Stubborn loaders......

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Any tips on how to deal with them? I have a cob type who originally I travelled in a 3.5T lorry - he is a very good traveller, I've never had any problems or incidents with him, but he has never been that great to load. Then I got my own 4x4 and trailer - initially he loaded immediately into the trailer without a murmur, I was delighted :)

Unfortunately as we have gone out more and more he has become worse and worse at loading! He travels well, I never hear him move, he never stamps, he never sweats up, he has never had any incidents or accidents, and he is definitely not nervous about being on the trailer - he is just pig headed, and he knows that going somewhere on the trailer means hard work!

When we try and load him he simply plants his front feet on the ramp and won't move - I have tried offering feed, putting a lunge line around his back end (which always worked a treat if he was sticky loading onto a lorry), getting strict with him (he is impervious and doesn't care)..... then when he feels like it, he marches up the ramp and onto the trailer without batting an eyelid. It is so frustrating!
 
It might help to keep well out of the horse's way and give him LOTS of space on a long line. When horses plant with their fronts on the ramp it's tempting to get closer and haul on the leadrope but it leaves them feeling like there's no way forward because there's a human in the way - it's difficult for them to understand that the human will move out of the way once they start to move, they prefer the way to be clear first if that makes sense? It might be why he loads sometimes and not others, because he obviously isn't afraid.
 
My mare started doing this. Our yard is on a hill so the ramp never goes down on a completely flat surface, and I don't think she likes the movement when she steps onto it. There is a video somewhere of a guy loading a stubborn horse, where he just stands there and taps it with a rope until the horse walks on. I tried it with a schooling whip and it does work. It took 1.5 hours the first time so you need patience, but the idea is that they improve over time.
 
You have my sympathy cowpony - we took 15 minutes today and I thought that was bad enough :D It is just the absolute pig-headedness that is so annoying, he isn't bothered at all :D
 
We had a pony who stopped responding to the old lunge line round the bum thing, so my dad sourced me some wide flat hose pipe. I think it was an old fireman hose or something, like the stuff that goes flat when it doesn't have water in. Well dad looped both ends like strong handles and then we used to put it under pony's tail and push him in. Worked a treat - even had a load of people 'order' one off my dad at various shows after they'd borrowed it, was his greatest invention.

I used it on my most recent bad loader and sure enough, it worked. Not sure whether it's because the rubber type stuff is quite cold and feels wide and strong against their back end (unlike a lunge line). Needs two people to push either side - the old hose gives very good leverage though :)
 
Cowpony said:
My mare started doing this. Our yard is on a hill so the ramp never goes down on a completely flat surface, and I don't think she likes the movement when she steps onto it. There is a video somewhere of a guy loading a stubborn horse, where he just stands there and taps it with a rope until the horse walks on. I tried it with a schooling whip and it does work. It took 1.5 hours the first time so you need patience, but the idea is that they improve over time.
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This works with mine. I never hit with the leadrope, just gently brush/flick it against her side. The first time it took about an hour, second 15 minutes, and now she goes straight on without needing to be led. If she gets a bit sticky I just lift the leadrope like I'm going to flick it and she walks straight on.
 
I have 2 techniques but for planters I use the keep them moving technique. if they won't go forward I push them backwards, then from side to side, anything but letting them stand still. lazy cobs hate this and make the easy option going forward into the trailer so he can finally stand still. do not try to force him forwards he will have something to fight against....
 
The problem, I think, is that the horse doesnt LEAD. If a horse leads well enough, anywhere and everywhere, it will lead into a trailer. I would look at leading- does he lead under low doors, low branches (like in le treck) narrow gaps, up to walls, into closed spaces, over planks, over an old door lying on the ground, up and down ramps, through the trailer with all doors open.... anything and anywhere you can think of.
If he leads anywhere without hesitation he will load.....
 
stormox said:
The problem, I think, is that the horse doesnt LEAD. If a horse leads well enough, anywhere and everywhere, it will lead into a trailer. I would look at leading- does he lead under low doors, low branches (like in le treck) narrow gaps, up to walls, into closed spaces, over planks, over an old door lying on the ground, up and down ramps, through the trailer with all doors open.... anything and anywhere you can think of.

