Trailer Trouble... sooo frustrated

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Carlosmum

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After another unsuccessful 'trailer training' session with my gelding it looks as though I will have to change trailers again.
I have gone from an Ifor, from which he races down the ramp to an Equitrek rear facing, but although he will go up the ramp he will not turn at the top. He can perform the manoeuvre on the ground but in the trailer its impossible, had a helper this morning but still no luck.

So my question is what do I do now? Do I go back to an Ifor and put up with him racing out, do I look for an Equitrek which is forward facing so he turns to the right not the left? or do I try and find a reasonable priced Rice /Richardson Supreme Excel which is rear facing & unloads in a straight line?

Are there any other makes of trailer which load/unload straight without the need to turn or come through a small gap or am I asking for the impossible? Must be able to unload forwards as backing out becomes an issue if he's asked to more than once. Horse has always had trouble with narrow spaces and has a tendency to stress if asked to wait at the top of a ramp hence the charging out. He is 17 yrs, 15hh and very stiff in the middle when pressured but can turn on a sixpence if he wants too.

Do you think an IH person would be able to get him over this ?

Thanks all for reading this far
 
Ian Vandenberghe is in Witney and will be able to help you with your horse. He and his wife are amazing people and worked wonders with one of mine (different issue, but I know loading is something they do)

Give them a ring and see what they say :) 01993 868914
 
Did he rush down the front ramp of the Ifor? Did you ever try him going out backwards? Does he do the same in a lorry?
 
Personally I've found the Ifors quite tight for the horse to get out off, particularly if they're on the ramp side. I've got a Wessex and having had it sat next to a friends Ifor, the front breast bar is positioned several inches back from the front door, giving the horse more space to get themselves moved round.
I did have an IH person out for one of my horses a few years back for a similar problem to yours. She taught the horse to load and unload just using the rear ramp and for a while after we continued backing her out the trailer. Horse will now come out fine on the front ramp but any hint of the running forward results in being taken off backwards again.
 
Backed him out of the Ifor a few times, but it became impossible as he would sit on the tail bar so I couldn't undo the pin.
Haven't tried him in a lorry for about 10 yrs.... I don't have access to one as am on my own, and couldn't afford to run one so I'm steering clear of them if I can,

I like idea of a Wessex, will see if someone local has one I can try
 
I did have an IH person out for one of my horses a few years back for a similar problem to yours. She taught the horse to load and unload just using the rear ramp and for a while after we continued backing her out the trailer. Horse will now come out fine on the front ramp but any hint of the running forward results in being taken off backwards again.[/QUOTE]

I second this technique - worked a treat with my boy who no longer charges out from any ramp!
 
Personally I would build up to this on the ground.

Build the space out of poles in the school and get him to go into the space and turn. Once he has happily mastered this build it up to a small pen (use jump wings for three raised sides), again perfect this and then go back to the trailer.

There is no reason if he can move around you and you can place him where you like that he cant load and turn.

What have you got on him for control? Headcollar, bridle or something else?
 
Have you had a look at a Fautras? No ramps to negotiate and none of ours have a problem with the slight turn to disembark.

To be honest though, if I'd invested in an Equitrek I would look at getting a professional out for some help rather than selling the trailer on. :)
 
We have done the ground work and built a simulated trailer space, he's been fine with it, moves around just where I ask him too. I think its something to do with the feeling he has when standing on the ramp. He will happily walk up beside me until his front feet are in the trailer & back feet on the ramp. If I ask him to bend to the left and move his rear to the right his whole body stiffens & locks so his back legs end up moving the same way as the front.
I am using a Dually halter for control but I don't think that is the issue.
I have one last plan. The vet gave me some sedalin to use to see if it would help, I will try with this to see if it will relax him enough not to tense up when I ask him to turn.
He's trying very hard to do as I ask but cant seem to relate the ground movement to the trailer situation.
 
I have a Wessex which unloads to the left hand side not the right. Our mare used to charge out of an ifor or anything with a right hand ramp. I took to unloading her in a dually (after a lot of ground work in it) & make sure the partition is always tied back so she can come out without touching it. She hates a right hand front ramp as finds it a bit of a tight turn out x
 
am i right that the problem is he rushes leaving the trailer? i personally think the ifors are very tight when the horse has to turn to get out. my girl sometimes objects to getting onto the trailer, but with patience, pressure on head collar and a bit of bribery, she is ok. i have a trailer with no partition, as otherwise she cannot balance, which means there is a lot more space to move them into, and she does not rush to go out, as has lots of room to turn. if he travels alone can you try no partition? i think it is more inviting as far less claustrophobic.
 
So the horse just rushes out the front ramp? What have you tried? I had one very bargy (and big!) Welsh Cob who was dreadful in the trailer, many issues but this was one of them at one point. I took the partition out totally, would load him with the front ramp open, stop inside as usual and give him some feed, then slowly move the feed bucket further forward and slowly down the ramp. I did this a little bit further each day when giving him his dinner in the trailer. Then I took the bucket away and started asking him to only take a step forward then stop for a polo, another step then stop for a treat - you get the idea. He soon wanted to stop for food, then I just asked him to take a few more calm steps before he got his polo etc. Worked for him anyway but it was very boring doing it literally every day for about a fortnight!
 
Two words. Robert Maxwell.... Expensive but cheaper than keep changing trailer. He had my pony in, that we had been training for months, in less than 5 minutes and he trained me how to train them... fabulous experience and I was a real cynic - My mum booked him!
 
blitznbobs said:
Two words. Robert Maxwell.... Expensive but cheaper than keep changing trailer. He had my pony in, that we had been training for months, in less than 5 minutes and he trained me how to train them... fabulous experience and I was a real cynic - My mum booked him!
Click to expand...

LOL do you mean Richard Maxwell? :)
 
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