Teaching a yearling to unload from a trailer

[Jnhuk]

Have been introducing our two yearlings to the trailer. We are doing this with the trailer and 4x4 in the field so hopefully they won't slip and injure themselves. Have put haybales and/or shaving bales at the side of the ramps to help prevent them stepping off the edges and hurting themselves as well.

First youngster has been trailered and horseboxed with mum before weaning so he is very happy going in and out of trailer in a quiet manner. The other was less well handled before I got him after weaning. He now leads well and seems quite a confident, bright fellow. However, I am having issues unloading him from a trailer. He will happily load and eat out of a bucket but he dislikes going out. First time we did this earlier this week, he kept launching himself off the ramp (front and rear) and giving himself a scare.

We have tried again today but now he is just planting himself in the trailer and not keen to come out again going forwards! We actually had difficulty getting him back off again! So in the end, since he moves back very well on command, we managed to get him to reverse slowly step by step back out of the trailer. After this, to try and get him used to the noise his feet make on the ramp and the feel of the ramp, I have been yo-yo ing him in and out and he seemed to take that quite calmly but not sure if this is the right way forward or am I just teaching him a bad habit?

The trailer is an IF505 so not the largest of trailers. Both yearlings are approx 13.2hh but the fellow having unloading issues is more chunky

I have a horsebox but it is rear facing so it has a steep side ramp but would be easier to turn round the youngsters once onboard so should I just start working with them with the horsebox and forget about the trailer?

Thanks for reading so far and any suggestions welcome

 

[Asha]

Do you have any other horses that are good to load? I use my daughters pony when teaching the young ones. She takes him through and i follow with said youngster.

 

[Jnhuk]

Yes, both my older horses are good but that didn't work.

Even the other youngster who is good to load/unload and is best pals with the one that is uncertain about unloading, he wouldn't follow him off.

 

[be positive]

Its not the answer for travelling but try loading up the side ramp and out down the back ramp for a while, it is straighter and more inviting, worth a try, I often do this with trick loaders.

 

[Jnhuk]

Its not the answer for travelling but try loading up the side ramp and out down the back ramp for a while, it is straighter and more inviting, worth a try, I often do this with trick loaders.

Thanks for the reply. We tried this last time as thought the wider rear ramp might be easier for him but he still rushes and leaps off it. Maybe we just need to keep repeating and repeating until he gets it.

 

[be positive]

Just saw I put trick loaders instead of tricky
Have you put straw or shavings on the ramp so that it looks more friendly, the other thing to do is let him put his head in a scoop of feed, better than a bucket as he can still see properly.
The more you can do it the better he should get, let him put his head down and investigate where his feet are going, stand back and let him creep down if thats what he prefers, its really a case of finding what works then developing it to suit your needs once he is more confident.