Trailer loading - all ramps down?

[lottiepony]

Just been reading nightmare before Christmas' thread about loading and was just wondering who has both ramps down when they load (talking trailers) my girl can be pig so always make it seem open by having the front ramp down and means we can 'walk through' and then repeat a few times which seems to help her a lot. Not necessary for perfect loaders lol but anyone else do this? Have seen people struggling loading and they have front ramps up, can't say I blame the horse for not wanting to go in then

 

[FfionWinnie]

No. I don't have a front ramp but even if I did I wouldn't. I load all of mine with ease into a cattle trailer (rattley aluminium) thanks to the wonderful Richard Maxwell. They are calm and no bother in the trailer. Well worth a read of his book if you have a difficult loader. I have never had good loaders and now I have four good loaders (who didn't want to load in to a much posher and quieter trailer before I bought them and "Maximised" them )

 

[Missmac]

I do.
If the front ramp is up when i try and load my mare she wont load. She rears and has thrown herself over backwards before now.
If the front ramp is down she walks up 1st time no hesitation.

 

[kiteman0]

i allways have the front ramp down
i find that if the horse can see straight through they load easier especially if they arent good loaders in the beginning.

 

[mynutmeg]

We always have all the ramps and doors open to make it as inviting as possible for the horse - my sister's isn't the best loader in the world and this does seem to make a big difference

 

[micramadam]

Always and groom's door as well to make it look as open as possible. Tried with front ramp shut and they aren't as easy to load.

 

[PandorasJar]

For youngsters when I'm there I use it to walk them through. Then left in field with front shut.
I never leave grooms door open. Always unlocked for me to get out if necessary but never open for fear a panicker may go through.
My littlun prefered front ramp shut though. Broodies always shut or they just walk through me and straight out, big lumps that they are.

 

[Stateside]

Always have the front ramp and grooms door open.. but most important always load with a bridle on for horses with a problem.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I have the front ramp down always and the partitions pulled back with the bungees. Makes it seem bigger and more open.

Even when Im loading the old man who needs the full trailer I have the front ramp down and hes a perfect loader. I would rather they went forwards out of the trailer if they are going to do a bunk than backwards, seen too many crack heads open and fall off the ramps going down as they have nowhere to go but backwards

 

[Dubsie]

Depends on how close the next person has parked to us after the person we parked next to left and they filled the gap (meaning sometimes can't get the ramp down), also time available to load (is quicker to undo the back walk in tie up, duck under the bar and back out the other side sometimes).

 

[skint1]

With our mare we do, but we leave the single breast bar up because we don't want her walking through.

 

[Alyth]

I can see the advantage of using this type of trailer for teaching horses to load, but I think you should still be able to load with the front ramp up - so horses learn that they can't barge through, and in case as above, of someone parking too close to be able to use ramp!!! If people take the time to build their horses confidence in a trailer there would be far fewer 'problem' loaders!! And it does take time and patience!!

 

[rabatsa]

My trailer has two horse doors at the front, one each side. I always open both before loading.

 

[Arabelle]

I usually open the front ramp for loading out of habit, as that is how we taught them to load (walking through first). However, they are all such good loaders now, it isn't necessary and if space is tight/I'm in a rush etc I don't bother.

My ponies pretty much self load, so it isn't a big deal to me.

 

[EstherYoung]

When I had the trailer I wouldn't normally open the doors fully (unless horse was particularly sticky) but I would tend to open the top door at the front to make it lighter. I wouldn't ever have the grooms door wide open - I've seen too many horses get fixated on that as a line of sight and try and make an exit and get stuck.