Tips for loading a mare and foal...

[_jetset_]

Troy will be going to stud with Hannah next Saturday, so I am starting to get everything organised for him to go. He is having his first vaccination on Wednesday, and then we are all ready to go.

Troy and Hannah have travelled together before when he went for his 'little' operation. Hannah loaded perfectly (so I have no doubt she will again) but we had to more or less lift Troy on. If you have seen the pictures of him in the PG, you will know this is definitely not an option this time

On the way home from the vets, Troy loaded himself... so I know he was not frighetened of it from his first journey and unloaded really well at the other side.

I do not have enough helpers to practice with them before the day (I have commissioned some people for the Saturday

) so it is going to have to be done just the once when they are going.

I can definitely get Hannah on first and Troy is completely halter trained so respects the pressure applied and walked towards it, but does anyone have any advice when it comes to ways of loading him? I have to be careful about methods used as Hannah has been beaten into a lorry in the past and had to overcome all her demons when Richard Maxwell came out to her, but she is fantastic to load now although wouldn't like to get her into a tizz.

 

[mat]

I would usually recommend loading the foal first, if you can have two people behind linking arms to push him forwards into the lorry and one person in front holding the halter?

 

[AmyMay]

When they are that sort of age, we usually load mum first, with foaly tucked well behind her (so really they both go on at the same time).

I recon three people is plenty (although 4 would be useful). One on the mare, One on the foal - with either one or two people on his bum to hoist him on.

Bet you he walks straight on as if he's done it all his life. They usually do!

Don't tie Hannah up until Troy is on and the back is up.

Exciting...........!!!!!

Another step in his life, and growing up. Can you believe that it's come around so quickly?????

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

I need to load my mare and foal soon as they will be going to a grading in October !!!

Mum loves the lorry actually have to load her in a bridle as she runs up the ramp !!!

Now ive travelled a mare and foal in a 7.5 ton but i now have a 3.5 ton backwards facing lorry - do i just take the partition out and tie mum up on the right and leave foaly to walk around ???

(sorry for steeling your thread) x

 

[springfallstud]

We normally load foal first and mum follows closely behind.

Stacey i would do just that, partition out and foal loose

Good luck to you both

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
We normally load foal first and mum follows closely behind.

Stacey i would do just that, partition out and foal loose

Good luck to you both

[/ QUOTE ]

oh ok im scared - atleast i have a camera to watch them !!! xx

might practise this weekend !!

 

[Faithkat]

I've done it both ways recently. When the mare and foal came home from the stud a couple of weeks ago, we loaded the foal first as the mare can be a pig to load. She argued a bit to start with but then went straight in. We travelled them loose in a lorry. The second time was the beginning of this week. The foal from hell has gone TOTALLY wild since they came home and it's impossible to get near her. The only problem was that the vet was coming on Tuesday to do the mare's vacc and microchip the FFH. We couldn't catch the FFH to load her first so we loaded the mare and hoped the FFH would follow . . . HA! NO!! Actually, it was very good loading practice for the mare and the third time we put her in she just walked straight in. The FFH did eventually follow her in and we travelled them loose in the trailer down to the stable, but it was only a couple of hundred yards. We led the FFH out . . . and she's had some very good lessons in not getting her own way too . . . oh, yes. . . . and she did get microchipped!!

 

[ColouredFan]

We have to travel our mare and foal between their grazing and stable, They are out 24/7 now but occasionally need to come back to the yard. we loaded the foal on his own about 3 times a week since he was about 3 weeks old, we did this by feeding him on the ramp, moving up a little each day and within 3 days he was walking up the ramp fine into the lorry and eating his dinner before unloading, so when it became time to move them, we loaded mum closed the partition and then loaded him,he walked straight in no problem, Obviously you cant practice on your own but maybe you could feed him on the ramp to get him used to it? good luck

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

im going to try on sunday !! dont think she will be interested in feed on the ramp to be honest and dont want her to get used to everytime she goes on it she has to be fed !!

 

[Faithkat]

Ah, my problem is I don't have my own transport and have to rely on the good nature of friends. I'd love to be/have been able to practice more with the mare and/or foal but it's a bit difficult without my own trailer/lorry

 

[alicedove]

[ QUOTE ]
im going to try on sunday !! dont think she will be interested in feed on the ramp to be honest and dont want her to get used to everytime she goes on it she has to be fed !!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think as far as feeding to bribe is concerned it can never be undervalued! It is a wonderful positive incentive and works more often than not. Even if any bad loaders end up expecting a treat once they're on, no harm in that I reckon!

