Trailer strop

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Olliepoppy

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My 7.5 year old cob loads well but has a complete tigger strop if you leave him on his own for even a second. Any hints on how I can get him to stand nicely? I'm of the training type 'make the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy' but not sure how to go about it in a trailer! It's a single trailer, Ifor Williams. Am thinking about putting in a mirror.. Thanks in advance for any tips
 
A mirror is a good idea.

Does he do the same in a double trailer with a friend? What happens when you start moving? Is it a frightened strop or a bolshy strop?

Ultimately repetition and patience is the key, I think I would be practising loading, standing, unloading with both ramps open (as long as safe) and a treat every time he pauses once in the trailer.
 
He's never traveled with a friend so I don't know.. He was initially scared, would load ok but would tremble and stress poop. I stopped travelling him and have been working on walking round trailer, then over ramps, then walking through, then pausing in trailer. We have got to the stage he no longer trembles or stress poops and I can shut the rear door but when I step off the front ramp to move away he takes an almighty what looks like bolshy strop. If I go back to him he will calm down and waits nicely to be let out. I have treated him while doing all this but have to be careful as he can get really pushy/stroppy for a polo if he thinks he should be getting one!
 
Then I would say just keep doing what you are doing :) You are obviously making progress.

Have you thought about teaching him to self load? Would solve the problem of him seeing you leave iykwim - you would need a helper for a few weeks though.
 
LJR said:
Then I would say just keep doing what you are doing :) You are obviously making progress.

Have you thought about teaching him to self load? Would solve the problem of him seeing you leave iykwim - you would need a helper for a few weeks though.
Click to expand...

No I haven't considered that. How do I go about that?
 
Olliepoppy said:
No I haven't considered that. How do I go about that?
Click to expand...

Start with one person at the front and one at the back - person at back walks up the ramp with the horse and "posts" it to the person at the front :) Just with the headcollar, no lead rope. You can start with the breast bar in or out, keeping everything very low key.

Then it is practice and repetition - I teach all mine to self load, for me a must have as I am often out with two by myself!
 
Michael Peace's methods are good. You use a very long rope when loading horse and if he fidgets he gets a wiggle down the rope. Once the horse is standing quietly on trailer with you there you can slowly walk away. Any fussing from him send him a signal down the rope. as soon as he stops fussing and is calm go back to him and make a fuss of him. Gradually you want to get to the point where you can be standing far outside the trailer without him fussing. Has worked on my nervous loader - I can now (without even trying him up), load him, and then I can move down to the bottom of the ramp and he will just stand on the lorry quietly.
 
Just be patient and don't expect too much to quickly. If you can afford to get Michael out to help you I can't recommend him enough (in a couple of hours he can give you so many good techniques and help you and your horses confidence). Everything he does is very clear, yet calm, which the horses completely understand! He has some good videos on YouTube too.
 
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