Trailer loading

[Kayfm]

has any one got any tips for me. My 18.hh horse used to load in our XL trailer straight away. He would just romp straight up. For the last couple of journeys he fistly stopped on the ramp before going in, now he puts the brakes on before going on the ramp. he doent do anything dangerous - just stops and wont move. This is so time consuming and a nuisance as we are out on a weekly basis. We try all the usuals i.e the two lunge line crossed behing him and pulling up, treats etc, but still it takes us about 15 - 20 mins and is getting worse. The horse travels well and the towing is slow and very considerate for our horsey pasenger ! Any tips anyone.

 

[marinitagsd]

My pheobe used to do that sometimes but now all she needs is for someone to hold a lunge whip so that she can see it and she calmly walks in! Strange woman! lol
When we tried lunge line etc she just stood there refusing to move, she didn't get upset or anything just being stubborn.
Worth a try with your boy.
Good luck
Anita

 

[ester]

The path of least resistance, I am just going to stand here! no idea if it might work but if he travels well it might be linked to going out/work (does he always have to work hard where you take him ie lessons/competing) . How about go back to basics for a couple of weeks. Once he is loaded, feed him in the trailer, 5 mins round the block then straight back home again. I would try this every day and then take him a short trip to a friends maybe, take him on a little hack then take him home.

Whatever is causing the initial problem this might help. I know how frustrating it must be, we often take ours out twice a week and they are both good.

 

[the watcher]

Practise this when you don't actually need to be going somewhere and take the pressure off yourselves and the horse - you only have to rush them once for them to lose confidence.
The treats, crossed lines, etc will simply reinforce to the horse that there is something to be feared - so go right back to basics (partition out, etc)

 

[ester]

just a thought have you tried giving him to someone else to load? I think you can start anticipating it, I have loaded 2 known to be like this in lorries for their owners and after walking them in hand for 5 mins and being reasonably purposeful and insistant that they moved with me they both went straight up. (aware that this may be more difficult at 18hh)

 

[Kenzo]

Just thinking out of the box here, Is your horse copeing ok at the competitions?, are you pushing him beyond his limits? has his usual performance changed? it could be that he's going a bit stale with it all and associates going in the trailer with hard work/competing, or just got wise to it all.

You could try feeding him his bucket feed on a daily basis in the trailer, so he doesn't just associate loading with actually going somewhere.

A horse that didn't belong to me and had been shown for years before I started riding and competing her used to be like that, ....for a about a year I had to endure either a 2 hour or 40 minute loading session (without any fuss though, just patience and keeping that pressure on) then one day she just gave up and started loading straight in every time, years before she'd done a lot of showing and all that business and I think she just got a bit bored with it all, knew the day before when she was getting bath and plaited up I think! but once I started doing different things with her, she soon perked up and started loading with no prob,

Just an idea, still its no excuse I know

 

[moocow]

My mare was an absolute nightmare to load. She was dangerous and was getting worse. Started off just stopping on the ramp but that progressed to rearing off the ramp. I tried everything. Lunge line behind her was useless, tried front ramp down, front ramp up, food, feeding her in the box, nothing worked . I got Grant Bazin to work with her for a weekend and problem solved. I brought her to camp the week after he had worked with her and she loaded a dream and has never looked back. I don't go many places with her and it can be months and months between trips but she still loads absolutely fine. PM me if you want more details.

 

[Baileyhoss]

Sorry, but if my horse loaded fine, then suddenly didn't, firstly I would be questioning what is putting him off. How's your driving? Has the trailer been serviced? anything changed, i.e., boots/towing vehicle/trailer etc? are the brakes on the trailer snatching without you noticing?, are the tyre pressures correct etc, all these things can deteriorate and affect the ride you give your horse.

 

[Kayfm]

Thanks for all the tips. my horse can be stubborn on occasions. He does work hard at our destinations, but he is doing the same for the journey home, a lot of hassle when we are all worn out ! A lot of horse in any situation !.

 

[loopeepee]

Has he had a fright at all whilst driving? Where you've suddenly had to break, and he's possibly stumbled? How is he when you get him out of the trailer? Does he seem normal, ie not sweated up or anything?

Perhaps just go back to basics. Take the partition out on a day where you're not actually going anywhere. Or leave the partition in, but open the front ramp so there is more light, and the 'space' looks bigger. Just nonchantly walk up the ramp like it's no big deal. I know it's frustrating when they don't load, but using lunge lines and whips, although 9 times out of 10, they get results, they are also just reinforcing that there is something to fear.

EG, if I had to go down into a basement, and there was someone in front of me, who was just chatting normally and just walked on down, even if I stopped, then I would think 'oh, well perhaps I'm just being silly'. Whereas if that person in front of me was a bit hesitant, and then someone else started pushing me if I stopped just outside, then I'd be thinking 'well what on earth is down there?' LOL. Random example, but I don't like basements!

I've also left a trailer in the field of a horse which didn't load, and every evening feed him in there. You just have to make extra sure that it's totally stable.

Good luck