Stubborn loaders

georgiegirl

georgiegirl

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Anone else got one? I've tried everything with twig. Shes especially worse at competitions or when there is lots going on at the yard. She will quite happily stand on the ramp but no further. She wont go forwards, backwards or sideways. We've tried everything.....feed, following another horse, a different trailer, yard broom bristles on the bum, lunge lines everything. Twig will only go in when it suits her.

Shes 5 yo and has never had a bad experience in her life. Travels as if she wasnt even there and is not worried / sweaty when you get her off. Although towards the end of her 4th year she went through a horrible nappy stage which we have now got over and ridden work is going beautifully.

I'm feeding her in the trailer 2/3 times a week as well as fortnightly small competitons.

Anyway, having had another 45 mins stood planted on the ramp tonight (with twig actually sighing at me
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) I decided she had to know this wasnt on. Put the lead rope round her nose and just stood there with it loose. As soon as she lifted her head and stepped back wards she got the shock of her life - nearly sat down then went forwards straight up the ramp
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queue lots of fuss and her tea. We then went in and out of the trailer 5 or six times each time stopping for feed inside without a moments hesitation on the ramp.

So, a sucessful night. Wether or not its made her realise its not on planting herself who knows?

Anyone else had a stubborn loader who clearly isnt frightened? What did you do?
 
My sister's did this a bit when we first got him, not scared at all just not settled I guess in his new home. We found just one of us bringing out a lunge whip behind him worked a treat! If never touched him but obviously the sight of it just gave him that extra push!

He occasionally will do it at a show too if he thinks he's going to be put back in the wagon and his mate's going to leave. We just keep going with him - he did it to me on my own the other week. I kept circling, getting him up the ramp, he went back off so i just kept at him until he finally decided i was going to win and that was that! Just keep going, get firm but don't get mad i think that's the trick.
 
Mine is just like yours, its so frustrating! I might try the rope around his nose next time he's being a b***er! I've known him since he was a foal and he's also never had a bad experience and travels well. Sometimes he'll go up with little fuss and sometimes he's a real pain. Was really bad at Sparsholt the other weekend but I know he hates the car park there as he slips on it and walks on it like its ice so can only think thats why he was so bad?!?!
 
Merlin isnt scared..... he just knows that I cant be both behind and beside him at the same time
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clever boy...

So he thinks that its a laugh to stand with his front feet on the ramp smiling at me....... If I try to pull or force him on, he just pulls backwards and flicks me off of the ramp!!!

I have now found a way of outwitting him..... a lunging roller and a lunge line fed through the rings and around his bum..... I can now pull his bum up the ramp without pulling his head, which is what he really hates.

Worth a try??? but sounds like you may have cracked it
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Just make sure you've got some gloves on! Twig nearly well sat down before coming on. Shes never had a leadrope round her nose so i think when she pulled back she got the shock of her life. I've been nicey nicey with her for months so tonight she needed to learn to stop taking the p**s basically. Shes far too big and strong for lunge lines so I thought why not use your strength on yourself for a change. Were going sj on wed night so time will tell........

Its so bloody annoying. Like you, there seems no rhyme or reason for it
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all i can think is throughout bringing her on she has had various 'attitude' problems. She came from racing (but had never been off the trainers yard) and we have had napping, rearing all sorts......only the other week she suddenly decided she didnt want to be caught, taking a carrot then running away though that seemed to dissapear as soon as it started
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such a shame - she is a supremely talented horse, theres no way im giving up on her!
 
Ive got a really stubborn girl, who like yours stands on the ramp, I answered a request on here from a company called Equine Evolution who were looking for stubborn horses to try out a new loading harness. Anyway they came to try it out on her, They showed me a video of them loading a horse first then, showed me the harness, they popped it on her and just walked her around in it, we then went to load her and the bu**er more or less went straight in, after unloading her she went straight back in!! Then about 6 days later I needed to take her out and she loaded with out the harness in record time!! she was straight up the ramp with me just holding the leadrope very loose, So they probably might be worth talking to I think they are trialing this harness at the moment. Ive got the contact details if you would like them.
 
My youngster is a stubborn loader. Its in the genes as his mother did the same. I find sending them backwards faster than they would like then praising them when they come forwards works. He will stand and look at me out of the corner of his eye, then give up. Little git. Or not so little, at 16hh and still not quite 2.
 
My TBx is a total cow - she's fine loading into lorries but loading her into a trailer and you have to wait until she's ready. She isn't scared and she doesn't fight, she litterly just sits down until she just walks right on in
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I tried a tension halter on her once and she didn't care, just sat there waiting for the right moment. I've learnt her weakness is sugar cubes and she only gets them for loading so it takes less time now
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[ QUOTE ]
Anyone else had a stubborn loader who clearly isnt frightened? What did you do?

[/ QUOTE ]

Had a few of these 'issues' a couple of weeks ago and was seriously thinking of booking Richard Maxwell. In the end bought one of his halters, best £30 I ever spent, and watched the video.

A friend of mine who has more patience had been practising with him and he was going in but still reversing off calmly when it suited him!

Tried the halter and within a few minutes he was politely going on and off when asked, I was gobsmacked. The thing is to stay ultra calm and practise on/off, on/off daily for a week or two. People who've actually used him say he sets homework to load the horse 200 times in a fortnight
 
Im thinking about doing it again tomorrow - especially as we are taking her sj wed night. I guess in a way the rope round the nose works along the same lines of pressure and release reward - although obviously with not as much finesse!

People have suggested getting someone like richard maxwell out. Ive no experience with this type of training to be honest but if they turn up on a day when she just walks straight in its not going to be very helpful
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Did all the patience stuff with my boy, fed him on the trailer for months, nicey nicey encouraged him to load, but he still would just plant on the ramp and if you forced him he would use his strength and come off the ramp sideways taking me with him.

I have been hours with him and if I tried to force him he would do mini rears and throw himself about. Once he decided to go on he is fine, he is an ex-racer so travelled lots as a youngster, I think he is just stubbon.

One day I got to the end of my teather and had been trying to load him for hours after a comp. In the end I called a friend who brought a chiffney and a lunge whip. One whack on the bum and he loaded like a dream and has continued to ever since.........

I always load him in the chiffney and have a helper with a whip but have never needed to use it again. Wish I'd done it years ago as I missed out on lots of fun stuff.

X
 
I've tried allsorts with mine and what I've found works is to make him turn in a tight circle at the bottom of the ramp then lead him straight up on a loose line. It's another form of pressure and release really.
 
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