Trailer - runs out backwards?

L

Lorian

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Hey

I have had my horse for 11 years. Hes a nervous traveller as he had an accident in a trailer years ago. *Touchwood* he still goes in a trailer first time. Lately he has realised that if I dont get the back bar done up quick enough that he can back himself out. Hes not doing it nastily, just sort of a habit he has picked up. If he starts to back out and I pull his head forwards he goes out backwards even quicker.

Ideally I wanted to be able to take him out on my own but if he keeps doing this I wont be able to. At the moment I cant leave him tied up in there to walk around to do the back bar up as I dont want to make him any more nervous. hmmm.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can maybe practice to get him to stay in the trailer without him backing out? Or if when he starts to backout what I should do?

confused.gif
 
I have a tui bar - its the best thing since sliced bread if you do everything by yourself.

You stay at the horses head pull up the bar and job done. The new ones are even better as can be released from the outside in case of an accident or the horse getting stuck on the bar.
 
I have found with my horse (and loading on my own) that keeping him occupied whilst I jump out and get the back bar done is the biggest problem.

I use one of those buckets with hooks and hang it on the door at the front of the trailer (mine is front unload). My horse will stand forward to reach into and eat out of the bucket meaning I have plenty of time to get the back bar done and ramp up.
 
I start walking in with b, then once he is up the ramp and on his way in, I stop, he keeps walking and I throw the rope over his neck then hook up the breech bar once he is in, then nip up the other side of the partition to tie him up.

Coming out I'll untie him, and remove the haynet, put the rope over his neck, then open the breach bar, tap him on the bum and he reverses out

It might take practice, but I alway manage on my own at a show.

Fi x
 
Thanks for this idea. At the moment I load him with the front ramp down as he is nervous but if I can load him with it up then it will work. I did think about putting a bukcet to hang on the breast bar but then obv he wouldnt walk in far enough but as you say if i hook it on front he should have room. i will try this, thanks :O)
 
Hey,
Thanks for this idea too. I will try it but not sure if he will go in to the trailer without me as he follows me where ever I go and thats why when I leave his head to do the back up he backs out as he tries to follow me, hes soo silly. Hopefully practice makes perfect though.
grin.gif
 
This may be apocryphal but my farrier told me the tale of a horse who loaded and travelled fine but when he reached his destination and the back of the lorry was opened up, he would shoot out backwards dangerously fast, flattening everything and everyone in his way. The owners tried everything to no avail. In desperation, they then loaded him and drove him to the local dockside where they reversed the lorry right up to the edge. They then dropped the back ramp, horse shot out backwards at 100mph as per usual and promptly disappeared over the edge and fell into the sea. Luckily, he survived this and a cold, bedraggled horse was eventually walked out of the sea. Apparently, he never, ever did it again! Hmmmmm......................
 
Blimey Im surprised if the people ever got the poor horse out of a trailer once in ever again !!! Sounds like the sort of thing gypsies would do to me...
 
god i hope that is just a folk tale and never actually happened!
i used to to have this prob with my pony, after over a year of having to drag my bfriend to events just to shut up the back door i started standing a bit further away each time while he still shut it for me, talking to the pony all the time so she knew i was there until one day we did it alone and been fine ever since, the tui bar is an excellant idea though i was very close to spending for one!!
 
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