. I usually travel solo. I did teach him to go on in front of me, which he was happy to do if the front ramp is down and no partition in, but he's not at all consistent, and is always likely to reverse back out before I can get the back bar up. With a second pair of hands, I can load by leading him through and sticking his head out over the front ramp while someone else puts the bar up. I think have now solved the solo problem in a slightly unorthodox way. Partition out, and a stall guard across the open front ramp, so we have a big empty inviting space. I lead him on with a second rope off the headcollar and round his back end. We go right in, then we turn 180 degrees (he's 14.3 and manages this easily) and I put the back bar in. We turn back to the orthodox front facing position, and I tie him and put the front bar in. Job done.

Using this method I had my first 100% no messing about, no help solo trip to a fun ride and back yesterday - after 9 years! To be fair he's gone in a lorry solo for the last several years, but the problem with the trailer has always been his going in then shooting out backwards immediately I make the slightest move to put the bar up. I'm putting this in here in case it helps anyone else who has the same issue.

 

[Northern Hare]

Hi, I’ve just had a quick search as it was mentioned previously on here but can’t find the thread. However I have found it via Google - it’s a harness to allow you to load on your own more easily.

It’s called Solo Harness: http://www.soloequestrian.com/solo.html

Btw, I don’t have any links to the company!

Also, I found that a good way to encourage your horse to load in front of you is to tie a Haynet up in the front at just below eye level, and poke in some really big juicy carrots so they’re half sticking out of the haynet. That keeps them occupied whilst you secure the breach bar at the back and get them safely tied up and trailer doors secured.

 

[Landcruiser]

Hi, I’ve just had a quick search as it was mentioned previously on here but can’t find the thread. However I have found it via Google - it’s a harness to allow you to load on your own more easily.

It’s called Solo Harness: http://www.soloequestrian.com/solo.html

Btw, I don’t have any links to the company!

Also, I found that a good way to encourage your horse to load in front of you is to tie a Haynet up in the front at just below eye level, and poke in some really big juicy carrots so they’re half sticking out of the haynet. That keeps them occupied whilst you secure the breach bar at the back and get them safely tied up and trailer doors secured.

What I do with my rope round the back is essentially the same as this solo harness. Originally I threaded it through a lunging roller, but now I just loop it round. He's 100% "rope broke" so there's no issue with him panicking if it drops too low. The solo harness seems to force you to be very close to the horse, whereas I like to load with a longer rope to the headcollar. I'd also be nervy about clipping to the front bar... But thanks anyway for the link, it's interesting to see.

 

[alexomahony]

**EDIT - sorry I've just actually opened my sleepy eyes and read your post properly! You don't need help at all! Well don on figuring out something that works for your horse and thank you for sharing xx**

Your horse sounds just like my welsh cob... he was very reluctant because my trailer is rear unload he got super confused when I would load him then walk to the back to do the back up - he's follow me out. This lead him getting super stressed because he didn't understand that he should stay in the trailer.

I travel most places alone so this needed fixing so I watched a few videos on youtube about teaching a horse to load himself. Sadly I can't find the exact one I watched, but they're all quite similar.

Basically, I lead my horse on to the ramp, then annoy him with the end of the leadrope on his bum... no smacking or anything to cause pain - just annoying them, then when they move forward I stop. They quickly get the idea - but you have to make sure they're always looking into the trailer.

Took Maldwyn about 4 attempts to learn that I would be waiting on the ramp and meet him at the other end but once he'd realized this there is literally no stopping him - he LOVES going up any ramp he can find!

So once the horse has loaded itself - I now just thrown the rope over his neck and leave him to it as he no longer needs annoying to get into the trailer, I do up the back, meet him at the front, he gets a treat and I tie him up.

Sorry I couldn't find the video to link but have lots of patience and time to teach this method and it will work a treat!

xx

 

[Jasmin2013]

Well done!!

I had this same query a few weeks back and get very little response so I feel the need to comment on this. The turning in the trailer is the only thing to work with my horse and was very worried that it was not the done thing. But after posing the question on a certain eventing FB page had so many positive responses and some other good ideas to try in the future.

At the end of the day whether the way you are loading is unorthodox but works for you and your horse is happy then I say keep doing what you're doing and go enjoy lots of lovely outings with your horse.

 

[alexomahony]

Well done!!

I had this same query a few weeks back and get very little response so I feel the need to comment on this. The turning in the trailer is the only thing to work with my horse and was very worried that it was not the done thing. But after posing the question on a certain eventing FB page had so many positive responses and some other good ideas to try in the future.

At the end of the day whether the way you are loading is unorthodox but works for you and your horse is happy then I say keep doing what you're doing and go enjoy lots of lovely outings with your horse.

I'm going to be really sad here and quote Cinderella...

'Just because it's done, doesn't mean it's what should be done'

Different things work for different horses - I think that's why they're so addictive... every horse you meet teaches you something new or makes you rethink your methods.

You're thinking outside the box for what works for you and your horse - this should be congratulated and you should be proud that you've solved a puzzle rather than worrying that it's not the done thing xx

 

[soloequestrian]

Hi, I’ve just had a quick search as it was mentioned previously on here but can’t find the thread. However I have found it via Google - it’s a harness to allow you to load on your own more easily.

It’s called Solo Harness: http://www.soloequestrian.com/solo.html

Btw, I don’t have any links to the company!

This is me! I can't post because it would be advertising but presume it's okay to reply to someone else! I'm not sure about the later comment about having to be near the horse - not sure how you would ever load without being near the horse? Happy to discuss if anyone wants though!

 

[Landcruiser]

This is me! I can't post because it would be advertising but presume it's okay to reply to someone else! I'm not sure about the later comment about having to be near the horse - not sure how you would ever load without being near the horse? Happy to discuss if anyone wants though!

Hi Soloequestrian
Loading without being near the horse is easy . Either sending on in front as already discussed, or as I tend to do, using a long lead rope and being in the trailer myself looking relaxed so he can see it's ok/no woman or horse eating monsters on there, and asking him to come forward to me and past me (with the help of the improvised solo loading rope round the back to encourage him).

 

[soloequestrian]

But with either of those you still need to get near the horse to do up the bars/tie up. You could easily use the harness in the first situation by attaching a long rope to it, or just leaving it be until you need it once the horse is in the trailer.