If he leads anywhere without hesitation he will load.....
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My difficult loader was perfect and did all of this, was a pony club pony. Would always load at home, never when at the venue.
Blindfold or corralling in a corner so the only way is up the ramp were the only things that worked, and loaner still has to do that to this day.
Bloody horses!
 
Maybe a bit unconventional, but have you considered trying some clicker training with him? Worked like a charm for my gelding, he now loads even at liberty, if asked.
 
If any of mine don't load straight away I make them move backwards. One took 1 1/2hrs to load at home, she'd been a cow loading coming back one day. She was only a youngster but had been loading fine up til then. Every time she went forwards she got praised, planting herself resulted in having to go backwards. Funnily enough that got boring after going round half the field in reverse. Loaded herself the next time she was presented at the ramp!
 
stormox said:
The problem, I think, is that the horse doesnt LEAD. If a horse leads well enough, anywhere and everywhere, it will lead into a trailer. I would look at leading- does he lead under low doors, low branches (like in le treck) narrow gaps, up to walls, into closed spaces, over planks, over an old door lying on the ground, up and down ramps, through the trailer with all doors open.... anything and anywhere you can think of.
If he leads anywhere without hesitation he will load.....
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He leads anywhere without hesitation :)
 
stormox said:
Apart from into a trailer :D do you practise leading him in and out at times you arent taking him anywhere?
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LOL yep that about sums it up :D :D Not recently - I started off doing that when I first got the trailer, but he would walk on every time without hesitation so I stopped? I guess I'd better start again....
 
Lévrier;13607939 said:
LOL yep that about sums it up :D :D Not recently - I started off doing that when I first got the trailer, but he would walk on every time without hesitation so I stopped? I guess I'd better start again....
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Does it tie in with him shutting down when he gets there?
 
be positive said:
Does it tie in with him shutting down when he gets there?
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No it doesn't - he has only shut down at his last two competitions, but we have had a number (guessing at least a dozen or so) outings where he was awkward to load before that happened. He seems overawed by a big occasion when he shuts down, where there is a lot going on....
 
If he travelled well in the lorry but not the trailer I'm guessing the trailer is the problem not the horse... take the partition out, try a change of bedding underneath etc.
 
SusieT said:
If he travelled well in the lorry but not the trailer I'm guessing the trailer is the problem not the horse... take the partition out, try a change of bedding underneath etc.
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Sorry I wasnt clear - he travels just as well in the trailer, absolutely no problems whatsoever, I haven't got an onboard camera yet but I never feel him move, stamp, fidget or anything when we are going places
 
Mine is a git like this. I thought it was fear until we tried to take him to a show. Was very obviously complete stubbornness.

Worked on it and now he loads fairly well but I generally have to stand behind him and crack a lunge whip at him, don't hit him obviously but the sound and movement makes him think going forwards is easier. He doesn't get scared when in either, although he doesn't eat the hay. Once you stop though you have to get him off fairly quickly as otherwise he has a tantrum.
 
rachk89 said:
Mine is a git like this. I thought it was fear until we tried to take him to a show. Was very obviously complete stubbornness.

Worked on it and now he loads fairly well but I generally have to stand behind him and crack a lunge whip at him, don't hit him obviously but the sound and movement makes him think going forwards is easier. He doesn't get scared when in either, although he doesn't eat the hay. Once you stop though you have to get him off fairly quickly as otherwise he has a tantrum.
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Mine stuffs his face with hay for the whole journey :D
 
not sure where in the country you are but ring Grant Bazin at New leaf Farm. 07548 374289 he is at byfield, between Daventry and Banbury - he is excellent
 
Lev, daily practice, lots of short trips to places you can hack back from if necessary. Short trips to fun things - like unload, warm up and hop a few fences then home again, all so he associates trips out with pleasure, not getting knackered.

NF went from 2.5 hrs to load to come home last September (yes, she was a project) and with loads of work is virtually self loading at home and return. I got the worst out of the way within 3 months but I STILL keep on the ball and we still do practice in between going out (we still don't miss our now once a week sessions, but were daily!). Repetition is the key, along with the right tool for your horse.

Best not to use any props if you can, but to get horse loading when you want it to.
You could engage the likes of Tarrsteps, depending on location?
Drop me a PM if you wish.
 
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