Teaching a youngster to load without issue

lialls

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Iv had my yearling Boots about 7 weeks now and want to do some loading pratice with her. Shes been in a trailer twice i believe but the second time she was a bit reluctent althought it was an awfuly hot day, there were files everywhere and the horse already in the trailer wasnt being very helpful.

So how should i go about getting her loading well? Just open out the trailer and take the partition out, get her walking through it. Then what? Also what problems do i need to be awear of? and how do i over come these?

Shes not really been spoilt atall so im hoping that i have a clean sheet to work with if you know what i mean.

Any advice and comment welcomed :)
 
With all mine, I've made sure they are good to lead, stop and turn, in a headcollar first.

Then, with my trailer (Ifor W) I've pinned the partitions back, so one side is free and open. Opened front ramp. Put lunge rein on pony, and parked trailer in yard so no form of escape available... and then just walked up in there myself, sat down with a paper and a cake and left them to wander about.

Generally, they've all been quite bold and nosey, sniffing ramp, stamping on it or pawing at it.

If they've stepped both legs on I've chucked them a treat, and then the further and further they've come in, they've got treats.

Initial times, just let them stand in for a minute, big pat and more treats, and then led them out and started again.

Over time, I've shut the front ramp,, back ramp, tied them up, bit by bit, until they'll lead in properly, and then have gone for short journeys up and down the road with them alone.

Then same with the companion horse - and hey presto! :)
 
Well start off, leading her through it, after that, lead her in and let her stand there for a bit, then walk her off Do that a few times, then lead her on with the breast bar and back bar up, and let her stand there for a little while, use a haynet to distract her if she's anxious.
Then you can progress to shutting just the back ramp, then when she's happy, shut the side ramp, but leave the top open, i leave mine open untill we are ready to go as tinkerbel gets a bit anxious.
Then once your sure she fine, shut the top, if she;s a bit worried, then stand with her for the first few times, you can also feed her sometimes so she relates to something nice when loaded.
 
Thanks guys, thats what i was thinking, just wanted to check :) How long do you think this would take if there is no issues? and how many times a week should we do short sessions of this?
 
I'd do about 10- 15 mins every day or every other day. If she's really good theres no harm doing it in one day as long as she's not stressed, and just do it every now and then so she doesn't forget.
 
If it's a trailer - open it all up. Lots of time, patience, repetition, food and hey presto an easy loader! With my yearlings depending on how well we start off! Generally 20 mins a session and get them standing in there eating a bucket of food. They all trot up as they think it's feed time and are completley unfazed!
 
Park the trailer against the wall so that one side is covered and have the front ramp down so the horse can see through then gradually add the breast bar and so on :)
 
most youngsters are quite willing to go in as they are quite curious, we just drop the ramp walk them in and out loads, feed them in it get them used to going in and that start to think about putting partitions in putting up the ramp etc, they seem to find it quite a none event really, after you have them loading well take them on nice short trips drive sesnibly and they are normally fine, all of ours at work are excellent travellers we have two farms so they get shipped to and from so they do quite a bit of travelling usually in pairs and just go for a short fifteen minuet trip to somewhere else with grass so they dont get upset or worried about it

make sure you wear a hat sometimes they will bounce about when you first close them in and watch them for jumping off the ramps particularly if its a steeper ramp
 
I've seen someone have great success leaving youngsters turned out in small yard with open trailer (obviously brakes on and wheels chocked etc) ramps down and a bit of food inside, just let them wander in and out of their own accord. Generally their curiosity will win the day. Then once they are happy start leading in, gradually closing doors etc.
 
we did all the above with our 2yr old and then when she was being long reined she went through the trailer! It is good to have a bucket of food in the trailer to keep them busy at first.
 
Thanks everyone. We dont have a yard so the trailer is just in the field and i plan to just try and lead her through it following a bucket and then go from there. Did want to have a go today but its been pouring with rain here so not such a good idea today maybe lol. I will maybe post an update as to how it gos after :)
 
I've always loaded them thru a front unload trailer with all the doors open and the partition in but to one side. I've put a good loader thru a few times before the baby and then just done exactly the same... I've only ever had one bad loader and she was awful when we got her. In the end we got Robert Maxwell in to sort her out which he did in half an hour and now, having been taught by him, I don't think there is any horse I couldn't load...

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