Trailer loading training

[alsxx]

Getting trailer this weekend (excited much!?) and so will need to do some loading practice with my boy; he travels fine, but is difficult to load - generally gets half on the ramp and then says 'won't' - he just plants and will go in if I have help i.e. two helpers to hold a lunge rope behind him and do a bit of pressure and release once he goes forward, but need to teach him to load when I am by myself ideally.

What is the best halter to use, as I'd like to give the pressure and release idea a good go with him? I''ve seen the dually halter, but are there any others?

Thanks!

 

[Bernster]

I use a dually but any kind of pressure/release halter should do what you need it to. I had similar issues with my fella and ended up getting an IH associate out to help - started with groundwork away from the lorry at first, learning to move his feet, move him around gently and calmly, working on my stres levels which were a lot of the issue, and gradually building up to loading, then loading a gazillion times on various occasions, short trips out and back home to load him up again, then a trial run loading him away from home.

It probably sounds like a lot of effort and it did take a few weeks as I could only practice about 1 a week at most, but working on it slowly and patiently seemed to do the trick and has been a dream ever since so well worth the time and effort.

I would rather not do things like lunge line, brooms up backside etc as that seems to wind him up. I can do it on my own now (she says, crossing fingers!) with the dually only.

Best of luck. There are some videos on you tube and IH was brilliant for me (Kelly Marks people) if you need some outside help.

 

[TicTac]

I use a dually but any kind of pressure/release halter should do what you need it to. I had similar issues with my fella and ended up getting an IH associate out to help - started with groundwork away from the lorry at first, learning to move his feet, move him around gently and calmly, working on my stres levels which were a lot of the issue, and gradually building up to loading, then loading a gazillion times on various occasions, short trips out and back home to load him up again, then a trial run loading him away from home.

It probably sounds like a lot of effort and it did take a few weeks as I could only practice about 1 a week at most, but working on it slowly and patiently seemed to do the trick and has been a dream ever since so well worth the time and effort.

I would rather not do things like lunge line, brooms up backside etc as that seems to wind him up. I can do it on my own now (she says, crossing fingers!) with the dually only.

Best of luck. There are some videos on you tube and IH was brilliant for me (Kelly Marks people) if you need some outside help.

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very good advice and excatly what I would do

 

[alsxx]

Thankyou, and thanks for letting me know there are video's on YT, I will go and check those out.

My plan is to spend as long as is needed to get him going in and out, practice trips etc etc. He is definitely the kind of horse that you cannot get wound up with, so I hoping this will be a good grounding for him!!

 

[WelshTilly]

I am in a similar situation to you just got my trailer, when i first got it i let her sniff it all over walked her through both sides then walked through tied her up have her haynet etc and gradually increased the time, then took her on a couple of short journeys....my mare is a fab traveller and good to load although likes to take her time about it and sometimes coming back she doesn't want to leave the party she becomes opinionated and just plants if someone gives a shove on her bum she walks in like an angel!! However i want to travel her on my own so this weekend my friend taught me to self load using lunge line you attached the line to head collar go over breast bar round partition and then round there bum it works a bloody treat we didnt even touch her bum with the lunge just walked across and she thought oh ok better not p***s mum off she means business will definitely be using that one in the future, I also park trailer in a quiet spot with one side to the hedge to just make my life easier. might be orth a try good luck!!

 

[fuzz]

I use the richard maxwell halter for my very stubborn fell. She's a great traveller but if she didn't want to load she let you know. We could be there for up to an hour, tried lunge ropes round the bum, round the breeching bar so she was pulling on herself, all that stuff. Used to take three of us, and at least one person would get bruised and we'd all be exhausted and flustered before getting anywhere!

Ended up being persuaded into a richard maxwell halter by a friend for my sisters bolshy youngster. Since we had it, figured I might as well try it. But honestly, what use could a headcollar make to such a stubborn mare.

I wish I hadn't been so god damn determined it wouldn't work. Now, if she even decides she's not going, it just takes one person and 5 minutes of quiet pressure and release to make her walk in. No bruises, no anger, no stress. Quiet calm and easy.

My biggest regret is not trying them sooner! Would have saved me three years of stressful mornings that made me physically ill at the thought of travelling her anywhere.

 

[flirtygerty]

I used a dually halter with mine, tug hard and release, it also helps to
picture them standing in the trailer eating hay, I know that sounds daft,
but hey ho it worked, so well the grandson loaded my boy no problems.
Always finish training on a positive note