As far as mares and foals are concerned I haven't a clue I'm sorry!

I have learned to load a bad loader with the help of Michael Peace. Wonderful experience....

From that I learned that some horses you cannot push and pull on, some you can... but in any case you have to kid them all that you have all the time in the world.. you can have as much hesitation on the ramp as you like,.. no problem... reward each forward indication, whether it be a sniff, a look, a step or anything, just rub on the forehead is reward, you can try placing each foot a bit higher up the ramp. Of course don't face them full on, down the ramp.

When they "take root" and "drift off into their own little world" then shove them about a bit to "bring them back to earth"

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
im going to try on sunday !! dont think she will be interested in feed on the ramp to be honest and dont want her to get used to everytime she goes on it she has to be fed !!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think as far as feeding to bribe is concerned it can never be undervalued! It is a wonderful positive incentive and works more often than not. Even if any bad loaders end up expecting a treat once they're on, no harm in that I reckon!

As far as mares and foals are concerned I haven't a clue I'm sorry!

I have learned to load a bad loader with the help of Michael Peace. Wonderful experience....

From that I learned that some horses you cannot push and pull on, some you can... but in any case you have to kid them all that you have all the time in the world.. you can have as much hesitation on the ramp as you like,.. no problem... reward each forward indication, whether it be a sniff, a look, a step or anything, just rub on the forehead is reward, you can try placing each foot a bit higher up the ramp. Of course don't face them full on, down the ramp.

When they "take root" and "drift off into their own little world" then shove them about a bit to "bring them back to earth"

[/ QUOTE ]

To be honest had too many bad experiences with bad loaders and never feed my horses to get them to do anything this will stem to other things and thus your problem gets worse !!

I always use the pressure and release method - put pressure on they walk forwards they are rewarded for the pressure being let off and so on !!

also she isnt to big to be picked up and put in the lorry which im thinking i will do first - im going to park the lorry in the sand school to !!

 

[ColouredFan]

Well I can only give advice on what i have experienced and my foal loads perfectly and he doesnt expect a feed when he goes in, just the same as he doesnt expect a feed every time he walks into his stable. You can as i did reduce a feed to a treat and a treat to words of encouragement and a scratch on the neck. My foal loads with or without his mum and will stand hapily in the lorry with or without food

 

[alicedove]

That's so sweet, and what a lovely mum and foal you look to have too! Is that the "foal" you are competing in the pics?

 

[S_N]

I can't add to the excellent advice already given, but I will say that if he loaded himself for the journey home, chances are that he may do the same again! Maybe you should try something like this.....

 

[CentrestageSHS]

I have travelled lots of mares and foals to gradings/vets etc. and I can honestly say the way we have found the best is by using a three-horse trailer. You have the normal partitions as you would in a trailer but the is room for another horse at the front facing backwards. The partitions are shaped in a Y shape and we usually load the mum first in the right hand side partition with the foal stood at the front of the trailer so she can see it. Put the back up etc. and because the mum can see the foal in front of her they both do not get distressed and she does not try to turn around and look like she would usually if you tried to load the foal behind her. You then have all free hands and do not have to worry about the mare while you get the foal in up the front ramp. The is more a natural and safer position for the foal facing backwards and we have found that injuries are minimal and loading is very quick. I do stress that this is in a 3 horse tailer designed for two forward facing horses as normal and 1 backward facing horse at the front and there is plenty of room. I would not recommend this in a normal trailer. The mare usually puts her nose on the foal's back which calms the foals and we usually cross-tie the foal to stop it from trying the suckle on the journey and getting stuck. We haven't really had any problems transporting foals (- touch wood!) just make sure you have plenty of help and time!

 

[amandaco2]

they usually follow mum up if left to their own choice-ie just sit and wait until they get bored/curious and they explore up the ram.
bey wasnt interested the first time and 2 hours later (plus alot of big people 'helping' we hadnt got her inshe was falling on the ramp rather than going in.
the next time i loaded her right along side mum-ie they were shoulder to shoulder step for step.i also covered the ramp with straw.they got half way up and mum got bored of waiting and barged her way up in the box(typical!) and i just sat with bey on a loose lead and she wobbled in like a deranged spider!lol.
she was 4months old.
since then she has been reluctant but loaded fine in her own time-usually in 5 mins of me just standing and making her look in the trailer/lorry and not letting her get distracted and praising her for every step and letting her sniff and paw the ramp etc.